Call for Chapters: Story Reading in Inclusive Classrooms: Promoting Linguistic, Cognitive, and Social Development

Editors

Welile Msimango, University of Zululand, South Africa
Adelaide Mzimela, University of Zululand, South Africa
Sithabile Ntombela, University of Zululand, South Africa

Call for Chapters

Proposals Submission Deadline: July 19, 2026
Full Chapters Due: September 20, 2026
Submission Date: September 20, 2026

Introduction

Storyreading as a Pedagogical Strategy for Promoting Language, Cognitive, and Social Development in Inclusive Rural Foundation Phase Classrooms examines the vital role of storyreading in fostering holistic learning among young children in rural and under-resourced early education contexts. The book positions storyreading as a powerful and culturally responsive pedagogical practice that supports language development, early literacy, cognitive growth, and social interaction within inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and Foundation Phase classrooms (Nayak, 2025). Drawing on empirical research, classroom-based experiences, and culturally grounded indigenous knowledge systems, the text demonstrates how storyreading can create nurturing and inclusive learning environments that recognise and value learners’ diverse linguistic, cultural, and developmental backgrounds. It highlights how shared story reading experiences promote vocabulary development, listening and critical thinking skills, imagination, empathy, and collaborative peer relationships, while enhancing learner engagement and active participation. The book engages with the lived realities and persistent challenges faced by Foundation Phase teachers in rural and marginalized contexts, including limited access to resources, multilingual classrooms, and varied learner needs. In response, it offers practical, reflective, and evidence-informed strategies for integrating story reading into inclusive, learner-centred pedagogies that are flexible across diverse contexts and aligned with curriculum and policy expectations. This publication conceptualizes story reading as a holistic and transformative pedagogical practice that advances inclusion, care, and meaningful learning in early childhood education settings.

Objective

•Examine the pedagogical value of story reading as a strategy for promoting language development, early literacy, cognitive growth, and social skills in Foundation Phase learners. •Explore story reading as a culturally responsive practice that integrates indigenous knowledge systems and reflects the linguistic and cultural diversity of rural classroom contexts. •Demonstrate how story reading supports inclusive education, particularly for learners with diverse developmental, linguistic, and learning needs in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and Foundation Phase settings. •Highlight the role of shared story reading experiences in fostering key developmental competencies such as vocabulary acquisition, listening, comprehension, critical thinking, imagination, empathy, and social interaction. •Engage with the contextual realities of rural and under-resourced classrooms, including challenges related to limited teaching materials, multilingualism, and varied learner readiness. •Provide practical, evidence-informed strategies for teachers to integrate story reading into learner-centred and inclusive pedagogical practices. •Support teacher reflection and professional development by offering contextually relevant examples, classroom-based insights, and adaptable teaching approaches. •Align story reading practices with curriculum and policy frameworks, ensuring their relevance to formal educational expectations in early childhood and Foundation Phase education. •Position story reading as a holistic and transformative teaching approach that promotes care, inclusion, learner engagement, and meaningful learning experiences.

Target Audience

The primary audience for this book comprises researchers, academics, and postgraduate students specialising in early childhood education, literacy studies, rural education, multilingual education, and educational psychology. It is particularly relevant to those engaged in examining inclusive pedagogies and contextually responsive teaching practices. A secondary audience includes policymakers, curriculum developers, teacher educators, and non-governmental organisations involved in early learning and educational development. The book will also be of practical value to Foundation Phase practitioners seeking culturally responsive and contextually grounded pedagogical strategies to support diverse learners in under-resourced settings. In addition, the publication will appeal to international scholars interested in indigenous knowledge systems, inclusive education, and alternative approaches to early literacy, offering insights into pedagogical practices rooted in diverse cultural and rural contexts.

Recommended Topics

Section 1: Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations of Storyreading •The Pedagogical Power of Storyreading in Early Childhood and Foundation Phase Education •Explores storyreading as a core pedagogical practice that supports holistic learning, inclusion, and engagement in the early years. •Storyreading, Oral Traditions, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems •Examines how storyreading can draw on culturally rooted narratives, oral traditions, and local knowledge to support meaningful learning. •Theoretical Perspectives Informing Storyreading Pedagogy •Discusses sociocultural theory, social constructivism, multimodality, and dialogic learning as foundations for effective storyreading. •Storyreading, Identity Formation, and Cultural Belonging in Rural Classrooms •Considers how storyreading supports children’s sense of identity, voice, and belonging in culturally diverse learning spaces. Section 2: Storyreading and Early Learning Development •Supporting Language Development and Vocabulary Growth through Storyreading •Focuses on how shared reading experiences enhance oral language, listening skills, and expressive communication. •Storyreading for Emergent Literacy and Reading Readiness •Explores the role of storyreading in fostering print awareness, comprehension, and early reading behaviours. •Cognitive Development Through Storyreading and Meaning‑Making •Examines how storyreading supports thinking, reasoning, memory, and concept development in young learners. •Social and Emotional Learning through Storyreading Practices •Highlights how storyreading promotes empathy, emotional expression, social interaction, and positive peer relationships. Section 3: Inclusive Classroom Practices and Pedagogical Innovation •Teachers’ Storyreading Knowledge, Beliefs, and Professional Practice •Explores how teachers conceptualise and enact storyreading as part of inclusive pedagogy. •Storyreading in Multilingual and Linguistically Diverse Classrooms •Examines strategies for supporting multiple languages and translanguaging through storyreading. •Inclusive Storyreading for Learners with Diverse Learning Needs •Focuses on adapting storyreading practices to support learners with barriers to learning and developmental differences. •Storyreading in Resource‑Constrained Classrooms: Creativity and Innovation •Showcases low‑cost, locally available, and imaginative approaches to storyreading in under‑resourced settings. •Using Visuals, Music, Movement, and Play to Enrich Storyreading •Explores multimodal approaches that deepen engagement and understanding during storyreading. •Digital and Multimodal Storyreading: Possibilities and Constraints •Critically examines the use of digital tools and media to enhance storyreading in diverse contexts. Section 4: Community, Culture, and Collaborative Storyreading •Parents, Caregivers, and Elders as Partners in Storyreading •Explores home-school connections and shared responsibility for early literacy development. •Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy through Storyreading •Examines storyreading as a means of sustaining language, culture, and community knowledge. •Community‑Based Storyreading Initiatives in Rural and Marginalised Contexts •Presents examples of collaborative storyreading projects that strengthen learning beyond the classroom. •Storyreading and School–Community Partnerships •Explores how storyreading practices can foster trust, collaboration, and shared educational goals. Section 5: Research, Teacher Education, and Policy Implications •Researching Storyreading in Rural and Under‑Resourced Contexts •Discusses methodological approaches, ethical considerations, and insights from diverse global contexts. •Integrating Storyreading into Teacher Education, Professional Development, and Policy •Explores implications for curriculum design, teacher preparation, and policy frameworks supporting inclusive early learning.

Submission Procedure

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before July 19, 2026, a chapter proposal of 1,000 to 2,000 words clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Authors will be notified by August 2, 2026 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines.Full chapters of a minimum of 10,000 words (word count includes references and related readings) are expected to be submitted by September 20, 2026, and all interested authors must consult the guidelines for manuscript submissions at https://www.igi-global.com/publish/contributor-resources/before-you-write/ prior to submission. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-anonymized review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.

Note: There are no submission or acceptance fees for manuscripts submitted to this book publication, Story Reading in Inclusive Classrooms: Promoting Linguistic, Cognitive, and Social Development. All manuscripts are accepted based on a double-anonymized peer review editorial process.

All proposals should be submitted through the eEditorial Discovery® online submission manager.

Publisher

This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global Scientific Publishing, an international academic publisher of the "Information Science Reference", "Medical Information Science Reference", "Business Science Reference", and "Engineering Science Reference" imprints. IGI Global Scientific Publishing specializes in publishing reference books, scholarly journals, and electronic databases featuring academic research on a variety of innovative topic areas including, but not limited to, education, social science, medicine and healthcare, business and management, information science and technology, engineering, public administration, library and information science, media and communication studies, and environmental science. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit https://www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2027.

Indexing Information for Prospective Authors

IGI Global Scientific Publishing meets the criteria for inclusion in major indexing services such as Scopus; however, it is important to note that all indexing decisions are made independently by these services. IGI Global Scientific Publishing books are selectively indexed by the indexing organization after publication. Indexing cannot be guaranteed for any book prior to publication, and the indexing organization has complete control over the final selection and timeline.

Important Dates

July 19, 2026: Proposal Submission Deadline
August 2, 2026: Notification of Acceptance
September 20, 2026: Full Chapter Submission
October 25, 2026: Review Results Returned
November 22, 2026: Final Acceptance Notification
November 29, 2026: Final Chapter Submission

Inquiries

Welile Msimango University of Zululand msimangow@unizulu.ac.za Adelaide Mzimela University of Zululand MzimelaAM@unizulu.ac.za Sithabile Ntombela University of Zululand NtombelaS@unizulu.ac.za
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