Jackie Marsh is Professor of Education at the University of Sheffield, UK, where she conducts research on young children's play and digital literacy practices in homes, communities and early years settings and primary schools. Her most recent publications include Changing Play: Play, Media and Commercial Culture from the 1950s to the Present Day (with Bishop, 2014) and Handbook of Early Childhood Literacy (edited with Larson, 2013). Jackie is an editor of the Journal of Early Childhood Literacy.
What are the ways in which young children learn to communicate? Collating their extensive experience of language and literacy in the early years, the contributors explore key aspects of this topic, linking practical ideas for early years settings and classrooms to relevant theory and research. This second edition is updated to take into account important developments in research, policy and practice, and now covers the 0-8 age range. It also addresses developments in new media and the impact this has upon literacy in young children, and offers chapters on new areas which have emerged in recent years, such as multimodality, media literacy, creative arts and literacy.Explored in the book are:" the relationship between play and literacy;" the role environmental print has in early literacy development;" the language and literacy development of young bilinguals;" ideas, suggestions and justifications for the use of poetry;" a two-year research project, funded by Creative Partnerships; and" key issues relating to family literacy.This book will be of interest to experienced practitioners, and to student teachers on a range of early years courses, as well as to professionals and managers of children's centres and services, this book conveys the excitement shared by both children and practitioners in celebrating children's developing literacies.
