2. Bilingualism in the Classroom
Children who are raised in a bilingual environment reap linguistic, cognitive and
reading benefits. Nurturing bilingualism in young students is also a valuable way
to connect them with family heritage, foster an appreciation for other cultures
and even prepare them for future success as more marketable workers.
Regardless of the reason a child has come to bilingual learning, the process can
be riddled with confusion and second-guessing from parents and teachers alike.
3. What is Culture?
Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people,
defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and
arts.
4. Sociocultural Aspects for Bilingual
Students in the Classroom
• Characteristics
• Economic Status
• Language
• Cultural Heritage
• Current Events
• Modeling Positive Classroom Behavior
• Dialect
• Societal Perceptions
5. What is Language?
Language is a system of communicating. Many animal and even plant species
communicate with each other. Humans are not unique in this
capability. However, human language is unique in being a symbolic
communication system that is learned instead of biologically inherited.
Language shapes our thoughts and embodies different ways of knowing the
world.
6. Cultural Impact of Bilingualism and Home
Language Use
Although the United States has been dubbed “the graveyard of languages” for
its lack of heritage language support, today’s children’s futures need not be so
bleak. Given the right encouragement, immigrant families can pass on the best
of both worlds to their children: a home language in addition to the community
language.
7. Cultural Impact of Bilingualism and Home
Language Use
While immigrant parents should certainly do
everything they can to learn English, they
should also be encouraged to continue
speaking their native language at home with
their children. Teachers and school
administrators can play a key role in helping
to make this happen by providing
information, support and language resources.
At the very least, parents can be reassured
that their children will have a better chance at
academic success when a home language is
maintained.
8. Resources for Cultivating Home and
School Partnerships
• U.S. Department of Education: http://ed.gov/admins/comm/parents/pntinv.html
• National Standards for Family-School Partnerships: http://www.pta.org/index.cfm
• National Coalition for Parental Involvement in Education: http://www.ncpie.org
• National Education Association: http://www.nea.org/index.html
• Websites: http://www.edutopia.org, http://www.character.org,
http://www.greatschools.org, http://www.pbs.org/parents
9. Strategies for Cultivating Home and School
Partnerships
• Make schools family friendly
• Host a parent/family night
• Send home bilingual notes announcing
parent nights.
• Create positive teacher-student-parent
relationships
• Ask the family for suggestions and
input
• Create safe school environments
• Arrange for parent teacher
conferences at times that are
convenient for parents
• Gain an understanding of immigrant
families' needs in the community
• It is useful to have written guidebooks
available to staff covering relevant
program policies and procedures and
cultural issues related to the
nationalities served
10. Strategies for Evaluating the Effectiveness
of the Home and School Partnerships
• Make a personal connection with families
• Schedule Conferences with parents
• Develop a school-parent-community partnership
policy and contract
• Signed by administration, teacher, parent, and student
• Survey parents
• Encourage parents to attend school events
• Encourage parents to join parent organizations
• PTO or PTA
11. Leadership Role in Cultivating a Positive
Home and School Partnership for ELL
Students
“When families and teachers work together, student
achievement increases.”
• Offer guidance and tools
• Meet the needs of diverse learners
• Encourage and support families
• Support development, adoption, and implementation of ongoing evaluations
