Early Social Interactions Build Connections in the Brain
Back-and-forth social interactions build babies' language skills and strengthen language regions in their brains.
Language and Literacy
Language and Literacy is one of the five central domains of the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF). This collection features resources to help infants, toddlers, and preschoolers understand and respond to communication and language. Some focus on emergent literacy, which refers to the knowledge and skills that lay the foundation for reading and writing skills.
Other ELOF domains include Approaches to Learning; Social and Emotional Development; Cognition; and Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development.
Supports for Classroom Language Models for All Children: Step-by-Step Guide
This resource offers sequenced guidance for programs to use as they implement the recommendations in Classroom Language Models: A Leader's Implementation Manual.
Planned Language Approach: Tips for Getting Started
Explore key pieces of information about a Planned Language Approach, including its purpose, benefits, and where to start.
Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Express Checkout Worksheet
Use this resource to check whether materials for children and families are culturally and linguistically appropriate.
Emergent Writing
Learn about emergent writing and the writing process. Discover ways to support children's emergent writing skills.
Read It Again! Benefits of Reading to Young Children
When you read with children, they connect the words they hear to the pictures on the page and things in their world. Learn why story time is important for children’s brain development.
Brilliant Bilingual Babies
Explore this brief to learn how home visitors can support children who are learning more than one language. Find out how a solid foundation in a child’s home language is key to later language success.
Screening and Assessing the Planned Language Approach's Big 5 Skills
Screening and assessment allow staff to understand each child’s strengths and needs. To plan learning experiences that support Big 5 skills development, staff need to use data from screening and assessment results.
Planned Language Approach: Alphabet Knowledge and Early Writing
Explore resources related to alphabet knowledge and early writing skills in young children, as well as support strategies for parents and families. See how the skills develop through the eyes of kindergartener Joan.
Catherine Snow: Building Language Knowledge
Listen as Catherine Snow talks about how the ELOF relates to the language and literacy domain.