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Tip Sheets
All Tip Sheets
All Tip Sheets are available in English and Spanish (español). Most Tip Sheets are available in Polish (Polski). Selected Tip Sheets are available in Korean (한국어), Chinese (中文 (中国), Arabic (العربية), Russian (Русский) and French (Français). IEL Tip Sheets are easy-to-read, one-page resources on a variety of topics of interest to parents and teachers of young children. You can also search Tip Sheets by Topic.
Graphic Tip Sheets
Graphic Tip Sheets are meant for busy families. Put them on your refrigerator, corkboards, or other common household areas as quick reminders of important activities you can enjoy with your family.
Tip Sheets by Keyword
Tip Sheets by Series
PDF Collections
Order Tip Sheets
Videos & Podcast
Parenting Videos
These videos show some family activities that help infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children learn about the world. For each video we provide some background information, a transcript, and a list of resources about the topic.
Early Learning Moments Videos
The Illinois Early Learning Moments have been developed to assist infant/toddler care providers in implementing the strategies for interaction outlined in the Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age Three (IELGs). Each Early Learning Moment includes a video, information about the area being covered, suggestions for creating an environment to support children’s development, and a series of questions to help you assess whether your everyday environment and interactions support the development of the children under your care.
Guidelines Videos
These videos were filmed in various child care settings. For each video, we provide some brief background information, a transcript, and a description of strategies teachers or caregivers used to help children meet standards in the Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3. Having promised parents and the child care center that the children’s identities would remain anonymous, IEL has dubbed out any mentions of the children’s names in these videos. In the transcript and the introduction to the videos, we have inserted pseudonyms for the children.
Benchmark Videos
These videos were filmed in a variety of settings, including programs at public universities, community colleges, and private homes. For each video, we provide background information, a transcript, and a description of how various 2013 Illinois Early Learning and Development benchmarks are met.
Podcast
Podcasts are a great way to explore early childhood education topics on the go. The Illinois Early Learning Project will continue to add new audio content that can be streamed or downloaded to your device.
Standards & Guidelines
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3
IELG Resources
2013 Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards
IELDS Resources
Illinois Learning Standards for Kindergarten
Kindergarten Standards Resources and KIDS Assessment
Blogs
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Increasingly, children with developmental delays or disabilities attend child care or preschool programs where teachers may have limited information about how to include a child with special needs. Parents who have a child with special needs also may want to know more about adapting family activities to more fully include the child. View more blogs.
Culturally Responsive Practices
An increasing population of children entering child care or preschool who speak a home language other than English. This blog is intended to help parents and teachers support these children as they learn English and their home languages. View more blogs.
Learning and Growing Together
Children grow and develop rapidly in the first five years of life. Every day routines and playtimes provide rich opportunities for young children to learn. This blog explores practical and enjoyable ways that caregivers, families, and teachers can help children learn as they play and explore their world. View more blogs.
Perspectives on the Project Approach
View blogs by Lilian Katz, Sallee Beneke, or practicing early childhood directors. View more IEL blogs.
Learn More
Learning at Home Activities
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
The IEL staff has prepared a series of questions (and their answers!) on topics in early learning.
Resource Lists
These Resource Lists are related to popular topics and contain a wealth of information on early care and education.
Tool Kits
Our tool kits are designed to assist teachers and caregivers in their work with young children. The resources have been created as starting points for developing materials that address the individual needs of the children and families in their programs.
Faculty Resources
Search IEL Resources
Project Approach
Illinois Educators are invited to submit simple documentation of project work from their classrooms. IEL staff will help edit and publish your project! By sharing documentation of their experiences implementing the Project Approach, Illinois teachers can help each other learn new strategies and ideas for implementation.
Project Examples
Illinois Educators are invited to submit simple documentation of project work from their classrooms. IEL staff will help edit and publish your project! By sharing documentation of their experiences implementing the Project Approach, Illinois teachers can help each other learn new strategies and ideas for implementation.
Project Approach Tip Sheets
Blog: Perspectives on the Project Approach
View the most recent blog postings. View blogs by Lilian Katz, Sallee Beneke, or practicing early childhood directors.
Project Approach Resources
Preschoolers (Age 3 Through Age 5)
Secondhand Smoke, Thirdhand Smoke, and Exposure to Drug Use
Resource Lists
Picture Books Featuring Characters with Limb Differences
Resource Lists
Neurodiversity
Resource Lists
Math in the Home with Young Children
Resource Lists
Cozy Corners in the Classroom
Podcast
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Services
Learning and Growing Together
,
Blogs
Illinois Early Learning Visits the Illinois Assistive Technology Program
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
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Blogs
Common Speech and Language Concerns for Young Children
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
Coaching in Early Learning
Podcast
Celebrating 25 Years of IEL (2001-2026)
Blogs
,
Learning and Growing Together
Mathematical Thinking Across the Preschool Curriculum
Tool Kits
The Early Childhood Collaborative Itinerant Teaching Model: Services in Inclusive Settings
Podcast
Coaching in Early Childhood
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
Undocumented Immigrant Families: Rights and Resources
Resource Lists
DeafBlind Students and their Families
Resource Lists
Capturing Investigative Wonderings
Perspectives on the Project Approach
,
Blogs
Home Visits and Challenging Situations
Tool Kits
Troubleshooting Hearing Aids, Cochlear Implants, and HAT Systems
Tool Kits
Developing Project Skills through Everyday Investigations
Perspectives on the Project Approach
,
Blogs
Curriculum Adaptations: Six Simple Strategies
All Tip Sheets
Visual Schedules
Resource Lists
Instructional Strategies for Students with Visual Impairments
All Tip Sheets
Object and Visual Schedules
All Tip Sheets
Becoming a Young Self-Advocate
All Tip Sheets
Behavior Is Communication
All Tip Sheets
Manners and Young Children
Resource Lists
Family Friendly Meetings
All Tip Sheets
Picture Books Featuring Deaf or Hard of Hearing Characters
Resource Lists
Holidays in Early Childhood Classrooms and at Home
Resource Lists
Working with a Classroom Sign Language Interpreter
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
,
Blogs
Supporting Language Learning at Home for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
,
Blogs
Welcoming Preschoolers with Vision Disabilities
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
,
Blogs
Blind and Visually Impaired Resources
Resource Lists
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resources
Resource Lists
Farm to Early Care and Education
Learning and Growing Together
,
Blogs
Universal Design for Learning
Resource Lists
One Lesson, Many Content Areas
Learning and Growing Together
,
Blogs
Serving Multilingual Preschoolers with Disabilities
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
,
Culturally Responsive Practices
,
Blogs
Surveys for the Win! Building Investigation and Language Skills
Perspectives on the Project Approach
,
Blogs
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Early Childhood Education
Resource Lists
Gardening with Young Children
Resource Lists
Special Education Assessment and Eligibility
Tool Kits
Teaching in a Classroom Where Many Languages are Spoken
Podcast
Gaining Confidence in the Project Approach
Perspectives on the Project Approach
,
Blogs
What is the Pyramid Model?
Podcast
Mixing Early Math and Social Studies within Preschool Classrooms
Podcast
Noticing Signs of Voting in our Community
All Tip Sheets
They Said “No” … Now What?
All Tip Sheets
Teaching Multilingual Early Learners
All Tip Sheets
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