Early Childhood Education

The mathematical skills children bring with them to elementary school predict both their mathematical and literacy achievement for years to come. In this video, experts from Erikson Institute’s Early Mathematics Education Project discuss approaches to creating rich, developmentally appropriate math experiences for young children. Lively footage from three pre-K classrooms in the Chicago public school system, a Head Start program on Chicago’s South Side, and a private preschool in a Chicago suburb illustrates how foundational math can be joyfully incorporated into both informal and planned activities. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (37 minutes)

Ochos Pasos Adelante, or Eight Steps Forward, is a documentary about the impact that early detection and intervention makes on children with different levels of autism spectrum disorder (ADS). The film explores the work of PANAACEA—an Argentinian interdisciplinary team devoted to child and adolescent neurodevelopment. Through interviews and live sessions with therapists, kids, and their parents, the film offers concrete and clear tips on how to detect autism for effective early intervention. In Spanish, Italian and English, some portions with English subtitles. (60 minutes)

The short film for grades 6-12 introduces the history of Indigenous enslavement on land that is now the United States and those working to recover that history. The film is the latest resource for our Teaching Hard History: American Slavery project.