Book excerpt: This is a concise overview of the fundamentals of teaching in early childhood settings (pre-K–2). Beginning with what the research tells us about how young children develop and learn, Falk shows how to create learning environments, plan, teach, and assess in ways that support children’s optimal development. “This text is a portrait of what it means to be an early childhood professional and to take seriously the job of establishing meaningful relationships with children, families, and professional colleagues.” —From the Foreword by Jacqueline Jones, Foundation for Child Development “No less than a manual for creating growth-enhancing experiences in early childhood, Beverly Falk has distilled years of experience into practical advice and well-researched lessons.” —Samuel J. Meisels, founding executive director, Buffett Early Childhood Institute, University of Nebraska “Brilliantly challenges us to translate what we know into what we do in order to improve school and life outcomes for ALL children.” —Maurice Sykes, Early Childhood Leadership Institute “Falk brings us critical knowledge about early childhood in this superb book.” —Ann Lieberman, Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education