Includes bibliographical references and index.

Joining theory to practice -- John Dewey: Dewey's theories ; Dewey in the twenty-first century. -- Maria Montessori: Montessori's theories ; Montessori in the twenty-first century. -- Erik Erikson: Erikson's theories ; Erikson in the twenty-first century. -- Jean Piaget: Piaget's theories ; Piaget in the twenty-first century. -- Lev Vygotsky: Vygotsky's theories ; Vygotsky in the twenty-first century.

This text examines the work of five groundbreaking education theorists: John Dewey, Maria Montessori, Erik Erikson, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky, in relation to early childhood. It provides a basic introduction to each theorist and explains the relationship of theory to practice and its impact on real children, teachers, and classrooms. The second edition builds the bridge between theory and best practices in early childhood education, explains more about the ways children grow and learn, includes new understandings of Vygotsky's work, and applies the five theories to the realities of the twenty-first century. -- Provided by publisher.