Literacy Development in Early Childhood: Reflective Teaching for Birth to Age Eight

Literacy Development in Early Childhood offers a truly comprehensive look at literacy development, beginning in infancy and continuing through grade 8. Organized developmentally, chapters on the ";signs"; of early literacy behaviors are followed by chapters on ";enhancing"; those behaviors. Assessment topics, including observation forms for classroom use, and developmentally appropriate strategies are integrated throughout. The role of oral language as a foundation for literacy, home-school connections, and cultural influences on literacy development are also emphasized. This text will help teachers serve as thoughtful mediators in children's transactions with literacy. Provides Teachers with Tools for Reflective Literacy Instruction. The book’s organization and narrative encourages teachers to become reflective decision-makers who select and implement instructional st

Beverly Otto, Ph.D., an early childhood educator for over 25 years, is a professor in the Teacher Education Department at Northeastern Illinois University.  She earned her doctorate at Northwestern University in Teaching and Learning Processes with a focus on emergent literacy.  Dr. Otto teaches courses in language and literacy development for preservice and inservice teachers, along with research for classroom teachers. She also serves as advisor for the MAT: Language Arts-Elementary Education and MSI: Language Arts-Elementary programs.  Her major professional goal is preparing teachers to support children’s life-long learning through language and literacy development. Dr. Otto has also served as department chair as well as associate dean in the College of Education.

     Dr. Otto is the author of Language Development in Early Childhood, 2^nd edition (Merrill/Prentice Hall), and has also authored articles published in international, national and state professional journals.  Her field-based research on emergent literacy has been presented at international, national, state, and local conferences. She has served as a consultant to early childhood centers, school districts, as well as the Illinois State Board of Education.