Collaboration and Consultation in Preschool to Promote Early Literacy for Children: Lessons Learned From the CSS Curriculum

Abstract

Collaboration and consultation in early childhood settings is essential in supporting early literacy development; however, building partnerships can be difficult. In this article, we describe a large-scale project entitled Children's School Success (Odom et al., 2003) as a context from which to discuss collaboration and consultation related to literacy acquisition within early childhood settings. Using the lessons learned from this project, we offer several implications for effective collaboration and consultation to enhance children's early literacy acquisition.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amber Friesen

Amber Friesen, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Special Education in the Department of Special Education at San Francisco State University. Her research interests focus on supporting young children at-risk or diagnosed with disabilities and their families. Specifically, she is interested in inclusive early education settings, early literacy development and intervention, and family partnerships.

Gretchen Butera

Gretchen Butera, PhD, is Associate Professor of Special Education at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and co-investigator for the Children's School Success Plus project. As an experienced preschool teacher, Dr. Butera has an ongoing interest in effective instruction for preschool children at risk or with disabilities. Her research interests include teacher education, the role of families in early intervention and curriculum for young children.

Jean Kang

Jean Kang, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Specialized Education Services Department at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.

Eva Horn

Eva Horn, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas.

Joan Lieber

Joan Lieber, PhD, is a Professor in the Special Education Program at the University of Maryland in College Park.

Susan Palmer

Susan Palmer, PhD, is a Research Professor at the Beach Center on Disability and the Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Kansas.

Note: The authors report that to the best of their knowledge neither they nor their affiliated institutions have financial or personal relationships or affiliations that could influence or bias the opinions, decisions, or work presented in this article.