Parent Resources

*A Guide for Parents of English Language Learners in New York State

       Different language options

*Common Core Standards for Parents

       Spanish version

*What Can Parents Do To Help Their Children Learn?

      Spanish version

*Colorin Colorado
      Spanish version

More Than Just a Library

A great way to promote English language learning is to join your local library. To become a member of The Library you will need to bring a piece of mail, or a bill which shows your proof of residence.

Not only does the library have countless books for you and your children, it also has many parental resources, as well as events, and programs taking place in the facility and the community, including free museum passes.

     

Next time you go to the library, ask the libriarian for "Books on CD". Your children can actually put the CD into a player and listen to as well as read along to a story that is being read to them! This is a great way to develop intonation, pronunciation, reading and listening comprehension.  E-books can be accessed as well.

Ways to Promote Language Learning at Home

Promoting Language Learning at Home:

1). Begin reading to your child at an early age, and as often as possible, in your native language, as well as in English. If a child is literate in their native language, they will then be able to more easily transfer that information into the English language.

2). Visit your public library with your child. Help your child choose appropriate books to read together.

3). Keep many types of reading materials (books, magazines, newspapers, etc.) in your native language and in English in your home. Encourage older siblings to read to their younger siblings. This helps develop reading and listening comprehension skills for both children. 

4). Ask your children questions about what they have read, such as:

          -  What is happening in the story?

          -  What do you think will happen next?

          -  How do you think the character feels? Why?

          -  What was your favorite part of the story? Why?

Asking these type questions can help children become more excited about reading, as well as more responsible for their own learning.

5). Take your children to places in the community that offer educational activities and learning experiences. Talk to them about what they are seeing. Provide them with names of new objects. Answer questions they may have.

6). Discuss things that happen in school every day. Engage your children in conversation about their favorite subjects and teachers, as well as any special events happening in school.

7). Find opportunities for your child to write frequently in their native languages as well as English. Keeping a daily writing journal, writing down recipes, creating shopping lists or writing notes/letters for family members is a great way to do this.

8). Select television programs that you and your child can watch and discuss. Change the setting on your TV for Closed Captioning to be On, to read the words on the TV screen.  Limit the amount of time your child watches television and encourage them to read, write, listen to music, or talk with family members and friends.

Winding Down

The school year is almost complete!

I would love to hear from you to learn about how this school year experience was for your child.  If you would like, you may send in a letter or short note to let me know how you felt the learning lab benefited your child this year.  Also, if you would like any support, resources, or tools for over the summer to continue to help your child please let me know.

Have a wonderful summer!
Keep reading, learning, and exploring!