This guide is designed to be a practical resource for educators on the integration of general education students and those students with exceptional education needs between the ages of 3 and 5 years. Chapter 1 discusses the rationale for integration and examines what research says about the effects of integration on the development of young children in school. Chapter 2 deals with curriculum theories and philosophies, describing four major views of early childhood education. Chapter 3 describes developmentally appropriate practices for children ages 3 to 5. Chapter 4 describes several models for mainstreaming and integration, emphasizing that different models will be appropriate for different situations. Chapter 5 describes instructional strategies that are effective in integrated settings. Chapter 6 focuses on environmental considerations and includes sample floor plans. Chapter 7 provides general information about various types of special needs and includes descriptions of themes and ways to approach these themes for specific groups of children. Chapter 8 discusses parent involvement in the education of young children, viewing the community and the school as supports for the family as a whole and the child as an individual. Chapter 9 presents a model for staff development. A self-study unit then provides an opportunity to explore the topic of integration through discussion questions and activities. Appendices present: (1) activities that promote awareness of disabilities; (2) program administration materials; (3) an annotated bibliography of children's literature on disabilities; and (4) lists of local and state agencies in Wisconsin, national toll-free telephone numbers, national clearinghouses and organizations, publications for teachers and parents on specific disabilities, resources for implementing a quality early childhood program, and model early education projects. (Contains approximately 50 references.) (JDD)