Book excerpt: * What is good teaching and learning in the primary school? * How can teachers manage the whole curriculum and still educate the whole child and raise standards? * How can teachers be in critical dialogue with each other and with the curriculum in their search for improvement? * What is the role of the teacher in the new primary curriculum? This wide ranging book seeks to address these questions and to provide a comprehensive overview of the whole primary curriculum. It aims to develop teaching throughout primary education and to support teachers in the effective delivery of the curriculum. There is a particular focus on recent changes in primary education. The contributors consider how teaching methodologies need to adapt to these changes to meet the needs of children and raise standards in school. Throughout the book, emphasis is placed on effective teaching and learning methodologies, the importance of quality interaction in the classroom, the role of the teacher in teaching and learning and the experience of the child. Exemplars of good teaching are provided in each chapter, as well as thought provoking ideas for good practice.