Parent Teacher Relationship – Early Learning Project

Working with Interpreters

This list provides early childhood educators and administrators resources on collaborating with interpreters in order to communicate with families who speak a language other than English.

10/04/2022

Building Relationships with Refugee Caregivers During Home Visits

Many adults and children from other countries enter the United States with the goal of creating their homes here every year.

03/17/2022

Talking to Your Child’s Teacher

Do you wonder how to build a good relationship with your child’s teacher? Here are some words to help you connect.

02/07/2022

Supporting Families with Young Children Experiencing Homelessness

This tool kit is a resource to help early childhood, school, and community professionals understand how they can support families who may be experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. IEL also has a resource list, When Children Are Homeless or Housing Insecure: How Preschool Teachers and Caregivers Can Help, which includes additional resources for educators, caregivers,…

10/22/2019

Listening to Family Voices in Early Childhood Programs

On this podcast we are joined by Dr. Christine Spence, an assistant professor of early childhood special education at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research focuses on high-quality supports for families and providers participating in early intervention and early childhood special education systems. She joins us to talk about listening to family’s voices in early childhood…

10/09/2019

Kindergarten Tool Kit

This tool kit is a resource for helping prekindergarten teachers partner with families as their child transitions to kindergarten. These suggestions for supporting kindergarten transition are organized by the seasons (fall, winter, spring, and summer).

02/15/2019

Diverse Families and the Transition to Kindergarten

This podcast is an interview Dr. Sarai Coba-Rodriguez, an assistant professor of educational psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In her research, she uses a family resilience perspective to learn about school readiness and family involvement among low-income Latino and African American families, including their beliefs and practices that promote young children’s successful…

10/12/2018

Preschool Attendance Tool Kit

The Attendance Toolkit is a resource for prekindergarten teachers to assist them in promoting the importance of daily attendance in preschool. These suggestions for promoting daily attendance are organized by the seasons (summer, fall, winter, and spring). However, they may be used at any time of the year. For resources to help providers address attendance…

10/04/2018

How Teachers Can Help When a Child Says, “Mommy, I Don’t Want to Go to Preschool!”

While there are many reasons a child may not want to come to school, there are a few things teachers can do to support children during this difficult time. Things that help build a sense of belonging may increase the child’s willingness to come to school. These include providing positive interactions, creating equal opportunities to…

07/24/2018

Inclusive Early Childhood Programs: How One School District Creates a Place for All Young Children

This podcast contains an interview with Ms. Crystal Vowels about inclusive early childhood programs. Ms. Vowels is the principal of the Urbana Early Childhood School in Urbana, IL. In this interview, Ms. Vowels and IEL staff member Dr. Rebecca Swartz discuss key aspects of inclusive early childhood programs including collaboration, curricular adaptations, and interdisciplinary teaming.…

05/15/2018

Careful Planning, Collaboration Can Aid Smooth Transition to Kindergarten

Preparing young children with disabilities and their families for the transition to kindergarten begins many months before the start of the new school year.

02/19/2018

Communicating With Parents During Sensitive or Difficult Situations

This list contains a variety of resources which can aid teachers and caregivers with how to best communicate with parents during difficult situations.

06/23/2017

Welcoming Latino Children and Families to Preschool Programs

This list contains a variety of resources associated with welcoming Latino children and families to preschool programs.

06/23/2017

Welcoming Parents of Dual Language Learners to Parent-Teacher Conferences

For families of dual language learners (DLLs), the parent-teacher conference may be a new experience.

11/13/2016

Teachers Can Support Young Children’s Mental Health

Caregivers, teachers, and family members all have roles to play in fostering young children’s mental health. In this Q&A, we address questions about children’s mental health.

12/22/2015

Connecting with Parents: “But He Doesn’t Do That at Home!”

Here are some suggestions that may help when parents say, “He doesn’t do that at home!”

11/08/2015

Helping Children Learn to Get Along

Model the kind and empathetic behavior you want the children to practice.

09/09/2015

Conference Time! Talking to Your Child’s Teacher or Caregiver

Many parents feel nervous about parent-teacher conferences or other talks with their children’s teachers or caregivers. Here are some parent-tested hints to help you have good meetings with the people at your child’s program.

09/08/2015

Welcoming Immigrant Families to the Preschool Classroom

When immigrant families first arrive in a U.S. preschool setting, the classroom teacher should be aware that the family may wish more detailed information (preferably written in their heritage language) about U.S. preschool practices.

07/21/2015

Teachers and Families of Dual Language Learners (DLLs): Partners from the Start

For young children who are DLLs adjusting to the first few weeks of prekindergarten can be stressful. Teachers can ease some of the stress during this transition period by forming a partnership with the families before school begins.

07/21/2013