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Whole Child Development

Literacy Beginnings — A Book with a Bonus (and a Giveaway!)

by Filed Under: Building Readers 117 Comments

This week, I’ve written about the Importance of a Good Foundation and introduced you to Literacy Beginnings — A Prekindergarten Handbook,  a resource I truly believe will become a new standard resource for early literacy.  After Wednesday’s post outlining the wealth of information in this great book, you might be surprised to know there’s even MORE! 

At the end of the main text of the book, you find the appendices.  I’ll confess, I often feel like the appendices of a book are somewhat like the appendix of the human body.  There’s probably a reason for it, and it probably does some good, but we can get along just fine without it.  NOT the case with this book!

I feel like the appendices of Literacy Beginnings essentially constitutes a bonus reference book.  The first section offers more than 74 basic rhymes and songs.  Many are likely familiar to you, but it’s great to have the reminder of those old classics as well as an introduction to some new ones.  (It also comes in handy when you need to settle a trivial argument about whether it’s “London Bridges” or “London Bridge is” falling down.)  Plus, each rhyme comes with a suggested activity for extending the experience.

The next section organizes great read alouds for preschoolers by theme.  So whether you’re working on a food unit or want to do an author study of Lois Ehlert, you’ll find a list of high quality books to share with your little ones.

Inquiry projects are also introduced with general guidelines as well as several activities, songs, and books to go with about a dozen common study themes.  In addition to being a great resource for lesson planning, it helps to illustrate the method of instruction Fountas and Pinnell discuss in the book.

Likewise, literacy and language activities that were described in the book are found in the appendices, written as individual lesson plans with great detail.  So if you’re not quite clear about how to conduct a shared reading or you’re running out of ideas for alphabet exploration, you’ll find that along with 33 other lessons in the appendices as well.

For all those asking if there are any great books to recommend for preschoolers, Fountas and Pinnell have collected 18 pages worth of quality reads organized by topic.  I can’t think of very many other people I’d rather get a book list from, and here it is, ready to go with your next study unit.

If you can believe it, there’s still more to be found in this bonus section.  Developmental charts, letter formation helps, book making activities that are ready to print, assessment sheets, materials lists, and of course a glossary for all the educational jargon.  If by some rare chance you need even more information, there are even a few more pages of recommended resources.

There’s so much information and ready-to-use resource materials, it truly feels like Fountas and Pinnell are giving away another free book along with the amazing primary resource they’ve created.  There’s such a wealth of information here as individual parts, but they also come together so well to clearly illustrate the principles laid out in the book, and give anyone who teaches young children a wealth of tools to work with.

I would love for you to have this resource for yourself. 

Heinemann, the book’s publisher, has agreed to give a free copy of this book to one of the readers of Not Just Cute.  Here’s how you can enter to win:

Comment here to let us know you want this book.  Gain additional entries by tweeting the link to this post or sharing it on Facebook.  Be sure to come back here and leave a comment for each to let us know you have additional entries.  Comments will be accepted until Tuesday, July 19th, 11:59 pm after which a winner will be randomly selected.  **This giveaway is now closed.**

(If you can’t wait for the giveaway and have to have this book now, you can find it at Amazon by clicking this link: Literacy Beginnings: A Prekindergarten Handbook.)

Good luck!

Top photo by ThomasLife.

Comments

  2. 2

    I am a mother of two small children as well as a new preschool teacher. I have loved reading the synopsis of each chapter and think it would be a great resource at home and school.

    Reply
  4. 4

    Think this book is definitely worth having. It may indeed become the “must have” for every early childhood resource library. Thanks for introducing it to me!

    Reply
  5. 5

    I’ve been following along with the book discussion and was hoping someone would do a giveaway! It sounds like a great resource! I’d love the chance to win.

    Reply
  14. 14

    I have a 4yr old son that would benefit greatly from this book. I also sub at a NAEYC accreditted, University-based preschool and I’d love to share this book with fellow teachers as well as student workers who are earning there degrees in early childhood education!

    Reply
  16. 16

    I think this resource would also developmentally support some of the 12:1:1 special education students I teach. This looks to be a comprehensive resource to teach our early emergent readers and writers. I’m extremely interested in reading the The Continuum of Pre-K Literacy Learning ~ how timely as we strive together to meet the Common Core, while instilling a love of learning. I’d be most appreciative to receive a copy. Thank you!

    Reply
  17. 17

    This book sounds wonderful! I would love to have a copy. I am always looking for ideas for activities I can do with my son.

    Reply
  18. 18

    I want to win a copy of this book! I am not a teacher by profession, but am a momma who enjoys helping my preschooler grow and learn. I L-O-V-E your site and look for new posts each morning. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  19. 19

    This sounds like such an awesome resource. I am an infants teacher and I firmly believe in the power of solid beginnings in literacy, especially for my students who are learning English as their Second Language. I just love sitting down to read a story and watching their little eyes light up as they enter new worlds through literature. It’d be great for me to “freshen up” the way I approach literacy….

    Reply
  20. 20

    I would to win this book as I’m considering homeschooling my kiddos and my oldest is just entering the pre-k phase!

    Reply
  23. 23

    I would love this book.
    I could not find it by a card catalog search at my local library.

    Reply
  24. 24

    As an early literacy specialist – on a very limited budget – I would love to have this book and bring the the very valued information to a variety of parents and professionals in Ontario Canada.

    Reply
  28. 28

    This book sounds really interesting. It would be great to have all those book references and songs at my finger tips as well explanation of phonetics and other technicalities that I never learned well in school myself. We’re teaching my daughter English and German and now would like to find a similar book for German instruction.

    Reply
  31. 31

    I would love to have this book! It’s perfect timing as I will be starting my own home-based preschool this fall! What a treasure trove this book would be!

    Reply
  34. 34

    Fountas and Pinnell are amazing! As a former elementary school teacher their books were my go to resource for literacy instruction. i am happy to know their preschool resource lives up their reputation. i would love a copy of this book and i would use it will my preschooler students.

    Reply
  35. 35

    The more I read about it, the more I would love to have this book! My son is 2 and knows all his letters and a few sight words. I’d love to encourage continuing literacy in him without expecting too much, too fast.

    Reply
  40. 40

    I would love, love, love to have this book. As an elementary teacher, reading specialist, and literacy coach, Fountas and Pinnell served as my main source of learning and information. I am now teaching preschool and have been wishing that that they had something aimed specifically at pre-k. I did not even realize they published this resource until I saw your post. So thank you for that!

    Reply
  43. 43

    I would love to win a copy of this comprehensive book and share it with all the wonderful preschool teachers and children’s librarians in my community–thanks for the review, Amanda!

    Reply
  45. 45

    I would love to have this book! I am very familiar with the work of Fountas and Pinnell and it is all amazing I am so glad that they now have resources for early childhood.

    Reply
  49. 50

    I would love to win this book! I authored a series of preschool workbooks for reading and had appendices too. But most of them were not included in the final print because the publisher thought they were too many 😉
    Im sharing this link to my Facebook page – Teacher Weena, own wall in and Show and Tell group (on Facebook too), on my twitter account @teacherweena and my other website http://www.teacherweena.webs.com (my page for my reading advocacy)

    Reply
  61. 62

    This sounds like an excellent resource for early literacy. I wonder if this is intended as a textbook or for teachers. I just finished an early literacy class, but would love a copy of this book.

    Reply
  66. 67

    I would love to have this book,I teach in a daycare and just recently lost most of my planning books.This would help me out.

    Reply
  69. 70

    I would love to win this book! I teach a preschool class in DC, and I’m thinking about going back to school to get my Masters in Reading Education w/ a Reading specialist certificate!

    Reply
  70. 71

    I want this book! Wow!
    I teach creative drama/writing programs in Title 1 schools. I love seeing the elementary aged kids embrace literacy. I am confident my baby will develop a love of literacy from living in a home with two book worm parents, but this sounds like a phenomenal resource as a parent and teaching artist.

    Reply
  73. 74

    As an Early Childhood Educator who leads a class of 10 four year olds, I am always looking for new fresh ideas, at times searching the internet can be time consuming. I sometimes fall into the trap of doing the same things for every theme or interest. It is for these reasons that this resource would certainly help me, not only in my own classroom, but in other classrooms at our center as well.
    Thanks

    Reply
  74. 75

    I would love to win this book and put it to use in my home-based child care and preschool program!

    Reply
  77. 78

    This would be a great, no, spectacular boost to our Pre-k program!! Thanks for the opportunity 🙂

    Reply
  78. 79

    This would be a fantastic resource to have as a mama to a preschooler, a toddler, and one on the way.

    Reply
  80. 81

    I have this on my wishlist at amazon. I would love to win this book. Thanks for the opportunity.

    Reply
  84. 85

    Thanks for the chance to win this – I have a 2 year old and a 3 month old. The toddler is delayed in language development and rhymes and resources like this have been a great help to him.

    Reply
  85. 86

    Really, really really? I have been coveting, I mean, wishing this book was available at my library so I could check it out. My 4YO is getting there but just not jumping in and I’m so not the type to be creative in teaching on my own. As a great learner, I never hurdled the teaching aspect of life. I would love it!

    Reply
  86. 87

    I have a four and a three year old that this would be a wonderful resource for! As a teacher I loved their other books so I am sure this is just as great!

    Reply
  90. 91

    I have been following all of the chapter reviews and would LOVE my own copy of this awesome resource. I am a Pre-K teacher of 18 and teaching is one of my true passions in life! Thank you for offering a chance to get this book!
    <3 Glory

    Reply
  91. 92

    As a new mom I need all the help I can get and this book sounds like a must have. Reading is at the top of our list of things we are making a priority with our son. Having a book like this sounds like it would be a great tool. Thanks for the opportunity.

    Reply
  95. 96

    I would LOVE to have some extra input on what I can be doing with my little guy to keep him learning and busy!

    Reply
  98. 99

    I would love to have this as a classroom resource! I am a Pre-K teacher in the Ga. Pre-K program at an elementary school. I am one of 2 Pre-K teachers. The other teacher is new to Pre-K this year and this would be an excellent resource to share with her.

    Reply
  99. 100

    I am always looking for good ways to teach my 2 1/2 year old through literacy activities. This book sounds like it could become my most used resource.

    Reply
  100. 101

    As an ex-private reading tutor (now a stay-at-home mom), it is so refreshing to hear someone ELSE talk about phonemic awareness and literacy activities for a change! 🙂 I would love a copy of this book!

    Reply
  101. 102

    I teach VPK and would love a copy of this book. I have been following all the posts and have learned a lot. Would make a great addition to my resource library.

    Reply
  104. 105

    Hi, a few days ago I explained all the reasons why this giveaway could benefit my 300 students and me. But, did it in your mail instead of here in the comments. Just in case…I do it again here. I really think our Principal,Olga Jimenez would read it carefully and change anything for the best. Thank You. Sorry for writing twice.
    Teacher Laura Oreamuno E.
    Saint Anthony School.
    San Jose,Costa Rica.

    Reply
  106. 107

    This is a great resource!! I work with preschool parents and would love to use this resource with my parents!

    Reply
  114. 115

    This book would be an exceptional addition to my classroom. Thanks for introducing me to it 🙂

    Reply

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