Videos – Early Childhood
Foundational skills to support reading for understanding in kindergarten through 3rd grade
April 26, 2021
This video explains the need for systematic, direct, and explicit instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics and discusses the most effective evidence-based practices for teaching decoding to early readers.
Literacy instruction strategies for success: Multi-tier intervention in primary grades
December 17, 2020
This video discusses the most effective, evidence-based practices for identifying and assisting struggling readers.
October 19, 2020
This documentary, produced in partnership with the Chicago public broadcasting station WTTW, is about how community organizations can support the development of children’s early literacy skills.
Integrating play into literacy instruction: Interview with Tim Shanahan
July 24, 2020
This video features an extended interview with Tim Shanahan, Ph.D., and includes descriptions of research-based recommendations from the What Works Clearinghouse about how to teach literacy to young students.
Integrating play into literacy instruction: Strategies for your classroom
May 13, 2020
This video shows how to implement research-based literacy practices from the What Works Clearinghouse through play-based learning.
Kindergarten: Where play and learning can meet
December 6, 2018
This documentary, produced in partnership with WTTW Channel 11, explores the advantages associated with a play-based approach in kindergarten and features stories of how two Illinois school districts—Valley View School District 365U and Elgin Area School District U-46—made the transition to play-based learning.
Kindergarten entry assessments
July 25, 2018
This video discusses the need for kindergarten entry assessments, provides an overview of what kindergarten entry assessments are, and explains the uses and benefits of kindergarten entry assessments.
Alliance member snapshot: Kim Nelson of the Midwest Early Childhood Education Research Alliance
February 20, 2018
This video provides an overview of the Midwest Early Childhood Education Research Alliance and its important work in Illinois, as described by alliance member Kim Nelson.