JOURNALS

The Human Foundations of Speaking, Writing, and Reading

The life and nature of language itself is breaking down under the adverse pressure of modern society. In Living Literacy Michael Rose maps out how our command of the written word is threatened by inappropriate electronic media and fundamental flaws in the education system. He investigates the nature of literacy and how it relates to child development, and examines what really works in preparing for and teaching literacy.

His wise and thoughtful book will help teachers and parents to prepare children for the transition to literacy through conversation, story, song and play, ensuring that formal reading and writing are introduced in a relevant and living way.

Michael Rose is a founder teacher of the York Steiner School, and a tutor of the North of England Steiner Teacher Training Course. He is the co-author of Ready to Learn, also published by Hawthorn Press.

Contents:

• Part 1 Seeing the Picture
  • The Great Divide
  • What is Literacy?
  • Literacy in the World Today
  • The Emergence of the Alphabet
  • Lessons of Development
• Part 2 Making the difference
  • Tuning to the Mother Tongue
  • Animating the Word
  • First Writing and Reading
  • Developing Literacy as Faculty
  • Further Suggestions for Practice
  • Literacy and Learning Differences
• Part 3 Closing the Book
  • The Three Persons of Literacy
  • Harvesting the Word
  • The Future
  • Appendices
  • Bibliography
  • Resources

Available from Hawthorn Press (UK), Steiner Books, Rudolf Steiner College Bookstore, Waldorf Books