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“[The authors'] emphasis on applications to educational context is accompanied and supported by traditionally important and contemporary theories and research....The theoretical and practical implications of the materials discussed in the text will enhance educators' pedagogical knowledge of how to be effective teachers.”

—PsycCRITIQUES (on the first edition)


“I will continue to require this 'must-have' text in my courses. Each chapter interweaves key topics in development with important research and makes direct connections to classroom practice. This is one of the very few texts that situate foundational information in a clear classroom setting. My teacher candidates have a wide range of experience with child development, and this text is useful for learners of all levels. The format is engaging and challenging; every chapter promotes conversation and offers opportunities for further investigation. The second edition features updated research throughout and includes valuable new content on neuroscience, gender, and other topics.”

—Nicole Merino, PhD, School of Education, Stanford University


“The second edition of this outstanding text captures major biological, cognitive, social learning, and sociocultural research advances since the first edition. An especially relevant addition is the expanded chapter on contemporary mental health issues facing families and youth, such as the impact of school climate for students of different gender identities and efforts to deal with new forms of cyberbullying and peer pressure. Throughout the text, interesting developmental and educational studies are used to demonstrate how ideas are evaluated in the lab, clinic, and classroom. Instructors who use this text will ensure students leave with a comprehensive understanding of critical developmental concepts and their implications for school routines and educational practices.”

—Gloria E. Miller, PhD, Endowed Professor in Literacy, Morgridge College of Education, University of Denver


“I've just found the next textbook for my Child and Adolescent Development class. McCormick and Scherer have accomplished a substantial feat: clarifying the theories and issues in child development in accessible language that does not compromise depth or accuracy. Intended for students with little or no experience in developmental psychology, the book carries readers into the theoretical world without losing touch with the on-the-ground school lives of children. The bibliographic sources are rich and deep, drawing on historically significant work as well as up-to-date research. The very definition of an excellent resource!”

—Diane E. Beals, EdD, Department of Education, University of Tulsa


“The second edition includes current research and informative new content, and continues to be a great fit for graduate-level teacher education programs. It is well organized and easy to read, even for those new to developmental theory. The text succinctly covers important theories and concepts relevant for understanding children’s development in order to be a successful teacher, with helpful examples provided throughout.”

—Alan B. Bates, PhD, School of Teaching and Learning, Illinois State University


“For my Child Growth and Development course, which is required for candidates in our education programs, I needed a text that addresses the topic from a teacher's perspective. This book is exactly what I was looking for. My students have commented on the usefulness of the teacher implications in each chapter, as well as the readability of the book as a whole. I advise my students to save this text as a resource for future use when they become practitioners.”

—Beth Hammond, PhD, Department of Education, University of South Carolina Beaufort

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Table of Contents

I. Theoretical Perspectives in Child Development

1. Introduction to Child Development and Education

2. Biological Development

3. Cognitive Development: Piaget’s Stage Theory

4. Cognitive Development: Information-Processing Theory

5. Social Theories of Development and Learning

6. Sociocultural Theories of Development and Education

II. Key Topics in Child Development and Education

7. Language Development and Linguistic Diversity

8. Intelligence and Individual Differences in Academic Competence

9. The Development of Academic Motivation

10. Family and Peer Relationships

11. Gender Role Development

12. Recognizing and Understanding Student Mental Health Problems

13. Integrative Review of Major Concepts

References

Index

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About the Authors

Christine B. McCormick, PhD, is Professor in the College of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in human growth and development, educational psychology, learning and cognition, and classroom assessment. She was Dean of the College of Education from 2005 to 2016. Previously, Dr. McCormick was a faculty member and held administrative roles at the University of New Mexico and the University of South Carolina. She has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Educational Psychology and Educational Psychology Review and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. Dr. McCormick is author or coauthor of many publications on a variety of topics in child development and education and has coauthored several textbooks.

David G. Scherer, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Previously, he was a faculty member at the University of New Mexico and the University of South Carolina. Dr. Scherer is a family systems theorist and therapist and an advocate for developmental and multisystemically informed treatment models. His research publications and clinical work focus on how adolescents develop autonomy in the family context, how adolescents and parents make important medical and research participation decisions, and innovative models of psychotherapy for troubled and substance-abusing adolescents. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in adolescent psychology; psychology and public policy; professional issues and ethics; psychopathology; and child, adolescent, and family psychotherapy.

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Audience

Instructors and graduate students in education, child and family studies, and school psychology.

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Course Use

Serves as a text in graduate-level Child and Adolescent Development courses.

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Previous editions published by Guilford:

First Edition, © 2007
ISBN: 9781593853525

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New to this edition:

• Extensively revised to reflect a decade's worth of advances in developmental research, neuroscience, and genetics.
• Greatly expanded coverage of family and peer relationships, with new content on social–emotional learning, social media, child care, and early intervention.
• Discussions of executive function, theory of mind, and teacher–student relationships.
• Increased attention to ethnic–racial, gender, and LGBT identity development.
• Many new and revised practical examples and topic boxes.