This is the first research handbook to address all dimensions of diversity that have an impact on literacy achievement. Leading experts examine how teaching and learning intersect with cultural and language differences and socioeconomic disparities in today's increasingly diverse schools and communities. The volume weaves compelling research findings together with theory, policy considerations, and discussions of exemplary instructional practices. It offers fresh perspectives on such topics as family literacy, multiliteracies, drawing on cultural resources in the classroom, factors that promote success in high-poverty schools, equity issues, and ways to teach specific literacy skills. The concluding section provides crucial recommendations for teacher preparation and professional development.

Lesley Mandel Morrow, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of Literacy and Chair of the Department of Learning and Teaching at the Graduate School of Education, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Her research interests include early literacy development and the organization and management of language arts programs. Widely published, Dr. Morrow is a recipient of the International Reading Association’s Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award and the William S. Gray Citation of Merit, among many other honors, and is a member of the Reading Hall of Fame.

Robert Rueda, PhD, is Professor of Psychology in Education at the Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California. His research centers on sociocultural processes in classroom learning, motivation, and instruction, with a focus on reading and literacy in English language learners and students in at-risk conditions. Dr. Rueda is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Educational Research Association, and served as associate editor of the American Educational Research Journal.

Diane Lapp, EdD, is Distinguished Professor of Education in the Department of Teacher Education at San Diego State University. Her major areas of research and instruction are issues related to struggling readers and their families who live in economically deprived urban settings. Widely published, Dr. Lapp has received numerous awards, including the International Reading Association’s Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award, and is a member of the Reading Hall of Fame.