Table of Contents

Every chapter begins with a “Table of Contents” and “Focus Questions.”  Each chapter contains “Summary,” “Reflection,” “Explorations and Activities,” “An Expert Speaks,” “Celebrating Diversity,” “Chapter Summary,” “Key Terms,” “Children with Special Needs” and “Resources for Further Reading.”

Part One: Foundations of Early Childhood Learning

1. Young Children Growing, Thinking, and Learning

Developmentally Appropriate Practice.

Theories of Development

   Behaviorist Theory

   Maturationist Theory

   Constructivist Theory

   Multiple Intelligence Theory

   Social Learning Theory

   Ecological Systems Theory

   Theoretical Influences on Teaching

   Theoretical Influences on Observations

Children's Development

Physical Development

   Social Development

   Emotional Development

   Intellectual Development

 2. Designing Schools for Young Children

Early Schools for Young Children

Key People in Early Childhood Education

Other Influences on Early Childhood Education

Changes in Early Childhood Education

   The Child-Care Movement

   Kindergarten

   Head Start

   Programs for Children with Special Needs

   Early Intervention Programs

Contemporary Models of Early Childhood Programs

   The Montessori Model

   The Behaviorist Model

   The Constructivist Model

   Summaries and Comparisons

Research on Program Models

3. Creating an Environment for Learning

Planning a Learning Environment

Structuring a Physical Environment

   Room Arrangement

   Physical Climate

   Assessing the Environment

Instructional Materials

   Learning Areas

   Beginning the Year

   Managing Learning Areas

Planning the Outdoor Environment

Planning for Safety–Inside and Out

4. Planning Learning Activities.

Curriculum Design

Curriculum Organization

Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum

   Rationale for an Integrated Curriculum

   Selecting a Theme

   Implementing the Theme

   Evaluating the Theme

Learning Plans

Mandated Lessons and Goals

Multicultural Education and Anti-Bias Curriculum

Computers in Early Childhood Programs

   Teaching and Learning with Computers

   Young Children Online

Scheduling

   Details of the Schedule

   Simplifying Routines

   Adapting the Schedule

   Kindergarten: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Alternate-Day Programs

   Other Scheduling Issues

5. Play: Learning at Its Best

Defining Play

   Types of Play

   Characteristics of Play

   Levels of Play

Purposes of Play

   Intellectual Development

   Social and Emotional Development

   Physical Development

Development of Play Behaviors

   Infancy

   Preschool

   Early Primary Grades

   Middle Childhood

Play in School Settings

   Roles of the Teacher

   Play in Primary Classrooms

   Benefits of Play at School

   Selecting Materials for Play

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