Building the young reader's brain, birth through age 8 / Pamela Nevills.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Learning from birth to 2 years -- Rapid learning for 2- and 3-years-olds -- Preparing for this world at age 4 -- Schools routines and rapid learning for 4- and 5-years-olds -- Preparing for reading at age 4-6 -- Teaching for reading in the first grade -- Second-grade readers -- Transition time for third-grade readers -- Assessing and responding to readers with disabilities -- Teachers and students as learning partners -- Conclusion: a dozen key learnings.

A child's brain, even before birth, begins to develop the five senses and motor skills. The miniscule brain of a developing fetus directs the formation of the nervous system and the child's body. Language experiences, such as talking, singing and interacting with a newborn through the developmental years, are of extreme importance. parents and caregivers quite naturally provide and environment that starts learning right during the first two years of their child's life. Oral language and social development are key for 4-years-old as they approach or attend preschool. The oral language pathway is defined including areas of the brain that support speech. The reading pathway is different and difficult to build. Teachers respond by teaching explicit letters for sounds to letters and to words.