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Review by Erin Brereton, Common Sense Education | Updated August 2014

Ele

Useful pre-K learning resources help both teachers and parents

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • English Language Arts
  • Math
Skills
N/A
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
Pre-K
Great for:
Common Sense says (See details)
Teachers say (0)
Not yet reviewed
Platforms:  Website

Take a look inside

5 images
Teachers can create and share playlists of their favorite activities.
Playlists can be sorted by age, intended skill, or media type.
Search for activities by age.
Ele also provides helpful resources for adults, including professional development and technical support.

Pros: Helpful information comes in a format that makes it easy for adults to find pre-K videos, lessons, ebooks, and more.

Cons: Adults need to register to create and share activity lists, but minimal information is required.

Bottom Line: Educators can access helpful interactive activities and create customized learning plans for students or suggest at-home activities for parents.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

The site's activities focus on early education and pre-kindergarten skills through the use of fun activities, such as learning literacy through singing, talking, and other actions. Teachers can share video clips, electronic books, games, songs, and videos with young children to help them learn about the alphabet, writing, socialization, and more. Other videos touch on art, counting, and science and math. Educators can find activities for specific ages, skills, or media types, and create playlists to keep them organized and ready for quick access.

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Standards:

The Fred Rogers Center Early Learning Environment, also known as Ele, provides videos, electronic books, and other learning-based activities for educators, parents, and other adults who work with pre-K children. The variety of materials, which come from such sources as the National Center for Family Literacy and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, are labeled by age, intended skill (such as reading or writing), or media type.

Ele's system of organization for its learning materials should make it easy for educators to find what they need -- relevant resources that address their students' needs. To help organize things further, teachers can create playlists of their favorite activities and share them on the site.

The engaging, mostly interactive learning exercises cover a wide variety of subjects, including core content areas like math, science, writing, and reading, plus such topics as listening, talking, and the arts. Notably, the site includes activities that adults and kids can do together; each includes a brief description of what kids will learn, while user reviews help identify how adults can utilize the lesson. With this handy mix of adult instruction, fun activities, and practical lessons, Ele's resources are great for helping kids get ready for the transition to school.

Overall Rating
Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

Features a diverse set of materials, including ebooks, videos, games, and songs, which should hold kids' interest. Parents and teachers can choose materials to create their own learning program.

 

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Early education subjects include reading, writing, playing, math, science, and the arts. Each is illustrated and practiced in different ways using various media types, including videos, online storybooks, and games.

 

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Parents and teachers can share ideas on message boards. Videos in Spanish are available for some ELL students. Some of the linked sites contain additional information and tips for adults.

Common Sense Reviewer
Erin Brereton
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Key Standards Supported

Language

  • L.K.1

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

  • L.K.2c

    Write a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes).

  • L.K.2d

    Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.

  • L.K.6

    Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts.

Reading Foundational Skills

  • RF.K.3

    Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

  • RF.K.3a

    Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary or many of the most frequent sound for each consonant.

  • RF.K.2

    Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).

  • RF.K.2a

    Recognize and produce rhyming words.

Reading Literature

  • RL.K.10

    Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

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