At Home, Classroom, ELLs / DLLs, Libraries, Schools,

NEW MULTILINGUAL “TALKING” CHARTS: ENGLISH, GEOGRAPHY, STEM (FOR USE WITH PENPAL RECORDER PEN)

May 17, 2017

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Language Lizard is pleased to announce new multilingual “talking” charts that allow students to hear explanations of key terms in English, geography, math & science in many different languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian. These charts are invaluable resources for teachers who support a linguistically diverse student body. Using these charts with the PENpal Audio Recorder Pen, newcomers and English Language Learners (ELLs) can hear key terms explained in their native languages, allowing for a better understanding............. CONTINUE READING

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At Home, Classroom, Dual Language, ELLs / DLLs, Teaching Resources,

USING COGNATES TO SUPPORT SECOND LANGUAGE AND LITERACY LEARNING

April 11, 2017

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by guest blogger Karen Nemeth EdM Cognates are pairs of words that sound alike and have the same meaning in two different languages. They are useful first steps in learning a new language. How Do Cognates Work? In English we say “elephant” and in Spanish we say “elefante.” English and Spanish speakers can easily make the connection between these cognates to learn and remember the animal’s name. In English, we say “frog” but in Spanish we say “rana.” Frog and rana are not cognates,............. CONTINUE READING

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Classroom, Dual Language, ELLs / DLLs, Libraries, Schools,

“HELLO” & “WELCOME” IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES: MULTICULTURAL POSTERS CELEBRATE CULTURAL DIVERSITY & WELCOME NEWCOMERS

April 4, 2017

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Teachers want to make children feel valued and comfortable from the day they arrive at school.  One of the first things a child or caregiver will notice when they enter a new classroom is the way it looks. Imagine if one of the first things a child sees is a poster that says “Welcome” in different languages, including their own! Or if they are greeted with “Hello” in different languages! Newcomers who do not speak English well, and............. CONTINUE READING

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At Home, Classroom, Community Support, Families, Giveaways, Holidays, Libraries, Schools,

MULTICULTURAL BOOKS FOR NATIONAL READING MONTH & GIVEAWAY!

March 26, 2017

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National Reading Month is a great time to try out a new multicultural book with your little ones! Celebrate with fun, diverse children’s books that introduce them to different cultures. And don’t miss out on the Multicultural Stories Giveaway we are co-sponsoring with our friends at I Teach K-2! What is National Reading Month? Every March, National Reading Month kicks off with NEA’s Read Across America, which celebrates the birthday of the beloved Dr. Seuss. All month long, organizations across............. CONTINUE READING

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Classroom, Holidays, Lesson Plans, Schools, Teaching Resources,

HOLI FESTIVAL + WORLD FOLKTALES & FABLES WEEK: NEW LESSON PLANS & DISCOUNT

March 10, 2017

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We’re excited to share new, free multicultural lesson plans you can use to celebrate two fun upcoming holidays: Holi “Festival of Colors” (March 13, 2017) Holi , also known as the Festival of Colors,  is a popular springtime festival celebrated in many parts of South Asia and around the world.  This festival celebrates the coming of spring and the end of winter. It is also a day to give thanks for a good harvest. It’s a time to forgive and forget, be with............. CONTINUE READING

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At Home, Classroom, Community Support, Families, Schools,

CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND EASE ANXIETY: SUGGESTIONS FOR KIDS & ADULTS

January 30, 2017

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Right now, our lives are permeated with emotionally charged discourse about political and social upheaval. When you think about how much news media, social media and personal conversations we’re exposed to, it’s very likely our kids and students are aware and possibly experiencing anxiety about what they hear and see going on in the world around them. We all may feel disheartened with the current events that are dividing us as people, and as a nation. If you’re worried that the children in............. CONTINUE READING

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Classroom, Libraries, Schools, Teaching Resources,

HOW TO CREATE A CLASSROOM LISTENING CENTER

January 3, 2017

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If your classroom or library makes use of learning centers, you may be thinking about setting one up as a listening center. Students of all ages and levels, especially English language learners, benefit from this type of interactive, multi-sensory learning. Below, we offer some tips to help get your listening center up and running. Make a Listening Center Plan What type of Listening Center best suits your classroom? Would you like your students to focus on literacy gains and improve comprehension and vocabulary? Or do............. CONTINUE READING

At Home, Classroom, Dual Language, ELLs / DLLs, Libraries, Schools,

BRANCHING OUT: IDIOMS & LANGUAGE LEARNERS

October 26, 2016

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Learning a new language is hard work – definitely no walk in the park! As a teacher, parent or student, you may find yourself so busy with the basics of vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar that you’re hesitant to add any more work. But idioms – sayings with a shared meaning in a community, which aren’t decipherable from their words alone – are an important part of language learning, too. Read on for some helpful tips to “pave the way” to learning idioms in a............. CONTINUE READING

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At Home, Classroom, Dual Language, ELLs / DLLs, Holidays, Libraries, Schools,

5 FUN & EASY WAYS TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY

September 26, 2016

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It’s always a great time to celebrate diversity in your classroom and home, but October is special because it’s also Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month! Language Lizard will soon announce a huge giveaway in honor of the occasion… In the meantime, we offer 5 fun and easy ways to celebrate diversity today! Foods from Around the World Trying out a new dish from a different part of the world is delicious, fun and educational – a sure win! You might love trying a bit............. CONTINUE READING

Classroom, Dual Language, Libraries, Schools,

3 STEPS TO BUILD A LENDING LIBRARY IN YOUR CLASSROOM

August 30, 2016

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Have you ever considered creating a lending library in your classroom? They can be an especially great resource for bilingual students and their families. When students see books in their home languages, it can be comforting and a source of pride, and can encourage acceptance of diversity in all of your students. A classroom lending library can inspire a love of reading in students, and increase parental involvement. In the past, we’ve written posts about the increasing need for multicultural............. CONTINUE READING