Chapter 1How Children Develop and Learn -- What Preschool Children Are Like 18 -- Individual Differences 27 -- Developmental Continuum 42 -- Chapter 2 Learning Environment -- Setting Up and Maintaining the Classroom 62 -- Establishing a Structure for Each Day 82 -- Creating a Classroom Community 102 -- Chapter 3 What Children Learn -- Literacy 126 -- Mathematics 134 -- Science 142 -- Social Studies 146 -- Arts 152 -- Technology 156 -- Process Skills 161 -- Chapter 4 Teacher's Role -- Observing Children 166 -- Guiding Children's Learning 173 -- Assessing Children's Learning 199 -- Chapter 5 Family's Role -- Getting to Know Families 212 -- Making Families Feel Welcome 218 -- Communicating with Families 223 -- Partnering with Families on Children's Learning 225 -- Responding to Challenging Situations 235 -- Chapter 6 Blocks -- How Block Play Promotes Development 243 -- Creating an Environment for Block Play 246 -- What Children Learn in the Block Area 253 -- Teacher's Role 255 -- A Letter to Families about Block Play 269 -- Chapter 7 Dramatic Play -- How Dramatic Play Promotes Development 271 -- Creating an Environment for Dramatic Play 274 -- What Children Learn in the Dramatic Play Area 280 -- Teacher's Role 282 -- A Letter to Families about Dramatic Play 293 -- Chapter 8 Toys and Games -- How Playing with Toys and Games Promotes Development 295 -- Creating an Environment for Toys and Games 298 -- What Children Learn in the Toys and Games Area 304 -- Teacher's Role 306 -- A Letter to Families about Toys and Games 315 -- Chapter 9 Art -- How Art Promotes Development 317 -- Creating an Environment for Art 320 -- What Children Learn in the Art Area 334 -- Teacher's Role 336 -- A Letter to Families about Art 349 -- Chapter 10 Library -- How the Library Area Promotes Development 351 -- Creating an Environment for the Library Area 354 -- What Children Learn in the Library Area 362 -- Teacher's Role 365 -- A Letter to Families about the Library Area 379 -- Chapter 11 Discovery -- How the Discovery Area Promotes Development 381 -- Creating an Environment for Discovery 384 -- What Children Learn in the Discovery Area 391 -- A Letter to Families about the Discovery Area 401 -- Chapter 12 Sand and Water -- How Sand and Water Play Promote Development 403 -- Creating an Environment for Sand and Water Play 406 -- What Children Learn in the Sand and Water Area 411 -- Teacher's Role 413 -- A Letter to Families about Sand and Water Play 421 -- Chapter 13 Music and Movement -- How Music and Movement Promote Development 423 -- Creating an Environment for Music and Movement 426 -- What Children Learn from Music and Movement 428 -- Teacher's Role 430 -- A Letter to Families about Music and Movement 441 -- Chapter 14 Cooking -- How Cooking Experiences Promote Development 443 -- Creating an Environment for Cooking 446 -- What Children Learn in the Cooking Area 453 -- Teacher's Role 456 -- A Letter to Families about Cooking 469 -- Chapter 15 Computers -- How Computer Play Promotes Development 471 -- Creating an Environment for Using Computers 474 -- What Children Learn from Using Computers 482 -- Teacher's Role 484 -- A Letter to Families about Computers 491 -- Chapter 16 Outdoors -- How Outdoor Play Promotes Development 493 -- Creating and Using the Outdoor Environment 496 -- What Children Learn Outdoors 511 -- Teacher's Role 514 -- A Letter to Families about Outdoor Play 522.