Oral Language and Comprehension in Preschool

Lesley Mandel Morrow, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of Literacy and Director of the Center for Literacy Development at the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Her research, which she conducts with children and families from diverse backgrounds, deals with early literacy development and the organization and management of language arts programs and literacy-rich environments. Dr. Morrow has published more than 300 journal articles, chapters, and books. Her work has been recognized with awards including the Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award and the William S. Gray Citation of Merit, both from the International Reading Association (IRA; now International Literacy Association), and the Oscar S. Causey Award from the Literacy Research Association (LRA) for outstanding contributions to reading research. Dr. Morrow is past president of the IRA and is a member and past president of the Reading Hall of Fame.Kathleen A. Roskos, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Education and School Psychology at John Carroll University, where she teaches courses in reading assessment and intervention. Formerly an elementary classroom teacher, Dr. Roskos has served in a variety of educational roles, including as director of federal programs in the public schools, department chair in higher education, director of the Ohio Literacy Initiative at the Ohio Department of Education, and a coprincipal investigator of several Early Reading First federal projects. Dr. Roskos studies early literacy development, teacher learning, and the instructional design of professional development for educators, and has published research articles, chapters, and books on these topics.Linda B. Gambrell, PhD, until her death in 2024, was Professor Emerita in the Eugene T. Moore School of Education at Clemson University. A leader in the literacy field, she conducted research and published widely on reading instruction, comprehension strategy instruction, and literacy motivation. Dr. Gambrell was elected to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2002 and was a recipient of the Oscar S. Causey Award and the Albert J. Kingston Award from the Literacy Research Association, among other honors. She was a past president of the International Literacy Organization.

• 1. The Importance of Speaking and Listening in Early Literacy2. Planning for Talking, Reading, and Writing a Lot3. Literacy Centers and Activities4. Nurturing Young Children’s Language and Conversational Skills5. Developing Children’s Listening Comprehension6. Reading with Children at Home7. Putting It All Together in the Early Childhood ClassroomAppendix A. Selected Literature for the Preschool ClassroomAppendix B. E-Book Quality Rating ToolAppendix C. Storytelling Ideas for Developing ComprehensionAppendix D. Guided Participation FrameworkAppendix E. Recommended Resources for New and Alternative LiteraciesReferencesIndex

"Morrow, Roskos, and Gambrell describe research-based best practices for enhancing young children’s language development and their ability to deeply understand rich topics. The discussion and reflection questions in each chapter enhance the book's value as a professional development resource; it is also an accessible guide for early childhood majors and graduate students. I really liked the numerous classroom examples, step-by-step guidelines, and checklists. Especially noteworthy is the discussion of using emerging technology in the preschool classroom."--Lea M. McGee, EdD, School of Teaching and Learning (Emerita), The Ohio State University"This book highlights the critical role that oral language and comprehension practices play in young children's future learning and achievement. It presents intentional, purposeful instructional strategies and provides early educators with practical supports, including checklists, photographs, templates, classroom vignettes, and extensive resource lists."--Angela Yeaman, MEd, Early Learning Consultant, Living Sky School Division, Saskatchewan, Canada"This book is going right into our list of required texts at our university. It demonstrates clearly that oral language is the foundation of nearly everything important in early childhood: reading, writing, thinking, creating, and forming meaningful relationships with others. The authors paint a colorful portrait of the kind of language-rich classroom that all preschool children deserve, including those learning a second language. This is the book that anyone studying to become a teacher of young children should start with--it shows how language should be the organizing element around which effective preschool classrooms are designed."--Jeffrey Trawick-Smith, EdD, Phyllis Waite Endowed Chair and CSU Professor of Early Childhood Education, Eastern Connecticut State University"The authors explain the foundations of oral language and comprehension in preschoolers and present a multitude of instructional strategies that support these foundations, using vivid, engaging classroom- and home-based examples. Teachers and early childhood administrators will find this meaty book highly accessible, thanks to clear writing, a high level of detail, and the authors’ exceptional skill in fully integrating the 'what,' 'why,' and 'how.'"--Judith A. Schickedanz, PhD, School of Education (Emerita), Boston University -