Classroom, Dual Language, ELLs / DLLs, Schools,

WHAT’S THE REAL HOME LANGUAGE STORY? MAKING YOUR HEAD START CLASSROOM WELCOMING FOR MULTILINGUAL KIDS

May 3, 2013

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  photo credit: meadowsaffron at flickr.com Every Head Start teacher has the privilege and responsibility to make his or her children feel valued and comfortable from day one in the classroom.   Enrollment form information can help with this: knowing all you can about a student’s background will help you to help them get used to their new school.  Sometimes, it’s not easy to be sure you are getting the most accurate information.  Many families who speak a language other than English or have another............. CONTINUE READING

At Home, Classroom, Families,

WORLD FOLKTALES AND FABLES: EFFECTIVE TEACHING TOOLS EDUCATE & ENTERTAIN CHILDREN

March 22, 2013

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Reading world folktales and fables is not only a wonderful way to entertain and bond with children, it is also an effective way to educate them. The stories in classic folklore offer both social lessons as well as an opportunity to teach about cultures and languages. World Folktales and Fables week is celebrated the third week of each March, so be sure to enjoy a good folktale in your classroom or home! Children love folktales and fables. With their simple characters and............. CONTINUE READING

Classroom, ELLs / DLLs,

BILINGUAL STUDENTS: THE BENEFITS OF NARRATION

January 29, 2013

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As we mentioned in our previous post, Bilingual Students: Using Holiday Celebrations to Promote Language Development in Multicultural Classrooms, bilingual students often have a lot to say right after they return from their winter holidays. They are eager to share activities that they engaged in with family and friends and to talk about the gifts that they may have received. However, once the excitement of returning back to school has worn off, it can be more challenging to............. CONTINUE READING

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Classroom, ELLs / DLLs,

BILINGUAL STUDENTS: USING HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS TO PROMOTE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN MULTICULTURAL CLASSROOMS

January 10, 2013

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Now that the New Year has arrived and school is back in full swing, students are sure to be filled brimming with enthusiastic stories of what they did during their winter holiday. Ice skating in the park, opening gifts at the fireplace, lighting candles in beautifully wrought candelabras are just a few  activities that children might share with an overjoyed twinkle in their eye. How could they not?! As we all know first-hand, getting students to engage in conversations works best when............. CONTINUE READING

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Classroom, ELLs / DLLs,

TEACHING THANKFULNESS IN BILINGUAL CLASSROOMS

November 19, 2012

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What a perfect time of year to focus on gratitude, appreciation and thankfulness! Having family and friends to share our lives with, food on the table, clean water to drink and a roof over our heads is something that adults and children alike can take time to reflect on during this holiday season. In bilingual classrooms, the topic of thankfulness can involve language learning as well as cultural sharing. Not only do we say “thank you” with different words, the way we............. CONTINUE READING

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Classroom, ELLs / DLLs,

BILINGUAL CHILDREN AND THE FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL

August 22, 2012

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Starting school for the first time can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience for a young bilingual child. Aside from possible language barriers, cultural differences may often play a role. Things that are done in the classroom often do not match what a child is used to at home and this can make a bilingual child feel especially uncomfortable and insecure. It is important to give bilingual children a lot of time to get used to the classroom setting. Although this............. CONTINUE READING

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Classroom, ELLs / DLLs,

BILINGUAL STUDENTS: PREPARING FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR

August 7, 2012

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The start of the school year is just around the corner. Where did the summer go? It seems like just yesterday that we were watching our students head out the schoolhouse doors. Before we know it, they will be rushing back through those doors again. With the coming school year so close, it is important that teachers start thinking ahead to the needs of their bilingual students. Language activities, music, bilingual books and writing materials are just a few examples of resources............. CONTINUE READING

Classroom, ELLs / DLLs,

BILINGUAL CHILDREN: MAKE STORYTIME THEIR FAVORITE TIME OF THE DAY

July 12, 2012

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Reading out loud is one of the most wonderful ways we can help our children learn language(s). It helps to build vocabulary (in many languages) and helps children fall in love with literature and the written word. The more we can make storytime a great experience for children, the more they will look forward to reading on their own down the road. It doesn’t take a lot to make storytime a child’s favorite time of day. However, reminding ourselves of some key elements............. CONTINUE READING

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Classroom, Dual Language, ELLs / DLLs,

BILINGUAL BOOKS IN BILINGUAL CLASSROOMS

April 19, 2012

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Picture this: A classroom bustling with students engaged in a variety of activities. On one side of the room, the teacher mingles with a group of students who are working on a collage. It is spread out across a wide table and students are discussing, in English and Spanish, where to place the different items. The teacher meanders by, a student asks for some advice in English, and a short discussion takes place. A few minutes later the same teacher approaches a............. CONTINUE READING

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Classroom, ELLs / DLLs,

SPRINGTIME LANGUAGE LEARNING ACTIVITIES: SCAVENGER AND TREASURE HUNTS

April 5, 2012

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Flowers are beginning to blossom in and the talk of eggs, bunnies and little yellow chicks is underway. It must be springtime! Students are excited and invigorated by the changing season, so it is a perfect time of year to incorporate activities that match the energetic mood of your classroom. Even though many of your students may not celebrate Easter, they are sure to notice the supermarket shelves lined with plastic eggs and chocolate bunnies. One activity from Easter that is sure............. CONTINUE READING

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