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LANGUAGE & LITERACY BLOG

Families, Libraries, Schools,

BILINGUAL BOOK PROMOTION LAUNCHED ON INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY!

To celebrate International Literacy Day, Language Lizard is launching its Bilingual Book Promotion which will last until the end of October.  Visit the Language Lizard website to learn more about this promotion and how you can receive free bilingual books! The theme for the 2012 International Literacy Day is literacy and peace. As the UNESCO website states: “Literacy contributes to peace as it brings people closer to attaining individual freedoms and better understanding the world, as well as preventing or resolving............. CONTINUE READING
Classroom, ELLs / DLLs,

BILINGUAL CHILDREN AND THE FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL

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
Classroom, ELLs / DLLs,

BILINGUAL STUDENTS: PREPARING FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR

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
At Home, Families,

TOP BILINGUAL BOOKS FOR SUMMERTIME READING

When it comes to choosing bilingual books to share with our little ones during the summer, the choices seem endless. Who can decide on just a few when there are so many to choose from? To help you pick the right bilingual books for your family this summer, we have put together the following lists based on some popular topics. We hope you will find just the right books to make your summertime as enjoyable (and bilingual) as possible. Feel free to head............. CONTINUE READING
Classroom, ELLs / DLLs,

BILINGUAL CHILDREN: MAKE STORYTIME THEIR FAVORITE TIME OF THE DAY

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
At Home, Dual Language, Families,

BILINGUAL CHILDREN: SUMMER TRAVEL ACTIVITIES

Summer is a wonderful time of year to travel: Children are out of school and the warm days beacon for lazy hours at the beach or walks through cool forests. Whether we are traveling by land, air or sea, we can make bilingualism part of every bilingual child’s summertime adventures. Both parents and teachers can engage bilingual children in fun travel activities, whether it is during a bus ride with a summer class or as a family on the way to visit............. CONTINUE READING
At Home, Community Support, Schools,

BILINGUAL CHILDREN & SUMMER LITERACY PROGRAMS

Summertime is upon us! The school year is coming to an end and our favorite summer activities are right around the corner: Running barefoot through sprinklers, savoring a neon-colored snow cone and sitting in the shade of a favorite tree with a good book. What could be better? Even though school is letting out, children can strengthen their literacy skills with summertime literacy programs, available through local libraries, community centers, schools, bookstores and even online. Bilingual children, in particular, can significantly improve............. CONTINUE READING
Dual Language, ELLs / DLLs, Families,

BILINGUAL CHILDREN: BENEFITS OF LEARNING TO READ IN THE HOME LANGUAGE

We only learn how to read once. This is true for all of us: monolingual, bilingual or multilingual. Once we figure out how literacy works, it is with us forever. The best part about bilingual children learning to read is that once they figure it out in one language, they can transfer their literacy to their other language(s)! It is a feat that can be mastered in leaps and bounds in any of a number of languages once the process is underway. As............. CONTINUE READING
Dual Language, Libraries, Schools,

BILINGUAL STORYTIME: 5 DIFFERENT TYPES

Nowadays many libraries and bookstores are delighting their patrons with storytimes. Children love the magic of a good book that is brought to life through the skills of a good presenter. It is an opportunity for children to travel to new places that have never been explored and to experience adventures that have never been undertaken. The elements of a successful storytime are essential: A book with a great storyline, captivating pictures and an energetic presenter who is willing to act out............. CONTINUE READING
Classroom, Dual Language, ELLs / DLLs,

BILINGUAL BOOKS IN BILINGUAL CLASSROOMS

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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