Beginning Essentials in Early Childhood Education is a condensed foundations textbook that introduces the early childhood student to the field and it's issues, the child and age range, the teacher's role, and the environment. This unique text is organized to answer four key questions: What is the Field? Who is the Child? Who is the Teacher? and What is Being Taught? These four sections address the essentials in early childhood education and place an emphasis on multiculturalism and developmentally appropriate practice. Special features of the text include "Our Diverse World" sidebars, which highlight issues of diversity to help the reader recognize issues of gender, race/ethnicity, ability, language, and family patterns in every aspect of teaching; What Do You Think boxes, which connect the reader to the content presented; and a chapter devoted to history and issues, designed to connect the reader to the past and the present, as well as highlight future trends. This well-organized material is enhanced by a host of sidebars, photos, chapter activities, integrated technology, and notations about Developmentally Appropriate Practice that help new and continuing teachers see the "many right ways" of teaching children. The CD that accompanies this text includes video clips of infants and toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children in a variety of early childhood settings and at different developmental stages. Designed to integrate technology and early childhood education, this invaluable resource provides instructors and students with ample opportunities for reflection and personal and professional development. The technology tie-in boxes in each chapter can be used to connect the material in the text to the segments on the CD.