The challenges of early childhood education are enormous: teaching more children who are poor, who are homeless, who live in dysfunctional families, and who endure the social upheaval in American cities. This book is designed to help teachers make the many decisions required daily.All aspects of helping young children ages 3-8 are covered in this comprehensive guide that stresses "best practices": day care, learning, growth, and proper curriculum. Accessible writing explains how to integrate developmentally appropriate practices into a curriculum and offers practical tips for working in the early childhood classrooms. Coverage includes: diversity in families and in the classroom, parent involvement techniques, and insight from practicing early-childhood caregivers.