Early Education Curriculum: A Child’s Connection to the World

Chapter-opening Student Learning Outcomes are correlated to main sections of the chapter, helping students focus on the material they need to learn, process and understand. The outcomes are linked to numbered chapter summary points that appear in a question-and-answer format, reinforcing students' knowledge and skills.

The inclusion of developmentally appropriate activities helps readers translate theory and research into practical application.

Focusing on 11 curricular areas, chapters include a callout section on brain development, definitions of key terms, developmental stages related to growth in that specific area, guidance for preparing the environment, insight into how to integrate that topic into the overall curriculum, activity plan samples, information on addressing diverse needs, detailed descriptions of how to involve families in their children's learning, the teacher's role and teaching tips.

Maximizing study time, end-of-chapter Reflective Review Questions help students check their understanding. Explorations activities involve students in active learning, such as asking students to plan a fine motor activity for young children or to use an environment checklist to conduct an observation of an early childhood learning environment.

A Case Study provides examples of how planned activities align with specific standards as well as opportunities for students to put what they learn into action to resolve real-life situations.

The TeachSource Video Case boxes (one per chapter) that were integrated throughout the text now reside in the eTextbook digital solution as the second activity in the learning path.

All chapters are separate and complete, giving instructors ultimate flexibility to use them in any order they wish. At the same time, the chapters in their original sequence form a complete curriculum for children from infancy to age 8.

Content throughout reflects greater sensitivity to more effectively and equitably teaching children from diverse backgrounds. The text also retains its strong applied focus on the how-to's of teaching with numerous hands-on teaching ideas.

Updated to include newly revised national standards, the 8th edition is reorganized into four new parts: Preparing for Learning through Assessment, Curriculum, and the Environment; STEM; Arts -- the "A" in STEAM; and Physical -- Senses of the Body. Observation, assessment, documentation and evaluation are combined into one chapter to eliminate redundancy. Art and music are separated into two unique chapters to allow more detailed coverage. A new chapter on technology offers expanded coverage.

Integrated throughout, updated standards-related coverage -- NAEYC, DAP, InTASC, CEC/DEC, Head Start and subject area professional organization standards such as ILA, NCTM, NVAS, NSME and NSES -- exposes students and experienced teachers alike to current thinking. Chapter openers list the standards to be addressed. Standards and competencies for early childhood educators used by higher education programs seeking NAEYC accreditation are listed by the key competencies within the standards. NAEYC, DAP and InTASC standards are cited in the chapter margin next to content that aligns with particular standards.

The updated Appendix F: Additional Standards contains state contact information for the Common Core standards as well as professional groups whose standards are referenced in specific chapters. This enables teachers and students to easily access these standards to use in creating curriculum.