Focusing on developmentally appropriate practices for young children ages 3-8, this text provides aspiring classroom teachers with in-depth knowledge of content area curriculum and assessment for Pre-K through third grade. Young children deserve the best teachers possible, and this text is focused on helping aspiring teachers become skillful in planning, implementing, and assessing appropriate activities. Each chapter is grounded in the most recent research and illustrates how research influences best practice. In this edition, as well as in previous editions, the goal has been to help readers view developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) as the process of choosing learning experiences appropriate for each child, recognizing the strengths of each learner, and actively involving children in their own learning. This text continues to offer the strongest coverage of curriculum (seven full content area chapters) and demonstrates the importance of integrating subjects through a feature called Integrating the Curriculum. Readers will learn how to communicate the principles that guide their teaching to parents and administrators and how to help others appreciate the needs of the children in their classrooms.