Diversities in Early Childhood Education

This collection, edited by leaders in the field of early childhood and multicultural education, is a valuable resource for those studying and working with young children. Chapters emphasize the relationship between theory, research, and practice, and provide illustrations of equitable and inclusive practices that move us toward social justice in the critical field of early childhood education. Drawing from the current literature on ability, class, culture, ethnicity, gender, languages, race, and sexual orientation, the book presents a forward-looking account of how diversity could improve the educational experience of children from birth to grade three.

"By reading this book, in addition to seeing culturally responsive education taking place in classrooms across the country, readers have the opportunity to learn about policies and programs that honor families and communities as experts, adapting common notions of "best" working with the communities to which children belong to rethink and come to a shared ownership of what best truly means. Through the exploration of diverse studies, the editors and authors invite readers to rethink and do diversity in teaching, policy-making, programming, and educating teachers." -- Teachers College Record, June 27, 2008, Wilma Robles de Melendez Program Professor of Early Childhood Education, Nova Southeastern University"This book is appropriate at graduate level. Both Master and doctoral level courses in early childhood and multicultural education might use it as a textbook. Several chapters seem to be appropriate for students majoring in special education, reading/literacy and ESOL/bilingual education. Due to the comprehensive nature of the chapters, if I taught courses such as Diversity in Early Childhood I would adapt this book as a supplementary textbook. . . Yes, I feel that this is publishable project. I strongly feel that the need for this project and the significance of the book are well-documented in the overview of the proposal. This book seems to have potentials to help professionals and students develop a better approach toward diversity in the classrooms. Each chapter seems to be built upon sound research and be aligned with the conceptual framework of the book. The illustrations of these various inclusive practices are promising to generate reflection and development of new practices in the readers’ classrooms."Tunde SzecsiAssociate Professor of Early Childhood Education, Florida Gulf Coast University"This book could be used as part of a graduate course in early childhood education practices and as supplementary reading in education foundation courses. . . This is an anthology which presents a variety of voices around the issue of diversity. The many different perspectives provide valuable angles in the exploration and analysis of diversity in early childhood education. . . Yes, it’s publishable."

Celia Genishi is Professor of Education at Teachers College, Columbia. A. Lin Goodwin is Professor of Education at Teachers College, Columbia.