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Illinois Early Learning Project

Illinois Early Learning Project

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    • Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3
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  • Project Approach
    • Project Guides
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Language Arts

blocks

ABC Day

Learning at Home Activities
child with mother in garden

The Power of Open-Ended Questions

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
child standing outdoors holding dandelion

Lots of Dandelions

Benchmark Videos
young boy painting with hands

‘Look at Your Lines!’

Benchmark Videos
teacher helping student at table

Maybe We Can Make a Road!

Benchmark Videos
child doing art at a table

You’ve Got Blue Hands

Benchmark Videos
child engaged in messy play

Look at It Go!

Benchmark Videos
Resources to Help Serve Dual Language Learners (DLLs)

Resources to Help Serve Dual Language Learners (DLLs)

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
Choose Good Books That Accurately Reflect Cultures and Home Languages

Choose Good Books That Accurately Reflect Cultures and Home Languages

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
Strategies for Developmentally Appropriate “Show and Tell” in Early Childhood Classrooms

Strategies for Developmentally Appropriate “Show and Tell” in Early Childhood Classrooms

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Language and Literacy in Inclusive Early Childhood Programs

Language and Literacy in Inclusive Early Childhood Programs

Podcasts
Get Ready to Read

Get Ready to Read

Graphic Tip Sheets, Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Retelling “Caps for Sale”

Retelling “Caps for Sale”

Benchmark Videos
Talking About Numbers and Letters

Talking About Numbers and Letters

Benchmark Videos
Maintaining Home Language Is a Great Gift

Maintaining Home Language Is a Great Gift

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
Bonding Books and Children

Bonding Books and Children

Resource Lists
Investigating Wheels

Investigating Wheels

Project Approach, Project Guides
Tattoos and Teakettles: “Housekeeping” Conversations

Tattoos and Teakettles: “Housekeeping” Conversations

Benchmark Videos
The Right Word: Conversation and Print During Pretend Play

The Right Word: Conversation and Print During Pretend Play

Benchmark Videos
One Morning at the Construction Table

One Morning at the Construction Table

Benchmark Videos
Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley: Learning Through an Action Song

Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley: Learning Through an Action Song

Benchmark Videos
Magnets and Cars

Magnets and Cars

Benchmark Videos
Mack Reads His Book

Mack Reads His Book

Benchmark Videos
Learning about a Stethoscope

Learning about a Stethoscope

Benchmark Videos
Getting to Know Rabbits

Getting to Know Rabbits

Benchmark Videos
Exploring Windshield Wipers

Exploring Windshield Wipers

Benchmark Videos
Bethany Draws a Wheel

Bethany Draws a Wheel

Benchmark Videos
Scribbling as Early Steps to Reading and Writing

Scribbling as Early Steps to Reading and Writing

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
child working on a project

Project Approach for Preschoolers

Tip Sheets
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Music, Sound, and Movement

Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Music, Sound, and Movement

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Encouraging Child-to-Child Conversation

Encouraging Child-to-Child Conversation

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Language and Literacy

Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Language and Literacy

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
alphabet

The Gift of Words: Reading and Games

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
The Gift of Words: Conversation and Routines

The Gift of Words: Conversation and Routines

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
child looking at tractor

Project Approach: Phase 1—Choosing a Topic to Investigate

Tip Sheets
What Puppets Can Mean to Children

What Puppets Can Mean to Children

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Literacy across the Preschool Curriculum

Literacy across the Preschool Curriculum

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
two boys with bubbles

Cooperation Across the Preschool Curriculum: Science

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Young Authors at Work: Story Dictations

Young Authors at Work: Story Dictations

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Young Authors at Work: Literature Response Journals

Young Authors at Work: Literature Response Journals

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
What’s Next? Predictions at Story Time

What’s Next? Predictions at Story Time

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Say Yes to the Mess! Play with Rocks

Say Yes to the Mess! Play with Rocks

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Project Approach: Helping Preschoolers Represent What They Learn

Project Approach: Helping Preschoolers Represent What They Learn

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Project Approach: Helping Children Ask Questions

Project Approach: Helping Children Ask Questions

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
mom and child baking

Predicting: Helping Preschoolers Look Ahead

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
girl writing at table with classmates

The Power of the Pen: Let Children Choose Writing Centers!

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
The Power of the Pen: Drawing and Scribbling

The Power of the Pen: Drawing and Scribbling

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Out and About with Preschoolers: Literacy Activities

Out and About with Preschoolers: Literacy Activities

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
dad in business suit walking with daughter in metro area

Neighborhood Geography with Young Children

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 25.B.ECa

The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 25.B.ECa

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
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 3.B.ECa

Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 3.B.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
children writing

Cooperation in the Preschool Classroom: Class Discussions

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Getting Ready to Read!

Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Getting Ready to Read!

Tip Sheets
children working on project

Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Follow Up!

Tip Sheets
Developing a Class Album

Developing a Class Album

Blogs, Perspectives on the Project Approach
Project Approach: Phase 3—Concluding the Project

Project Approach: Phase 3—Concluding the Project

Tip Sheets
children working on project

Project Approach: Phase 2—Doing Fieldwork

Tip Sheets
Project Approach: Phase 2—Getting Ready for Fieldwork

Project Approach: Phase 2—Getting Ready for Fieldwork

Tip Sheets
children with crayons

Getting Ready to Read and Write in Child Care

Tip Sheets

About IEL

The Illinois Early Learning Project Web site is a source of evidence-based, reliable information on early care and education for parents, caregivers, and teachers of young children in Illinois.

Funded by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

View IEL staff information, contact IEL online, or call (877) 275-3227.

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