Emergent Literacy: Lessons for Success

About The Authors

Sonia Q. Cabell, MEd, is a doctoral candidate in Reading Education at the Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, Charlottesville. A certified reading specialist, Cabell has worked as a second grade teacher and a literacy coach in both Oklahoma and Virginia. She currently serves as the research coordinator in the Preschool Language and Literacy Lab at the University of Virginia. Her research projects investigate aspects of emergent literacy among preschool children who are at risk for later reading difficulties

Laura Justice, PhD, is Professor in the School of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University (Columbus). A clinical speech-language pathologist, Justice is interested in early literacy development and intervention for children who have language difficulties. She has published a number of peer-reviewed papers on this topic as well as several books, including Clinical Approaches to Emergent Literacy Intervention.

Joan Kaderavek, PhD, is Professor in Early Childhood Education in the College of Education at the University of Toledo, Ohio. She conducts research and publishes in the areas of early childhood language and literacy development, literacy interventions for children with special educational needs, and effective instructional practices for early childhood classrooms.

Khara L. Pence, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia in the Curry School of Education and the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning, with an appointment in the Preschool Language & Literacy Lab. Khara’s interests are in language and literacy development, particularly for children who are at risk for language and literacy difficulties.

Allison Breit-Smith, PhD, is a Post Doctoral Researcher in the College of Education and Human Ecology at Ohio State University. Her research focuses on early language development and emergent literacy skills in children with disabilities with an emphasis on interactive book sharing. She has worked professionally for many years as a speech-language pathologist in the public schools.