The Development of School-based Literacy

Originally published in 1998. This book presents a model of social-contextual influences on children's literacy and literate language. Literate language is similar to the language teachers use and to the language used in reading books for young children. Based on a longitudinal study in homes and schools, the authors here present the results of how diverse and close social relationships influence children's literacy learning as they progress through the first three years of formal schooling, and discuss implications for teaching practice. Different types of reading matter in the home are examined and it is suggested that peers are helpful to the learning of literacy. Rather than separate friends as often happens in the classroom, this book suggest that interaction should be encouraged. It will be of interest to researchers and students of developmental and educational psychology, and to anyone interested in early cognitive and social development.

1. Early Literacy: Background and Theory 2. Methods in the Study of Children's Literacy Development at Home and at School 3. Joint Reading Between Parents and Children 4. Peer Interaction, Play, and Literate Language: Naturalistic and Experimental Evidence from Preschool and Primary School Classrooms 5. Social Networks at Home and School: Diverse Social Contacts as Affordances for Literacy Development 6. Role of Social Relationships in Literacy Development 7. Relationships, Individual Differences, and Children's Use of Literate Language 8. A Case Study of School-based Literacy Learning 9. What is to be Done?