In this book you will find the McLaughlin Model of teaching emergent literacy to young children set down in a clear format that makes it easy for you to glean the information you need to establish the program in your classroom. As it spreads through pilot programs in Palm Beach County School District, Florida, this model of teaching is proving to be highly successful for children from many different backgrounds and to produce outstanding results in "Title 1" kindergarten classes.

Chapter by chapter, you will discover how to lead your students into reading books and flowing with writing. You will find how to do this by teaching skills through meaningful reading and writing and by training your students in the habits they need to be successful. You will be guided into quickly evaluating your students and dividing them into small groups where they can learn at their own level and pace, moving on and up when they are ready. You will learn how to build your students' self-esteem and self-confidence and how to train them to work cooperatively as part of a positive, risk-free classroom community where everyone is a teacher and learner. You will also learn how to keep the excitement and momentum flowing in your classroom all through the year.

As you use this model with your students, you will find that your expectations rise. Your enjoyment of teaching will increase as you get caught up in your students' energy for learning and their excitement at what they achieve. Like the teachers in the McLaughlin Model Pilot Programs, you will most likely be amazed at the results.