Language Building Blocks is an accessible resource that familiarizes early childhood professionals with linguistics, the scientific study of language. Knowledge of linguistics will enable early childhood educators to successfully teach young children core competencies, ranging from phonemic awareness, reading and math, to health literacy and intercultural awareness. The text includes numerous real-life examples for diverse age groups and learning styles. The online Resource Guide provides hands-on activities and contributions by top scholars in the field. This resource shows teachers how to systematically empower and include all children. This teacher-friendly book: Provides an enhanced understanding of language and language acquisition, minimizing misdiagnoses of special needs.Makes language come alive for children and educators preparing for the Praxis Test.Demonstrates that children develop key skills when they can (dis)assemble language.Highlights approaches Dr. Seuss used to make reading fun for young readers.Offers innovative language and literacy observation and enhancement strategies, including multilingual math and literacy, language exploration, and play.Illustrates the value of observation, collaboration, and inquiry in early learning. “The great value of this resource is that it offers numerous 'bridging' reflections, strategies, and specific instructional interventions. It is a must for any educator that must understand the significant link between language and achievement in schooling contexts.” —From the Foreword by Eugene García “An extraordinarily informative, useful, and highly accessible tool for educators of young children of all language backgrounds. An excellent resource for teacher preparation and professional development.” —Dorothy S. Strickland, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Professor of Education, Emerita, Distinguished Research Fellow, National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey “Informativo! Educators must know how to break down language, how discourse mirrors culture, and how Spanish and other languages promote success in core content areas.” —Rossana Ramirez Boyd, President, National Association for Bilingual Education “A truly necessary guide to understanding language for early childhood teachers in today’s multicultural and multilingual world. Pandey clearly explains the fullness and potential of linguistic knowledge in teaching, honoring the role of the reflective teacher, and celebrating the uniqueness of young children and their languages worldwide.” —Debora B. Wisneski, University of Nebraska at Omaha, President, Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) Anita Pandey is professor of linguistics and coordinator of Professional Communication in the Department of English and Language Arts at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland.

This collection features four peer-reviewed literature reviews on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in agriculture. The first chapter reviews the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as biostimulants for sustainable crop production and explores the benefits of its use, such as bidirectional nutrient exchange and soil quality. The chapter discusses the requirements needed for successful implementation of AMF in sustainable crop production, and also maps the current market for mycorrhizal products. The second chapter explores our understanding of how AMF can modify nutrient availability in soil, specifically concerning the roles that fungal ecology and physiology may play during the processes of nutrient acquisition and transformation. The chapter also refers to future opportunities in research to exploit AMF to improve nutrient-use efficiency. The third chapter highlights further advances in our understanding of how AMF can improve root function in agricultural systems. The chapter also discusses the functional diversity apparent in plant responses to AMF colonisation. The final chapter reviews the use of AMF-based bio-inoculants in tea cultivation. The chapter also discusses the range of AMF associated with tea and their effects on the tea rhizosphere, plant growth and quality.

All the chapters in the book deal with lifetime lessons from life. One of my favorite chapters in the book is quite relatable to many professionals as we all go through a phase of frustration at not being able to achieve what we desire.

The book is an attempt to look at life from close quarters and find how certain facts are ignored, some forgotten, few remembered and many emulated. It caters to a wide range of readers ranging from students to professionals across varied age groups. I feel that learning is a process and it should continue lifelong.