Continuing Issues in Early Childhood Education » (3rd Edition)

Today’s early childhood educators are faced with a great deal of responsibility and are called upon to make numerous decisions every day. They interact with children, families, colleagues, administrators, and policy makers. To be effective, their actions have to be based not on their own personal opinions, but by an understanding of the complexities related to each new, potentially controversial issue and current research on child development and the best practices in early childhood education programs. This unique book aims to address this need for advanced students and veteran educators to have a bipartisan reference of the most important issues of the day as addressed by the most advanced scholars in the field.

To do this, the authors have called on eighteen of the most influential educators of the day to contribute a chapter on each topic covered in the book. These multiple perspectives provide an unbiased overview of each issue. The issues covered include families, advocacy, children with disabilities, and diversity. Chapters on developmentally appropriate practices stimulate discussion of the influence of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC.)

PART I WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE AND EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN?

1. Governing American Early Care and Education: Shifting From Government to Governance and From Form to Function

2. The Role of Government in Early Care and Education: An International Perspective

PART II WHAT KINDS OF PROGRAMS DO CHILDREN NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR DEVELOPMENT?

3. Programs for Infants and Toddlers

4. Quality in Programs for Young Children

5. Children's Readiness for Success in School

PART III WHO WILL TEACH YOUNG CHILDREN?

6. The Early Childhood Education Workforce

7. The Professional Development of Teachers of Young Children

8. What Do Early Childhood Educators Need to Know and Do to Work in Urban Settings?

9. Professionalism and Ethics in Early Care and Education

PART IV WHAT IS THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM?

10. Curriculum in Early Childhood Education: Teaching the Whole Child

11. Play Theory and Practice in Contemporary Classrooms

12. Early Learning Standards and Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Contradictory or Compatible

PART V HOW CAN WE MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL YOUNG CHILDREN?

13. Educating Young Children with Developmental Differences: Principles of Inclusive Practice

14. Diversity and Early Childhood Education: Making Room for Everyone

PART VI HOW WILL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BE EVALUATED?

15. Assessing Young Children

16. Evaluating Programs for Young Children

PART VII WHAT IS THE ROLE OF FAMILIES IN EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION?

17. Partnerships with Families

PART VIII HOW CAN WE ADVOCATE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN?

18. Advocacy for Young Children-