Nurturing Readiness in Early Childhood Education

Book excerpt: This second-edition text is a conceptual and practical guide to creating a whole-child curriculum organized into three parts: Child Development, The PLAN Curriculum, and The Environment. Featuring the author's PLAN model Play, Learning, the Arts, and Nurturing this early childhood curriculum system effectively connects and integrates theory, philosophy, and practice and advocates an open, interactive, child-centered environment. The PLAN environment is particularly appropriate for the diverse needs of all children in early childhood settings. The text also focuses on the role and responsibilities of teachers in nurturing learning, establishing values, and addressing the full needs of the child.