The White House has a new Federal policy statement from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education on better supporting our country’s youngest Dual Language Learners (DLLs) in early childhood programs. The White House is joined by public and private sector organizations that are also committed to support DLLs. Additionally, the White House, in collaboration with Too … Read More
Raising Bilingual Kids
Raising bilingual children can seem daunting but can be exciting and rewarding as well. The path to bilingualism varies greatly depending on your child’s exposure to their native language as well as the new language in their lives and the opportunities for bilingual development you both experience. As a parent, you can support your child’s bilingualism by using your home … Read More
Read Alouds with Preschoolers
Preschool aged children can develop a strong, positive relationship to books and reading time with consistent exposure and encouragement. One way to make reading time meaningful is through repeated, interactive read alouds. These are reading sessions in which the adult presents the same book multiple times with varying types of augmentations and interactions that encourage the children’s understanding of the … Read More
Bilingual Infant & Toddler Book Collection Wins FIVE Awards!
We all know that there is a shortage of quality bilingual infant & toddler books to meet the needs of our growing Hispanic community. That’s why we thought we would share the news with you that our Baby Talk Bilingual Board Books®, which is a collection of five books, is now a FIVE TIMES award-winner! Artist Noêl Ill brings these … Read More
Creating a Diverse Library at Schools
Library services that cater to children are in danger of becoming obsolete without turning a keen eye toward diversifying their collections. The world today has never been more culturally diverse and, as the country embraces so many different customs and values of people from all around the world, it’s important that our school libraries reflect these rich ancestries and traditions. … Read More
Three Traits of a Good Children’s Book
Children’s books quite literally come in all shapes and sizes, as well as all tones of voice, types of plots, and levels of vocabulary. The questions of what makes one book more important, popular, or simply better than another is widely debated—but here are three characteristics that many good children’s books possess. 1. An Interesting, Relatable Story The story in … Read More
What is Phonics and What is Phonemic Awareness?
The English language, or any language for that matter, is comprised of many subtle, interacting, and overlapping components. When it comes to language acquisition, both written and spoken language possess distinct but related attributes and skillsets. This is where phonics and phonemic awareness come into play. Phonics Phonics describes the relationship between written symbols (letters) and sounds. When your child … Read More
How Can Parents Help Kids Maintain Their Home Language and Learn English too?
Research shows that continuing to use home languages alongside their new language acquisition will make the process of learning English faster and easier. One of the first steps you can take is to embrace and celebrate your child’s bilingualism as a strength that will serve them well throughout their lives in our increasingly diverse and multicultural world. Here are two … Read More
What is Multicultural Literature and Why the Importance?
Children are like small sponges. They absorb everything. Books can have the most significant impact on a child’s mind as it allows them to unleash the full power of their imagination. Reading is among the most enduring influences on shaping a child’s social conscience and world view; therefore, it is essential that a child has access to literature that presents … Read More
Barriers to Education for Hispanics in the United States
Hispanics make up the single largest population of immigrants currently living in the United States, with a majority of that group aged 25-62 born outside of the United States. A new public education system can be tough to navigate and newcomers are often at a disadvantage when compared to their U.S born peers of both Hispanic and non-Hispanic descent. From … Read More