Educational Programs for Young Children

Educational Programs for Young Children convenes a valuable collection of readings about early childhood curricula, providing students with a solid overview of available options for and approaches to education for young children.The book begins with a reading that focuses on seven conditions that are critical for learning in early childhood. Additional readings address the history of child care and instruction in the United States, Vygotskian and post-Vygotskian views on children's play, zones of proximal development in Head Start classrooms, and Montessori philosophy, education, and bilingual education. Students read about pedagogy, various approaches to curriculum development and teaching, and early childhood intervention programs. The final reading addresses emergent curriculum and the tension between relationship and assessment. Throughout the text, post-reading questions inspire critical thought, meaningful discussion, and further exploration of each type of presented curricula.Developed as a supplemental resource, Educational Programs for Young Children is ideal for courses and programs in childhood education that explore curriculum in greater depth.Linda Taylor holds an Ed.D. in early childhood education/elementary education and a M.A.E. in early childhood education from Ball State University, as well as a B.A. in early childhood education/kindergarten endorsement from Goshen College. She is an assistant professor of early childhood, youth, and family studies at Ball State University. Professor Taylor has more than 20 years of experience as an educator, previously serving as a kindergarten teacher and working directly in early childhood programs as both a teacher and administrator.