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70%
of fourth-grade students are below reading proficiency.
Children are still struggling to read in America. But why aren't we paying enough attention to the years when the foundation is being built?
In 2024, 70% of fourth-grade students were performing below NAEP reading proficiency.. We spend enormous energy figuring out what to do when children are already struggling to read. But we also need to look earlier — and support the educators who are building the foundation long before children become independent readers.
What if you didn't have to choose?
You know, play matters; you see it every day. But you also know that children need intentional support to develop the foundational skills that lead to reading and writing. The Early Literacy Shift helps you bring research and play back to the same team.
Intentional literacy fits right into the play you already do.
Six Foundational Areas of Early Literacy
Explore how these key areas develop, why they matter, and what intentional literacy can look like in real classrooms with children ages 2-5.
Oral
Language
Phonological
Awareness
Alphabet
Knowledge
Concepts
of Print
Early
Writing
Text
Comprehension
Practical. Real. Usable.
This isn't about doing more. It's about making the moment you already have more intentional.
Inside The Early Literacy Shift, you'll discover:
Practical ways to bring research-based literacy
Real classroom examples, including children ages 2-5
Teacher language you can use right away.
A clearer understanding of the foundational skills children need
Ways to intentionally support literacy through play, movement, songs, stories, routines, and converstation.
Reflection questions to help you think about your practice.
Includes a full appendix of ready-to-use resources!
What This Book Is Not
It's not another curriculum.
You don't need to throw out what you're already doing.
It's not about replacing play.
Play matters. Joy matters. Movement matters.
It's not about doing more.
It's about seeing the opportunities you already have — and making them more intentional
It's not about making preschool more academic.
Young children deserve intentional learning experiences.
Who Is This Book For?
Teachers
Provide strong literacy instruction without losing the joy and playfulness of your classroom.
Directors
Help your team develop a shared understanding of intentional early literacy.
Early Childhood Leaders
Bring research into developmentally appropriate practice across classrooms and programs.
Educators at Any Stage
Gain a clearer understanding of what young childre need to build strong literacy foundations.
Whether you're in the classroom or supporting educators across a school, The Early Literacy Shift helps you bring research and play together.
The book includes classroom examples across ages 2-5, but the principles and research can support educators across the early learning years.
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Melissa McCall, M.A.Ed., is the founder of Moving Little Minds and an early literacy specialist with more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education. Her work focuses on helping educators merge research-based literacy instruction with the joy, movement, play, and connection that make early childhood classrooms special.
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