Link to: Download the CoAuthor guide for Child Development

• Start with our well written core textbook(s)
• Present the material you feel is important
• Provide your students with a text that matches your unique teaching style
• Make your contribution to education and become a published author
• Receive royalties as compensation for your contribution

Here are some examples of possible changes you might make...

• Add you own material to existing chapters
• Keep your book current by including the most recent research & updates
• Insert new chapters and delete existing material
• Arrange material to follow your syllabus
• Include study questions and exercises throughout the text
• Use local and regional examples for added interest to increase student participation
• Add a pertinent quote to the beginning of each chapter (e.g. from a famous child development theorist or expert)
• Include historical information in chapter 1.
  • Philosophical and scientific roots (e.g. John Locke, tabula rasa, innate goodness, Stanley G. Hall)
• Expand discussion of theoretical foundations (theories) in chapter 2 both in terms of scope (detail) and number of theories.
  • Include humanistic theory (e.g. Maslow)
• Categorize the theories differently in chapter 2.
  • Could categorize by stage theories vs. non stage theories instead of by philosophy (e.g. learning, cognitive, etc…)
• Include more detail and information regarding nature vs. nurture debate.
• Expand first page of each chapter to include specific vignettes.
  • Describe a specific situation related to the chapter (use Sarah and Carlos or another type of example)
• Expand information on research information currently located in chapter 1.
  • Explain additional models of research methods and provide examples of research studies based upon the different methods
• Create an entirely new and separate chapter for research (to provide additional detail).
  • Additional explanation and examples of each research methodology
  • Additional information and examples of ethical considerations
  • Discuss scientific method o Discuss hypotheses
  • More discussion of longitudinal designs, microgenetic designs, cross cultural studies o Minimizing bias in research
• Include an emerging adulthood chapter (it would include topics such as: choosing a career, transition from adolescence to adulthood, leaving home for college, college choices, brain development in emerging adulthood)
• More specificity in cultural and demographic references if the book is purchased in certain areas.
  • E.g. if the book is going to be used in primarily a Hispanic demographic area, specific information could be geared toward the Hispanic culture (customs, language, foods, etc.)
• Chapter 3 could be divided into three separate chapters and greater detail could be inserted.
  • Possible new chapters:
    • Genetic and Environmental Foundations (to include: genetics, expanded genetic and chromosomal disorders, genetic counseling, nature vs. nurture expansion)
    • Prenatal Development (to include: three prenatal stages, teratogens, environmental influences, maternal factors, infertility, assisted reproduction [in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, surrogate parent], adoption)
    • Birth and the New Born Baby (to include: traditional and alternative birthing choices, stages of labor and childbirth, at risk infants [premature birth, postmaturity, low birth weight, fetal anoxia, stillbirth], reacting to the new born baby, post partum depression)
• For cognitive development in infancy and toddlerhood chapter:
  • Adding/keeping psychometric approach and information relative to Intelligence testing
  • Provide less detail about Piaget’s approach
  • Adding information on bilingualism
  • Adding/emphasizing language development and culture
• For the cognitive development chapters in other developmental stages, add more information on issues such as ADD/ADHD and learning disabilities.
• For the social emotional development chapters, add more detailed information on psychological issues such as conduct disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety (and other psychiatric disorders). Also, add more information related to these disorders (e.g. treatments, medications, counseling/therapy). Maybe provide case studies on different psychiatric disorders to help students understand the characteristics and related information.

Contact CAT Publishing if...

• You want a textbook that perfectly suits your classroom needs
• You want a textbook that sells for less than other texts of comparable quality
• You would like to receive compensation, in the form of royalties, for the time you have invested in developing the perfect textbook for your classroom use.

Link to: Advantages of Publishing Your Own Textbook or Manuscript

Link to: Advantages of Selecting Individual Chapters to Include in Your Course

Link to: Advantages of Co-Authoring an Existing Textbook