You are here

Disable VAT on Taiwan

Unfortunately, as of 1 January 2020 SAGE Ltd is no longer able to support sales of electronically supplied services to Taiwan customers that are not Taiwan VAT registered. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information or to place a print-only order, please contact uk.customerservices@sagepub.co.uk.

Introduction to Early Childhood Education
Share
Share

Introduction to Early Childhood Education

Ninth Edition

Other Titles in:
Early Childhood Education

January 2025 | SAGE Publications, Inc
Start your journey to make a difference in the lives of young children and their families with Introduction to Early Childhood Education, Ninth Edition. This text provides current and future educators with a highly readable, comprehensive overview of the field. The underlying philosophy of the book is that early childhood educators’ most important task is to connect with young children and provide a program that supports their learning and development. With intentional weaving of the aims of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging throughout, authors Melissa M. Burnham and Eva L. Essa provide valuable insight by strategically dividing the book into six sections that answer the “WhatWhoWhyWhere, and How” of early childhood education. Aligning with the latest NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) position statements, including the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators, this supportive text provides students with the skills, theories, and practices needed to succeed and thrive as early childhood educators.
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Part I: The What Of Early Childhood Education
 
Chapter 1: The Scope Of And Need For Early Childhood Education
NAEYC’s Four Core Position Statements

 
The Growth of Early Childhood Education

 
What Are the Components of Early Childhood Education?

 
Defining Quality in Early Childhood Programs

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Part II: The Who Of Early Childhood Education
 
Chapter 2: The Children
Principles of Child Development and Learning

 
Children’s Uniquenesses

 
Working With Families of Young Children

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Chapter 3: The Families
Theoretical Perspectives on the Family

 
The Modern American Family

 
Family Strengths

 
Communicating With Families

 
Family Engagement

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Chapter 4: The Educators
The Early Childhood Educator

 
Staffing in Early Childhood Programs

 
Training Options and Requirements in Early Childhood Education

 
Professionalism

 
Current Issues and Dilemmas

 
Family Support for the Early Childhood Profession

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Part III: The Why Of Early Childhood Education
 
Chapter 5: Rationale Supporting Early Childhood Education
A Look Back—Children Through Time

 
Influential People in the History of Early Childhood Education

 
What Does Philosophy Have to Do with It?

 
Theory

 
Different Ways of Doing Early Childhood Education

 
Research on the Impact of Early Childhood Education

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions/Applications

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Chapter 6: Accountability, Standards, and Assessment
Accountability: Program Standards and Assessment

 
Early Learning Standards for Young Children

 
Child Assessment: Informal Tools

 
Child Assessment: Formal Tools

 
Assessment Systems

 
Family Collaboration in Screening and Assessment

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Part IV: The Where Of Early Childhood Education
 
Chapter 7: The Physical Environment
Effects of the Physical Environment

 
Arranging the Indoor Environment

 
Arranging the Outdoor Environment

 
Environments for Different Ages and Abilities

 
Developmentally Appropriate Equipment

 
Developmentally Appropriate Materials

 
Screen Technology

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Chapter 8: The Social and Emotional Environment
Educator-Child Relationships

 
Centering Children’s Strengths

 
Recognizing and Understanding Children’s Stress and Trauma

 
Responsive Strategies to Support a Positive Social and Emotional Environment

 
Helping Families Cope with Stress

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Part V: The How Of Early Childhood Education—Curriculum
 
Chapter 9: Scheduling and Curriculum Planning
Components of the Early Childhood Schedule

 
Guidelines for Scheduling

 
Sample Schedules & Additional Considerations

 
Overview of Curriculum Planning

 
Approaches to Curriculum Planning

 
Engaging Families through the Curriculum

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Chapter 10: Creative Development Through the Curriculum
What Is Creativity?

 
An Environment That Encourages Creativity

 
Art Theories and Foundations

 
Visual Art Experiences

 
Music and Creative Movement Experiences

 
Supporting Creativity in Children of Different Ages and Abilities

 
Factors That Decrease Creativity

 
Family Values Regarding Creativity

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Chapter 11: Physical & Motor Development Through the Curriculum
A Framework for Understanding Motor Development

 
Components of Physical and Motor Development

 
Gross Motor Activities

 
Fine Motor Activities

 
Sensory Activities

 
Caring for the Body

 
Family Values Related to Physical Care and Development

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Chapter 12: Cognitive Development Through the Curriculum
Theories of Cognitive Development

 
Cognitive Tasks

 
Learning in the STEM Disciplines

 
Supporting STEM Learning in Children of Different Ages and Abilities

 
Families and Cognitive Development

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Application

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Chapter 13: Language and Literacy Development Through the Curriculum
Theories of Language Development

 
Development of and Components of Language

 
Multilingual Learners

 
Language and Literacy in the Early Childhood Curriculum

 
Supporting Language and Literacy Development in Children of Different Ages and Abilities

 
Family Engagement in Language and Literacy Development

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Chapter 14: Social & Emotional Development Through the Curriculum
Theories Addressing Social & Emotional Development

 
Development of Emotional Competencies

 
Development of Social Competencies

 
Promoting Equity and Anti-Bias Education

 
Strategies to Promote Social & Emotional Competencies

 
Supporting Social and Emotional Development in Children of Different Ages and Abilities

 
Reflecting Families’ Cultures and Values

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Application

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Part VI: The HOW of Early Childhood Education: Guidance
 
Chapter 15: Guiding Routines and Group Activities
Guiding Individualized Routines

 
Guiding Group Routines

 
Factors Affecting Group Behavior

 
Guiding Out-of-the-Ordinary Situations

 
Coordinating With Families About Routines

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Key Questions

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Chapter 16: Positive Guidance for Behaviors that are Challenging to Adults
The Outcomes We Are Pursuing

 
Guidance Approaches

 
Factors Affecting Children’s Behavior

 
General Guidance Strategies

 
Strong Unmet-Needs Mistaken Behavior

 
When To Ask for Help

 
Working With Families Regarding Children’s Behavior

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Application

 
Additional Resources

 
 
Pulling It All Together
 
Appendix: NAEYC Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators: Correlation Matrix

For instructors