Ann C. Barbour is professor emerita of early childhood education at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). A former preschool and elementary teacher, she has over 30 years experience in the field of early education. At CSULA, she teaches courses in best practices and trends and issues in early education, the role of play in learning, and school-family partnerships. She has coauthored two books: "Prop Box Play: 50 Themes to Inspire Dramatic Play" and" Portfolio Assessment: A Handbook for Preschool and Elementary Teachers", as well as numerous articles on early childhood education.