Illinois Early Learning Project

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Jennifer McCray from the Early Math Collaborative at the Erikson Institute about mixing early math and social studies in preschool classrooms.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Ruchi Gupta and Sarah Valaika from the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research (CFAAR) about caring for children with food allergies in the early childhood classroom.

In this episode with Dr. Susan Johnston, we explore augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and how it relates to belonging and friendships in young children.

In this episode, we interview Dr. Ali Lewis, director of University Primary School at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and talk about integrating early literacy in a Reggio Emilia–inspired program.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jessica Bacon, chats with us about anti-ableism and inclusion and explains how we can talk about these important concepts in developmentally appropriate ways with young children.

This podcast episode features prekindergarten teacher Mickey Gilbert, who shares tips for educators, specialists, and related service providers on teaming together.

In this podcast episode, our guest Abbie Frank, founder and executive director of Bluestem Hall Nature School, a nature-based preschool in Urbana, talks about ways to incorporate nature-based education into everyday...

We speak with Dr. Susan Zoll, associate professor in elementary education at Rhode Island College and author of “Powerful Literacy in the Montessori Classroom: Aligning Reading Research and Practice,” which is about how...

On this podcast, we are joined by Dr. Marisa Macy, associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She joins us to discuss the purpose of developmental screening tools in the early childhood field.

This podcast features Dr. Seon Yeong Yu, an associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr. Yu shares tips for teachers and parents about friendship development for young children with and without...

In this podcast, we speak with Kelly Russell, the program director of CU Early, which serves infants, toddlers, and expectant parents in Champaign, Urbana, and Mahomet. We explore how the pandemic has changed service...

On this podcast, we are joined by Christy Lee, mother to four children, two with Down syndrome. Christy shares with us some tips for parenting during the pandemic on topics such as schooling, shopping, and home life.

On this podcast, we talk with Dr. Brent McBride about the impact of COVID-19 on childcare from a director’s perspective. Dr. McBride is the director of the Child Development Laboratory and a professor of human...

Dr. Sallee Beneke, an associate professor of early childhood education at St. Ambrose University, joins the Illinois Early Learning Project to discuss implementing the Project Approach in inclusive early childhood...

On this podcast, we are joined by Dr. Emily Dorsey, project director of the Illinois Early Learning Project. She joins us to discuss strategies for helping children with the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder...