With a new co-author, this introductory text again explores the interconnectedness of children's "circles" - home, school, and community. The authors' unique vision of school improvement advocates teaching strategies and curricula that are not only developmentally and culturally appropriate, but which also enfold each child's family and community into his or her education as equal partners with the school, its teachers, and its administration. Extensive demographic information, along with numerous engaging real-life stories, support the authors' position regarding partnerships, by presenting a child's life as a rich panoply of experiences in which learning is constantly taking place, both within and outside of school.