Children, Language, And Literacy: Diverse Learners In Diverse Times (Language And Literacy Series),New

In Their New Collaboration, Celia Genishi And Anne Haas Dyson Celebrate The Genius Of Young Children Who Are Learning Language And Literacy In Our Diverse Times. Despite Burgeoning Sociocultural Diversity, Many Early Childhood Classrooms (Prek To Grade 2) Offer A Onesizefitsall Curriculum In Which Learning Is Too Often Assessed By Standardized Tests. In Contrast, Genishi And Dyson Proclaim Diversity As The New Norm. They Feature Stories Of Children Whose Language Learning Is Impossible To Standardize And Teachers Who Do Not Follow Scripts. These Master Teachers Observe, Informally Assess, Respond To, And Grow With Their Studentssome Of Whom Are Rapid Language Learners And Some Of Whom Become Speakers, Readers, And Writers At Child Speed. Much Of This Learning, Regardless Of Tempo, Is Found Within The Languagerich Contexts Of Play.Chapters Focus On Childrens Ways Of Communicating Through Varied Modes, Including The Use Of Nonverbal Expression; Languages Such As Spanish, English, And The Variant Of English Known As African American Language; And Multiple Media. Throughout The Text There Is A Resistance To Labels Such As At Risk And A Muchneeded Advocacy For Childsensible Practices In A World Where Diversity Is Indeed The New Norm.