A Developmental Approach to Educating Young Children

Denise Daniels is a professor of child development at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, and a former associate professor of educational psychology at Northern Illinois University. She received her Ph.D. in Education and Developmental Studies from UCLA in 1992. She draws from nearly 20 years of experience teaching educators and other child professionals at undergraduate and graduate levels. Denise’s research focuses on children’s adjustment and motivation to learn in school, and the development of children’s and teachers’ psychological understandings and beliefs about education. She is involved in a variety of community and state endeavors to promote high quality early educational practices.

• AcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorsPreface to the Classroom Insights from Educational Psychology SeriesIntroduction1. Developmental Perspectives and Educational Practice: Viewing Children and Teachers in the Big Picture2. Early School Adjustment: Fostering Adjustment and Self-Regulation3. The Primacy of Relationships in the Early School Years: Fostering Relationships4. Developmentally Appropriate Classroom Practices: Fostering Learning in the Classroom5. Learning in Digital and Natural Environments: Connecting Learning Out of the ClassroomConclusion: Guiding Children on Positive Developmental Pathways Through SchoolResourcesResource A. Tools for Reflection and ImprovementResource B. Professional Organizations and Model ProgramsResource C. Recommended ReadingResource D. GlossaryReferencesIndex

"This encouraging book presents currently recommended teaching methods based on educational research and philosophy. It should be used in classrooms and teacher preparation programs to operationalize developmentally appropriate practice and to help teachers incorporate such practices into the testing culture that is a reality in today’s classrooms.”