This timely book explores innovative ways teachers can use play-based activities to build a strong literacy foundation for young learners. It shows teachers how to reconcile the early childhood knowledge that children bring to school with the needs of a more formal education experience.

Ready to Learn is committed to creating classrooms that feature collaborative learning spaces where children work with their peers, assume roles and viewpoints, and communicate naturally with each other. Based on the premise that children succeed when their social interactions are valued, this practical book supports powerful learning strategies that use play-based exercises to encourage learning through speaking, listening, creative thinking, and moving recognize the power of math, science, technology and computers in early learning encourage hands-on experiences that are driven by children's own desire to learn respect children's unique home background and the important role of family accommodate the different ways that children develop and learn.

This comprehensive approach to learning looks at functional and constructive play as well as more structured dramatic play and games with rules. Socio-dramatic play, where children assume roles of heroes and victims to negotiate the choices they make in real life, are an important part of the book. Classroom observations of children's play moments and activities directed by children themselves are shared, with practical suggestions for how adults can guide students in planned and informal activities to enrich their early literacy skills.

The social and shared interaction of learning through play is what informs the literate lives of children. Ready to Learn shows new and experienced teachers how play-based problem solving can give children the best start possible in their school lives.