Global Variation in Literacy Development

Through a range of multi-disciplinary case studies, this book provides a framework for variation in literacy development around the globe.

Ludo Verhoeven (Edited by), Sonali Nag (Edited by), Charles Perfetti (Edited by), Kenneth Pugh (Edited by)

9781009242554, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 December 2023

490 pages
23.5 x 15.5 x 2.6 cm, 0.897 kg

Bringing together an international team of scholars, this pioneering book presents the first truly systematic, cross-linguistic study of variation in literacy development. It draws on a wide range of cross-cultural research to shed light on the key factors that predict global variation in children's acquisition of reading and writing skills, covering regions as diverse as North and South America, Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa. The first part of the volume deals with comprehensive reviews related to the variation of literacy in different regions of the globe as a function of socio-political, sociocultural, and language and writing system factors. The second part of the volume deals with comprehensive reviews related to the variation of literacy in different world regions. Offering a pioneering new framework for global literacy development, this groundbreaking volume will remain a landmark in the fields of literacy development and literacy teaching and learning for years to come.

1. Introduction – Literacy development: a global perspective
Part I. Regional Variations: 2. Sociocultural variation in literacy development in Canada and the United States Michael J. Kieffer and Rose Vukovic
3. Literacy contexts and literacy development in South America Ana Luiza Navas
4. Postcolonial literacy development in the Caribbean Ludo Verhoeven and Ronald Severing
5. Literacy development in Europe Luisa Araújo and Patricia da Costa
6. Literacy education and literacy development in Russia Olga Velichenkova and Margarita Rusetskaya
7. Literacy development and language of instruction in sub-Saharan Africa Amber Gove, Karon Harden, Simon King, Jennifer Pressley Ryann, Sarrynna Sou and Susan Edwards
8. Literacy and linguistic diversity in multilingual India Pooja R. Nakamura and Chinmaya R. Holla
9. Literacy development in East Asia Michelle R. Y. Huo, Xin Sun, Ioulia Kovelman and Xi Chen
10. Literacy and linguistic diversity in Australia Anne-Marie Morgan, Nicholas Reid and Peter Freebody
Part II. Neurobiological and Ecological Markers: 11. Writing systems and global literacy development Charles Perfetti and Ludo Verhoeven
12. Brain foundations for learning to read Pietra Cassol Rigatti, Xin Cui, Kenneth Pugh, Mailce Borges Mota and Augusto Buchweitz
13. Genetics and literacy development Elena L. Grigorenko
14. Role of self-regulation in the transition to school Frederick J. Morrison, Jennie Grammer, Lindsay Bell Weixler and Matthew H. Kim
15. Socio-economic status, socio-cultural factors and literacy development Sonali Nag
16. Sensitivity to contextual factors in literacy interventions in the global south Yonas Mesfun Asfaha and Sonali Nag
17. How teachers contribute to children's literacy success David K. Dickinson, Carol McDonald Connor and Elizabeth Burke Hadley
18. The literacy ecology of the home: the case of rural Rwanda Elliott Friedlander and Claude Goldenberg
19. Parental literacy support in monolingual and bilingual contexts Mila Schwartz
Global literacy: patterns and variations.

Subject Areas: Psycholinguistics [CFD]