July 24, 2020
This video features an extended interview with Tim Shanahan, Ph.D.—a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where he was founding director of the UIC Center for Literacy. His research emphasizes the connections between reading and writing, literacy in the disciplines, and improvement of reading achievement. Dr. Shanahan is a former first-grade teacher. This interview includes descriptions of research-based recommendations from the What Works Clearinghouse about how to teach literacy to young students, as well as advice for teachers about how to follow the recommendations using a play-based approach.
For more information, see the related video and viewing guide: Integrating play into literacy instruction: Strategies for your classroom. Visit the Midwest Early Childhood Education Research Alliance page for even more resources.