1C) Benefits of home language
Provide families with information on home language development and the benefits of bilingualism and encourage them to continue to speak their home language to their children.
Video: Family Partnerships to Support Children’s Bilingual Development
This video shares the importance of engaging with families to support children's bilingual development. Provide families with tools and resources that help promote their home language with Multilingual Learners (as an example, provide books that celebrate the child's culture and also help develop a foundation for reading).Read More
Strategy Overview: Haciendo conexciones lenguajes con nuestros niños
This guide (in Spanish) is designed to help families tap into the linguistic genius of their Multilingual children. It provides some common areas of transfer between Spanish and English and offers some suggestions for how to aid children in connecting their two languages at home.Read More
Strategy Overview: Making Cross-language Connections with our Children
This guide (in English) is designed to help families tap into the linguistic genius of their Multilingual children. It provides some common areas of transfer between Spanish and English and offers some suggestions for how to aid children in connecting their two languages at home.Read More
Flyer: Mitos e investiaciones del bilinguismo
This document lists common myths about bilingual development and offers research-based responses. It explains dual language instruction for Multilingual Learners, and teaches families about the benefits of home language development. This version is in Spanish.Read More
Strategy Overview: Fostering Multilingual Pride
This strategy outlines ways teachers can foster multilingual pride with students.Read More
Video: Helping with Homework (Parent-Child Relationship)
This is an example of a parent and a child working on a project at home together. Later the child will bring the project to school and share it with peers and the teacher to connect home-based learning to school-based learning.Read More
App: CDC Milestone Tracker
This is an app that can be shared with parents in both Spanish and English to help them keep track of major developmental steps that their children make from birth-5 years old.Read More
Website: For Families/Para las familias
This is a webpage intended to be shared with families. The links include resources for support on teaching children to read, partnering with the school, the use of technology, and the benefits of bilingualism.Read More
Website: For Families/Para las familias
This is a Spanish-language webpage intended to be shared with families. The links include resources for support on teaching children to read, partnering with the school, the use of technology, and the benefits of bilingualism.Read More
Resource List: Ideas and Resources for Parents of EL Students
This website offers an extensive list of online resources that can be shared with families of Multilingual Learners, or used by the teacher in class. Some resources are directly for students to practice language skills, while others are intended to inform teachers and parents about language learning.Read More
Tip Sheet: Reading Tips with Families (in 16 languages)
Teachers can access eight different literacy tip sheets for families in sixteen different languages. This information bolsters the home-school connection for Multilingual Learners and their families.Read More
Blog: 6 Strategies to Elevate the Status of Bilingualism
This blog post offers practical ideas to highlight the benefits and strengths of bilingualism in a school community.Read More
Handout: The Importance of Home Language
This resource provides handouts with information about the benefits of bilingualism, the importance of maintaining the home language, and how families can support their Multilingual Learners. The handouts are available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, and Russian, and can be used by teachers and families.Read More
Flyer: Keeping Your Home Language (in 16 languages)
This is a one-page handout available in 16 different languages. The flyer offers reasons for maintaining Multilingual Learners' home languages, as well as suggestions on what families can do to build children's home language skills.Read More
Strategy Overview: Supporting Oral Language
To develop language, children need many opportunities to practice speaking. This overview describes how teachers can support families to give Multilingual Learners opportunities to practice oral language.Read More
Strategy Overview: Supporting Bilingualism
Research has proven that the strongest foundation for academic success and high levels of literacy for Multilingual Learners is the development of both their home language and English. This overview describes strategies that schools, teachers, and families can use to support multilingualism.Read More
Strategy Overview: Celebrating Bilingualism-Pathways to Biliteracy
This document offers a variety of examples for both classroom and school-wide implementation for a Seal of Biliteracy. Now that a biliteracy seal is available in California and other U.S. states, offering high-quality bilingual materials and structuring opportunities to celebrate bilingualism with students and families can begin as early as PreK.Read More
Video & Video Guide: Bilingualism Through the Eyes of a Student
Students share their ideas about the benefits of being bilingual. They explain why speaking two languages is important and a source of pride. The accompanying guide suggests moments in the video to pause to notice teachers’ practice, along with prompts for reflection and discussion.Read More
Flyer: Myths and Research about Bilingual Development
This document lists common myths about bilingual development and offers research-based responses. It explains dual language instruction for Multilingual Learners, and teaches families about the benefits of home language development.Read More
Tip Sheet: Communication with Parents / Comunicación con los padres
This bilingual (Spanish) document explains to parents the benefits of speaking a home language. Advice is shared on how to develop oral home language proficiency and provide high-quality and extended talk opportunities for children.Read More
Flyer: How Families Can Develop Oral Language/Como familias pueden desarrollar lenguaje oral
Teachers can share this flyer in English and/or Spanish with the families of Multilingual Learners. This flyer provides families with learning activities that can support home language development.Read More
Handout: Support Bilingualism (Spanish)
This handout shares nine different strategies that families can use to support the home language development of their children. Sharing this type of information builds a culture that values dual language learning and family engagement.Read More
Video & Video Guide: Bilingualism Through the Eyes of Families
Family members share their ideas about the benefits of being bilingual. They explain how speaking two languages is critical to maintain family life and cultural identity. The accompanying guide suggests moments in the video to pause to notice teachers’ practice, along with prompts for reflection and discussion.Read More
