Podcasts – Early Learning Project

Category: Podcasts

  • Developmental Screenings for Young Children: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know

    Developmental Screenings for Young Children: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know

    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.

  • Too Much Tech: Screen Time and Families

    Too Much Tech: Screen Time and Families

    This podcast features Dr. Emma Mercier, associate professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Mercier shares guidance and tips for families of young children in using technology at home.

  • Making and Keeping Friends for Young Children with and without Disabilities

    Making and Keeping Friends for Young Children with and without Disabilities

    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 disabilities.

  • Families, Social-Emotional Learning, and the Pandemic

    Families, Social-Emotional Learning, and the Pandemic

    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 delivery for home visits, developmental screenings, and support groups. We also delve into the changing social and emotional needs of families…

  • Parenting During a Pandemic

    Parenting During a Pandemic

    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.

  • Childcare During COVID-19: Two Parents’ Perspectives

    Childcare During COVID-19: Two Parents’ Perspectives

    On this podcast, we talk with Haley and Bob about the impact of COVID-19 on childcare and their family. These parents have three young children who attend the Child Development Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This podcast is the third in a three-part series on childcare during COVID-19. Part 1 focuses on…

  • Childcare During COVID-19: A Teacher’s Perspective

    Childcare During COVID-19: A Teacher’s Perspective

    On this podcast, we talk with Kathryn Pannbacker about the impact of COVID-19 on childcare and her work as an early childhood educator. Pannbacker is a preschool head teacher at the Child Development Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

  • Childcare During COVID-19: A Director’s Perspective

    Childcare During COVID-19: A Director’s Perspective

    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 development at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

  • Implementing the Project Approach in Inclusive Classrooms

    Implementing the Project Approach in Inclusive Classrooms

    On this podcast we talk with Dr. Sallee Beneke, an associate professor of early childhood education at St. Ambrose University, where she teaches courses in early childhood education and early childhood special education.

  • Including Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities in Child Care

    Including Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities in Child Care

    On this podcast we talk with Dr. Jenna Weglarz-Ward, an assistant professor in early childhood education and early childhood special education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, about the inclusion of infants and toddlers with disabilities and developmental delays in child care settings.

  • An Introduction to Montessori Education

    An Introduction to Montessori Education

    On this podcast we talk with Dr. Natalie Danner, the LaVonne Kopecky Plambeck endowed chair of Montessori education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

  • Supporting Children with the Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool Classrooms

    Supporting Children with the Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool Classrooms

    On this podcast, we are joined by Dr. Emily Dorsey, project director of the Illinois Early Learning Project.

  • The Impact of Trauma on the Lives of Young Children (Part 2)

    The Impact of Trauma on the Lives of Young Children (Part 2)

    On this podcast we are joined by Dr. Deserai Miller.

  • The Impact of Trauma on the Lives of Young Children (Part 1)

    The Impact of Trauma on the Lives of Young Children (Part 1)

    In this podcast we interview Dr. Catherine Corr from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

  • Listening to Family Voices in Early Childhood Programs

    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…

  • Busy with Blocks (audio)

    Busy with Blocks (audio)

    This podcast, based on a blog written by Dr. Rebecca Swartz, discusses what young children learn from block play. To see the main text of the podcast, you can read the original blog post.

  • Process Play and STEAM: Getting Started

    Process Play and STEAM: Getting Started

    On this podcast, we are joined by Michelle Patt, an early childhood educator, consultant, and writer. Her work emphasizes STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) learning through exploration and experimentation. She writes about the integration of art and science into preschool classroom activities to encourage children’s problem solving and innovation. Michelle is preschool supervisor at…

  • Diverse Families and the Transition to Kindergarten

    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…

  • Language and Literacy in Inclusive Early Childhood Programs

    Language and Literacy in Inclusive Early Childhood Programs

    In this interview, we speak with Elise Prosser, a speech language pathologist from the Urbana Early Childhood School in Urbana, IL. Ms. Prosser received her bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing science and master’s degree in speech language pathology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has been working in the schools as a…

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

    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.…

  • Mathematize! (audio)

    Mathematize! (audio)

    This podcast, based on a blog written by Dr. Rebecca Swartz, provides ideas for helping young children use mathematical thinking in everyday routines. To see the main text of the podcast, you can read the original blog post. Related IEL Resources Blog: Mathematize! Tip Sheet: Counting Up, Down, and All Around! Tip Sheet: Discover Shapes…

  • Transformative Early Childhood Education: An Interview with Dr. Kathleen Gallagher

    Transformative Early Childhood Education: An Interview with Dr. Kathleen Gallagher

    This podcast is an interview with Dr. Kathleen Gallagher. This interview was recorded during her visit to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus for the Child Development Laboratory’s 75th anniversary lecture in November 2017. In this interview, she discusses her own story of becoming an early childhood educator and shares her perspectives on how…

  • Try and Try Again (audio)

    Try and Try Again (audio)

    This podcast, based on a blog written by Dr. Rebecca Swartz, provides information about how adults can help young children develop persistence to try and try again when they encounter everyday challenges. To see the main text of the podcast, you can read the original blog post. Related IEL Resources Blog: Try and Try Again

  • Supporting Young Children’s Friendships: An Interview with Dr. Michaelene Ostrosky

    Supporting Young Children’s Friendships: An Interview with Dr. Michaelene Ostrosky

    This podcast contains an interview with Dr. Michaelene (Micki) Ostrosky about supporting young children’s friendships. Dr. Ostrosky is the head of the Department of Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In this interview, Dr. Ostrosky and IEL staff member Dr. Rebecca Swartz discuss why friendships are important to young children as well as…

  • Feelings Are Fantastic (audio)

    Feelings Are Fantastic (audio)

    This podcast, based on a blog written by Dr. Rebecca Swartz, provides information about how young children learn to manage their feelings and provides strategies adults can use to help them learn to express their feelings appropriately. To see the main text of the podcast, you can read the original blog post. Related IEL Resources…