The Literacy of Play and Innovation provides a portrait of what innovative education looks like from a literacy perspective. Through an in-depth case study of a "maker" school's innovative design-in particular, of four early childhood educator's classrooms-this book demonstrates that children's inspiration, curiosity, and creativity is a direct result of the school environment. Presenting a unique, data-driven model of literacy, play, and innovation taking the maker movement beyond STEM education, this book helps readers understand literacy learning through making and the creative approaches embedded in early literacy classroom practices.

Christiane Wood is an Assistant Professor in Literacy Education at California State University, San Marcos, USA.

The Literacy of Play and Innovation provides a portrait of what innovative education looks like from a literacy perspective. Through an in-depth case study of a "maker" school's innovative design-in particular, of four early childhood educator's classrooms-this book demonstrates that children's inspiration, curiosity, and creativity is a direct result of the school environment. Presenting a unique, data-driven model of literacy, play, and innovation taking the maker movement beyond STEM education, this book helps readers understand literacy learning through making and the creative approaches embedded in early literacy classroom practices.

List of Figures

Preface

Acknowledgements

1 Introduction: New Possibilities: The Potential of Makerspaces as Literacy-Play Learning Environments

2 The Spark of Mindful Design: Envisioning Equity in a Culture of Innovation

3 The Wonderings of the Krewe

4 The Whimsy of the Maker

5 The Cleverness of Innovation

6 Literacy for the Bricoleur

Conclusion

Appendix