This book explores the recent developments in the field of literacy education - it introduces major contemporary trends in research and theory that underpin the debates and movements within the language and literacy field.

This book is intended to offer an introduction to some major themes in literacy education. Literacy has become an important issue both in the UK and internationally, and this book aims to inform discussions while assisting teachers to reflect on their work as literacy teachers. Literacy is important from the earliest years through all the years of formal education, and so this book covers work with students in the full range of schooling, and in a number of different subject areas. Topics covered include: *the nature and use of texts *the reading positions that are constructed in texts and their ideological implications *the ways in which written texts change as students grow older *moving from the early years through to secondary education *the implications of Information Technology for literacy teaching Frances Christie is Foundation Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Melbourne. Ray Misson is Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education at the University of Melbourne.