Offering the wisdom of literacy, this book takes a critical look into the present and the future of the field. It features various chapters that address the theme of literacy and the teaching of literacy as being in a constant state of change. It describes literacy, literacy acquisition, and the teaching of literacy.

Preface, Yetta Goodman and James V. HoffmanPart I: Expanding Views of Literacy1. The Communicative, Visual and Performative Arts: Core Components of Literacy Education, Diane Lapp, James Flood, Shirley Brice Heath and Judith Langer2. From Gray to Google: Learning within a Profession, Nancy L. Roser and Sam Weintraub3. Multimodality: In Perspective, Jerome Harste4. Surveying the Hopescape, Rudine Sims BishopPart II: Literacy Development5. The Transformation of Children’s Knowledge of Language Units During Beginning and Initial Literacy, Emilia Ferreiro6. Early Literacy: Then and Now, William H. Teale, Jessica Hoffman, Kathleen Paciga, Jennifer Garrette Lisy, Samantha Richardson and Charlise Berkel 7. Reaching/Teaching Adolescents: Literacies with a History, Donna E. Alvermann8. The Lamplighters: Pioneers of Adult Literacy Education in the United States, Thomas StichtPart III: Foundational Issues in the Teaching of Reading9. Revisiting The Concept of "Natural Learning", Brian Cambourne10. Beyond Word Recognition: How Retrospective and Future Perspectives on Miscue Analysis Can Inform Our Teaching, Kenneth Goodman, Yetta Goodman and Eric Paulson 11. Spelling and Its Role in Literacy Education: An Historical Perspective, Richard E. Hodges12. Readability: Insights, Sidelights, and Hindsights, Ed FryPart IV: Teaching, Teacher Education and Professional Development13. Literacy Education at a Crossroad: Can We Counter the Trend to Marginalize Quality Teacher Education? Gerald G. Duffy, Sandra M. Webb and Stephanie Davis14. Whole School Instructional Improvement through the Standards-Based Change Process: A Developmental Model, Taffy E. Raphael, Kathryn H. Au and Susan R. GoldmanPart V: Policy and Practice in Literacy Education15. Language Policy and Literacy Instruction: The View From South Africa to South Texas, James V. Hoffman, Misty Sailors, Leketi Makalela and Bertus Matthee16. Fifty Years of Federal Government Involvement in Reading Education, Patrick Shannon, Jacqueline Edmondson, Leticia Ortega, Susan Pitcher, and Christopher Robbins17. Literacy Policies that are Needed: Thinking Beyond "No Child Left Behind", Richard L. Allington18. Literacy Education 2.0: Looking through the Rear Vision Mirror as We Move Ahead, Robert J. TierneyIndex

"This book would be an excellent one to use in literacy foundation courses...It is rare to find a book that contextualizes current literacy practices and policies historically. This contextualization allows current researchers and teachers to have a better understanding of various topics, and to better appreciate current circumstances in literacy research and instruction."--Diane Barone, Teachers College Record (November 2009)