developmental psychology

Charts the development of the human brain from conception through the first five years, looking at the way a child's brain is assembled and the implications of this sequence for each emerging mental skill, including sensation, emotion, language, movement, memory, and intelligence.

Discusses the core components, history, and problems associated with what the author calls the "Academic Achievement Discourse, " an educational practice focused on accountability, standardized testing, and adequate yearly progress, and describes the benefits of educational programs based on the developmental needs of children in early childhood, elementary, middle school, and high school.