72 pages
A5
ISBN-10: 1 85856 075 6
ISBN-13: 978 185856 075 5
Published 1997

This is a vivid first hand account of the initiatives of pre school children, who are always the ones who push forward the idea of residing. Gradually, areas of the room become dedicated to reading and writing and the entire school setting become rich in print. The children announce what they need to be written, and teacher Bronwyn complies.

It is they who set up a 'computer', complete with home-made mouse. The author observes their awareness of the relevance of signs, labels, notices and directions and relates her experience to the theories of early learning. She describes her breathless efforts to keep up with the pace the children set for their literacy learning and the further accelerated progress they make through their first year of formal schooling. She conveys the naturalness with which she supports the demands of three and four year olds, and demonstrates the vital role all adults have in children's development of literacy.

Early Years teachers will be enchanted by this lively evocation of the children busy at their learning and will find much to guide and support their own practice. It will also be of interest to student teachers, teacher trainers and parents.