Literacy begins in the home. Parents who begin to read to their children from a very young age make great strides in the child’s educational and social evolution later on. Reading to a child promotes successful outcomes for literacy even before they start their first day of kindergarten. This is true for families of all languages, backgrounds and cultures. For … Read More
Why Teaching in Two Languages Makes Sense for Programs with Hispanic Parents
Teaching in two languages can provide Hispanic parents with the peace of mind that they need to successfully engage in the education of their children. Family literacy programs that include parents in the curricula help to stymie the fears and lack of confidence that Hispanic parents often feel when it comes to reading to their children. They may not feel comfortable reading … Read More
The Power of Story
We all like to tell stories. We learn how to do it from a very young age, and this ability is unlocked by hearing others do it first. It’s a skill that is best acquired through literacy. Reading inspires our imagination, transporting us to worlds old and new, far and near. It enables us to visit any time period and … Read More
A School Library Can Support ELL Families
Libraries have historically been multi-faceted organizations which offer not only books and media, but access to community programs and cultural experiences. There is now a growing trend in public schools in which school librarians, classroom teachers, and ELL teachers are using the library as a meeting and activity venue for ELL families. It can be challenging for ELL parents and … Read More
Early Literacy for English Learners is Crucial
There have been a number of studies examining the effects of acquiring literacy skills at a very early age and the findings have shown that the earlier a child begins to learn the basics of reading and vocabulary, the far greater their odds for academic achievement later on. With these results demonstrating the benefits for success of all school children, … Read More
Promoting an Anti-Bias Curriculum in Elementary Schools
Today’s world reflects many faces. Implementing a curriculum that acknowledges and supports the significant diversities among culture, race, gender, and socioeconomics, just to name a few, in elementary schools fosters a positive development of tolerance from a young age. Children can be perfectly blunt in their assessments and they are able to perceive differences between people who are like them … Read More
White House Supporting Dual Language Learners in Early Learning Settings
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
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
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