February 2018

IEL has added Polish and Arabic translations for 14 of its popular graphic Tip Sheets. These graphic Tip Sheets are useful to young children and their families with helpful suggestions in the areas of math, language and literacy, regulation, and social and emotional development.

These Tip Sheets also may be used at kindergarten screening, family resource displays, and kindergarten information events. Please share these new resources with school staff, teachers, and families.

Recently, IEL added podcasts as a new feature on its website. IEL has added transcripts for two of its podcasts: Supporting Young Children’s Friendships: An Interview with Dr. Michaelene Ostrosky and Transformative Early Childhood Education: An Interview with Dr. Kathleen Gallagher. We will be adding Spanish translations of the transcripts at a later date.

Young children’s dental health is very important to optimal speech and language development. Two of our tip sheets, Get Ready for a Good Dental Checkup! and Dental Health for Babies, may be shared with parents and caregivers to support good oral hygiene. Both tip sheets also are available in Spanish, Polish, Arabic, and Korean.

The IEL Project wants to hear from you to learn how we can best serve you through our Web-based resources. Please complete our online survey and let us know how we can support you in your role as a parent, caregiver, or teacher of young children.

The Illinois Early Learning Project provides reliable resources and information in response to your questions on the parenting, care, and education of young children in Illinois. To take advantage of this service, please call our toll-free number at (877) 275-3227 during business hours or send us your question using our online form.

Illinois Head Start Association Annual Conference, February 20–23, East Peoria, IL

Collaboration for Early Childhood’s Annual Symposium, February 24, Oak Park, IL

IL ASCD Pre-K and Kindergarten Conference, March 7–9, Schaumburg, IL

Leadership Connections National Conference: Building Bright Futures, May 10–12, Wheeling, IL

Please forward our e-newsletter to your friends to help spread Illinois Early Learning News throughout the state!

For more information about the Illinois Early Learning Project, contact Bernadette Laumann at (877) 275-3227 or blaumann@illinois.edu.