Guiding Children's Social Development and Learning

Kara Gregory has worked in centers and classrooms with children from infancy through first grade. She consults with preschool and elementary school early childhood teachers and support staff on many topics, including social and emotional development, oral language, early reading and writing, and play. Her publications have also focused on these areas. Dr. Gregory also teaches courses in child development and early childhood education for Michigan State University. Marjorie Kostelnik is dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She entered the field of early childhood as a Head Start teacher before receiving her doctorate from the Pennsylvania State University. She was on the faculty at Michigan State University for 22 years, serving as director of the Child Development Laboratories, then as chair of the Department of Family and Child Ecology. Dr. Kostelnik has served as vice president of NAEYC, and was recently appointed to the National Academies of Science Institute of Medicine Committee to Study the Science of Children Birth to Age 8. Currently, she serves on the Dimensions Board (nature education for children), the Educare Board of Lincoln (infants, toddler, and preschool child care), and the City of Lincoln Prosper Committee for Early Education. Alice Whiren has taught kindergarten and preschool children, directed a center for children that serves a culturally and economically diverse population, and worked with families and children having special needs. Dr. Whiren has been a consultant to public schools and Head Start, and has taught at Michigan State University in child development and early education. Her publications are about social development and early childhood education, particularly in the area of play. Anne K. Soderman works internationally with schools in the area of early literacy and mathematics, assessment, and second language acquisition. Her research has been centered on gender differences as they relate to emerging literacy, particularly in children coming from diverse populations. Other recently co-authored publications include CREATING LITERACY-RICH PRESCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS and SCAFFOLDING EMERGENT LITERACY.