Teaching Grade R promotes a participatory and child-centred approach to learning, based on a pedagogy of play that positions the children as active learners and encourages teachers to become critically reflective practitioners. This pedagogy of play is explained in detail in the book, and suggestions and pointers are given as to how this pedagogy can be used in classroom practice.

This second edition includes:

• Updated theories and debates in relation to child development and insights gained through neuroscience
• Alternative constructions of children, both from a sociological and in particular an African perspective, have been considered
• A new section on self-care of the teacher
• The inclusion of the environment as the third teacher
• A further exploration of alternative informal assessment approaches, including pedagogical documentation
• Laying a foundation for IT literacy through ECD-appropriate coding
• Using STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) to enhance the integrated curriculum.

• Understanding the National Curriculum Statement
• Foundations for teaching and learning
• A framework for quality teaching and learning
• Planning for quality teaching and learning
• Reflecting on quality teaching and learning
• Using direct instruction as a teaching strategy
• Using discussion as a teaching strategy
• Using small-group work as a teaching strategy
• Using co-operative learning as a teaching strategy
• Using problem-solving as a teaching strategy
• Using inquiry as a teaching strategy
• Using case study as a teaching strategy
• Using role-play as a teaching strategy
• Using writing as a teaching strategy, assessment principle.