Mary Renck Jalongo is a teacher, writer, and editor. As a classroom teacher she taught preschool, first grade, and second grade; worked with children of migrant farm workers; and taught in the laboratory preschool at the University of Toledo. Currently she is a professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she earned the university-wide outstanding professor award and coordinates the Doctoral Program in Curriculum and Instruction.  Dr. Jalongo has written, co-authored and edited more than 35 books, many of them textbooks in the field of early childhood education, such as Creative Thinking and Arts-Based Learning (6th ed., Pearson), Exploring Your Role: An Introduction to Early Childhood Education (4th ed., Pearson), and Major Trends and Issues in Early Childhood Education (2nd ed., Teachers College Press).  Publications for practitioners include two National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) books, Learning to Listen, Listening to Learn and Young Children and Picture Books; an edited book for the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), The World’s Children and Their Companion Animals: Developmental and Educational Significance of the Child/Pet Bond.  She is also the author of two award-winning Position Papers for ACEI.  Since 1995 Dr. Jalongo has served as editor-in-chief of the Springer international publication, Early Childhood Education Journal. She also co-edits Springer’s book series, Educating the Young Child: Advances in Theory and Research, Implications for Practice, and has made presentations on various aspects of early childhood education throughout the world.

"The Jalongo textbook is organized in a way that is very meaningful for the instructor as well as the student.  The textbook covers the most up-to-date research and information about literacy and language development for young children.  I love all the detail this book has to offer like the links with literature, ELLs, and strategies for the classroom teacher." - Traci Johnston, Pulaski Technical College "This textbook is very student friendly and helps the students learn the key concepts of emerging literacy in terms they can understand and uses real-life scenarios so the students can understand them in context. It supports the collaboration of teachers and families. It provides the students with useful suggestions to implement into their own classroom. It recognizes the importance of research in the early childhood field and the changing classroom of more diverse students." - Jane Horner, Associate Professor , Ivy Tech Community College

• Preface  Part One Language Learning in Context1. Appreciating Diversity and Educating the Young English Language Learner 2. Optimizing Every Child’s Language Growth through Family Literacy          Part Two Oral Language3. Understanding Language Development in Early Childhood          4. Helping Young Children Become Better Listeners            5. Supporting the Speaking Abilities of the Very Young      6. Using Narrative and Expository Texts to Foster Growth in Literacy            Part Three Literacy with Print7. Fostering Growth in Emergent Literacy   8. Supporting Early and Independent Reading        9. Leading Young Children to Literature       Part Four Written Language and Symbol Systems10. Drawing and Writing to Communicate     11. Understanding Media Influences and Applying Technology           Part Five The Teacher of Language Arts12. Designing and Managing a Language Arts Program        13. Documenting Children’s Progress in the Language Arts

Mary Renck Jalongo is a teacher, writer, and editor. As a classroom teacher she taught preschool, first grade, and second grade; worked with children of migrant farm workers; and taught in the laboratory preschool at the University of Toledo. Currently she is a professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she earned the university-wide outstanding professor award and coordinates the Doctoral Program in Curriculum and Instruction.  Dr. Jalongo has written, co-authored and edited more than 35 books, many of them textbooks in the field of early childhood education, such as Creative Thinking and Arts-Based Learning (6th ed., Pearson), Exploring Your Role: An Introduction to Early Childhood Education (4th ed., Pearson), and Major Trends and Issues in Early Childhood Education (2nd ed., Teachers College Press).  Publications for practitioners include two National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) books, Learning to Listen, Listening to Learn and Young Children and Picture Books; an edited book for the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), The World’s Children and Their Companion Animals: Developmental and Educational Significance of the Child/Pet Bond.  She is also the author of two award-winning Position Papers for ACEI.  Since 1995 Dr. Jalongo has served as editor-in-chief of the Springer international publication, Early Childhood Education Journal. She also co-edits Springer’s book series, Educating the Young Child: Advances in Theory and Research, Implications for Practice, and has made presentations on various aspects of early childhood education throughout the world.

"The Jalongo textbook is organized in a way that is very meaningful for the instructor as well as the student.  The textbook covers the most up-to-date research and information about literacy and language development for young children.  I love all the detail this book has to offer like the links with literature, ELLs, and strategies for the classroom teacher." - Traci Johnston, Pulaski Technical College "This textbook is very student friendly and helps the students learn the key concepts of emerging literacy in terms they can understand and uses real-life scenarios so the students can understand them in context. It supports the collaboration of teachers and families. It provides the students with useful suggestions to implement into their own classroom. It recognizes the importance of research in the early childhood field and the changing classroom of more diverse students." - Jane Horner, Associate Professor , Ivy Tech Community College

• Preface  Part One Language Learning in Context1. Appreciating Diversity and Educating the Young English Language Learner 2. Optimizing Every Child’s Language Growth through Family Literacy          Part Two Oral Language3. Understanding Language Development in Early Childhood          4. Helping Young Children Become Better Listeners            5. Supporting the Speaking Abilities of the Very Young      6. Using Narrative and Expository Texts to Foster Growth in Literacy            Part Three Literacy with Print7. Fostering Growth in Emergent Literacy   8. Supporting Early and Independent Reading        9. Leading Young Children to Literature       Part Four Written Language and Symbol Systems10. Drawing and Writing to Communicate     11. Understanding Media Influences and Applying Technology           Part Five The Teacher of Language Arts12. Designing and Managing a Language Arts Program        13. Documenting Children’s Progress in the Language Arts