Best Practices

child holding own toy

Keeping Healthy and Safe: Play Time

Graphic Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Fighting Germs

Keeping Healthy and Safe: Fighting Germs

Graphic Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Teacher wearing a face shield talking with children wearing masks while sitting far apart from each other

Keeping Healthy and Safe: Smaller Group Sizes

Graphic Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
drawing of girl wearing a face covering

Keeping Healthy and Safe: Face Coverings

Graphic Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
boy wearing face mask

Keeping Healthy and Safe: Physical Distancing

Graphic Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
teacher and child wearing protective masks

Getting Your Child Ready to Return to Childcare

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
parent talking with child

Positive Guidance for Young Children: Plan Ahead

Graphic Tip Sheets, Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
child playing with blocks

An Introduction to Montessori Education

Podcasts
child with toy

The Impact of Trauma on the Lives of Young Children (Part 2)

Podcasts
child hugging mother

The Impact of Trauma on the Lives of Young Children (Part 1)

Podcasts
Child with water pipe

“Where Does the Water Go?” Investigating Pipes and Plumbing

Project Approach, Project Examples
Pass the Ball Versus Pass the Remote: Supporting Preschoolers’ Physical Activity

Pass the Ball Versus Pass the Remote: Supporting Preschoolers’ Physical Activity

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Choose Good Books That Accurately Reflect Cultures and Home Languages

Choose Good Books That Accurately Reflect Cultures and Home Languages

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
Diverse Families and the Transition to Kindergarten

Diverse Families and the Transition to Kindergarten

Podcasts
Language and Literacy in Inclusive Early Childhood Programs

Language and Literacy in Inclusive Early Childhood Programs

Podcasts
Traditional Costumes Project

Traditional Costumes Project

Project Approach, Project Examples
How Teachers Can Help When a Child Says, “Mommy, I Don’t Want to Go to Preschool!”

How Teachers Can Help When a Child Says, “Mommy, I Don’t Want to Go to Preschool!”

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Preventing That Summer Slide

Preventing That Summer Slide

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
Adjusting Pace and Location of Project Work

Adjusting Pace and Location of Project Work

Blogs, Perspectives on the Project Approach
Talking About Numbers and Letters

Talking About Numbers and Letters

Benchmark Videos
Inclusive Early Childhood Programs: How One School District Creates a Place for All Young Children

Inclusive Early Childhood Programs: How One School District Creates a Place for All Young Children

Podcasts
Imagination and Fantasy in Early Childhood

Imagination and Fantasy in Early Childhood

Resource Lists
children playing with balls

Best Practices for Infant and Toddler Care

Resource Lists
The Combine Project: Using a Museum Experience to Enrich Project Work

The Combine Project: Using a Museum Experience to Enrich Project Work

Project Approach, Project Examples
Garden Project Sprouts From Simple Question: “What’s That?”

Garden Project Sprouts From Simple Question: “What’s That?”

Project Approach, Project Examples
The Tractor Project: Noisy Neighbors Lead to Investigation

The Tractor Project: Noisy Neighbors Lead to Investigation

Project Approach, Project Examples
Problem Solving

Problem Solving

Illinois Early Learning Moments
Persistence, Effort, & Attentiveness

Persistence, Effort, & Attentiveness

Illinois Early Learning Moments
Tech Time for Young Children

Tech Time for Young Children

Graphic Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
You Made It

You Made It

Guidelines Videos
Two Trains

Two Trains

Guidelines Videos
A Tower Together

A Tower Together

Guidelines Videos
The Step

The Step

Guidelines Videos
Snack Time

Snack Time

Guidelines Videos
Pretty Up High

Pretty Up High

Guidelines Videos
Pea Pod Rockers

Pea Pod Rockers

Guidelines Videos
Over Here

Over Here

Guidelines Videos
Let’s Get Up

Let’s Get Up

Guidelines Videos
I Don't Like That

I Don’t Like That

Guidelines Videos
Filling the Trains

Filling the Trains

Guidelines Videos
Down There

Down There

Guidelines Videos
A Big Tower

A Big Tower

Guidelines Videos
Dual Language Use During Choice Time

Dual Language Use During Choice Time

Benchmark Videos
Learning to Get Along with Friends

Learning to Get Along with Friends

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
One Morning at the Construction Table

One Morning at the Construction Table

Benchmark Videos
Screen Time and Young Children

Screen Time and Young Children

Questions and Answers (Q&A)
Super Story Time

Super Story Time

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Welcoming Parents of Dual Language Learners to Parent-Teacher Conferences

Welcoming Parents of Dual Language Learners to Parent-Teacher Conferences

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
Project Work Engages Young Children’s Intellects

Project Work Engages Young Children’s Intellects

Blogs, Perspectives on the Project Approach
child working on a project

Summer Language Learning in Community Settings

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
Creating a Language-Rich Classroom for Young Dual Language Learners (DLLs)

Creating a Language-Rich Classroom for Young Dual Language Learners (DLLs)

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
Celebrate Multicultural Children’s Book Day

Celebrate Multicultural Children’s Book Day

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
IEL Tip Sheets: Family Fun!

IEL Tip Sheets: Family Fun!

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Rituals and Traditions in Programs That Serve Young Dual Language Learners

Rituals and Traditions in Programs That Serve Young Dual Language Learners

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
mom and toddler at the beach

Learning and Fun on Family Field Trips

Tip Sheets
Developmental Milestones, Infant Toddler Guidelines, and Early Learning Standards: Metrics for Young Children

Developmental Milestones, Infant Toddler Guidelines, and Early Learning Standards: Metrics for Young Children

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Creating a Sense of Belonging in Preschool

Creating a Sense of Belonging in Preschool

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Learning New Words Through Read Alouds

Learning New Words Through Read Alouds

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
Keep the Conversation Going With Young Dual Language Learners

Keep the Conversation Going With Young Dual Language Learners

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
Visual Schedules and Checklists

Visual Schedules and Checklists

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Engaging Every Child

Engaging Every Child

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 26.B.ECa

The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 26.B.ECa

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 25.B.ECa

The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 25.B.ECa

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Physical Development and Health Lesson Addressing Benchmark 23.B.ECb

Physical Development and Health Lesson Addressing Benchmark 23.B.ECb

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Physical Development and Health Lesson Addressing Benchmark 19.B.ECb

Physical Development and Health Lesson Addressing Benchmark 19.B.ECb

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Science Lesson Addressing Benchmark 12.B.ECb

Science Lesson Addressing Benchmark 12.B.ECb

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Science Lesson Addressing Benchmark 12.A.ECb

Science Lesson Addressing Benchmark 12.A.ECb

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Science Lesson Addressing Benchmark 11.A.ECf

Science Lesson Addressing Benchmark 11.A.ECf

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Math Lesson Addressing Benchmark 7.A.ECc

Math Lesson Addressing Benchmark 7.A.ECc

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Math Lesson Addressing Benchmark 6.B.ECb

Math Lesson Addressing Benchmark 6.B.ECb

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 5.B.ECb

Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 5.B.ECb

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 4.D.ECa

Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 4.D.ECa

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 2.B.ECa

Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 2.B.ECa

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 1.C.ECa

Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 1.C.ECa

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Math Lesson Addressing Benchmark 10.B.ECa

Math Lesson Addressing Benchmark 10.B.ECa

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Standards of Experience

Standards of Experience

Blogs, Perspectives on the Project Approach