Appropriate for courses on working with parents and the community. This introductory text examines the connections between the homes, schools, and communities in which children live. The authors' unique vision of school improvement suggests how to arrange teaching strategies and a situation-specific curriculum that is developmentally and culturally appropriate. It also emphasizes the necessity of including communities and families as equal partners with the schools. By weaving extensive demographic information with real life stories, the text helps the reader to develop a full perspective regarding child life.