We talk a lot about parental engagement in the development of a child’s education and how the success of progress in school can be attributed, at least in part, to having the parent actively engaged. A mother reading to her child can be an enriching and rewarding experience that has the potential for a positive impact on that child’s learning … 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
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