Engaging Spanish-speaking parents in school activities, especially for reading and vocabulary development, can be highly effective with the right strategies. Here are some approaches to help bridge the language barrier and encourage their involvement:

1. Use Bilingual Communication
• Translate Materials: Provide flyers, newsletters, and event details in Spanish.
• Bilingual Invitations: Send home personalized invitations in Spanish to encourage participation.
• Use Translation Apps: Apps like Google Translate or TalkingPoints can help with real-time communication.

2. Provide Spanish-Speaking Support
• Bilingual Staff or Volunteers: Have a bilingual teacher, staff member, or volunteer available to guide parents.
• Parent Ambassadors: Identify bilingual parents who can help translate and encourage others to join.

3. Offer Bilingual or Spanish-Language Workshops
• Family Literacy Nights: Host sessions specifically for engaging Spanish-speaking parents at your school, where parents learn strategies to support reading, even if they don’t speak English. School educators can learn how to do this by attending training for strategies.
• Vocabulary Development Activities: Teach parents how to use pictures, gestures, and context to help their children understand English books.

4. Provide Spanish Resources for Home
• Send Home Spanish-English Word Lists: Provide key vocabulary words from the books with their Spanish translations.
• Recommend Spanish Read-Alouds: Suggest Spanish-language books or bilingual books parents can read with their children.
• Audio Resources: Share links to audiobooks or recorded readings in Spanish and English.

5. Encourage Reading Strategies for English Books
Even if the books are in English, parents can:
• Discuss Pictures: Describe the images and predict what the story might be about.
• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage children to explain what they understand.
• Use Cognates: Point out similar words in Spanish and English (e.g., “animal” in both languages).
• Create a Routine: Make reading a daily habit, even if the parent is not fluent in English.

6. Host Culturally Inclusive Events
• Bilingual Book Fairs: Offer both English and Spanish books.
• Multicultural Storytime: Invite parents to read stories in Spanish while students hear the English version.
• Family Engagement Nights: Celebrate different cultures and languages while promoting literacy.