Designed for early childhood courses that focus on an integrated curriculum, play, and the language arts, this popular child-centered text emphasizes multiculturalism and home-school communication and successsfully integrates teaching ideas and techniques in a variety of subject areas. Incorporating philosophies and suggestions from outstanding educators, Chenfield continually focuses on the importance of fun, play, and creativity to help young children develop self-esteem, respect for others, and concern for the environment, community, and social problems. Features: * Categorizes major themes important to children, such as: family, friends, where we live, clothes, and food. Each theme focuses on basic curriculum areas such as Talk Time, Visual Arts Time, Movement and Play Time, Field Trips, Classroom Visitors, and It All Comes Together. * Places language at the core of learning and underscores the practices and ideas of whole language. * Recognizes the importance of play and movement as essential, normal ways children learn. * Discusses community and parental involvement as a key element in early childhood development. * Highlights the contributions by children and classroom teach