This easy and adaptable planning tool allows teachers to create an individualized teaching plan that draws from a variety of approaches. Field-tested with teachers across the country, -Focused Early Learning combines multiple values of early childhood -education including providing a rich classroom environment with specified learning areas, building relationships with children and families, integrating academic learning, responding to children's interests, and coordinating planning with assessment processes. Gaye Gronlund is an early childhood education consultant from Indianapolis, Indiana. A former preschool, kindergarten and primary teacher of regular and special education, she now works with schools and programs around the country helping them implement developmentally appropriate curricular practices and authentic assessment procedures. She is also the coauthor of Focused Portfolios(tm) .