This third edition focuses on helping the preservice teacher become an “Effective and Influential Reading Teacher,” one whom students remember years later as a special teacher and person.

The ideas and teaching strategies in this text are clearly developed to actively involve preservice teachers in understanding and thinking about children's reading and writing development. Information is derived from the latest theory and research on reading and language development. Central to this text is the real world classroom; thus, theory and research are applied to literacy teaching through examples, instructional strategies, and illustrations — all intended to guide and support readers toward the goal of becoming an effective and influential literacy teacher.