This document discusses engaging English language learner (ELL) parents. It identifies common barriers to ELL parental engagement such as cultural clashes, language barriers, low literacy levels, and logistical issues. It then provides tips and solutions to overcome each barrier, including using parent mentors, translated materials, ensuring readability, and adjusting schedules. Finally, it outlines a 5-step process to effectively reach ELL parents through assessment of needs, facilitating participation, encouraging communication, empowering parents, and involving the community.

1. Engaging ELL Parents:
Tips to Close the Communication
Welcome-Leslie
Gap and Increase Involvement
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2. Presenters-Leslie
Leslie
• Riki Si
Sipe
– Contract Reading Content Coach for the Alaska
Department of Education and Early Development
(EED)
• Sean Chalmers
– Account Executive, K12Translate
• Moderator: Leslie Iburg
– Marketing Coordinator, viaLanguage and
K12Translate
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3. Today s
Today’s Agenda Leslie
1. Introductions
2. Common Barriers/Solutions
Common Barriers/Solutions
3. 5 Steps to Take
4. Conclusion
5. Q & A
5 Q&A
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4. The Importance of Involved Parents -Sean
• Improved student
Improved student
achievement
• Better attendance
Better attendance
• Reduced dropout rates
• Behavior
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5. Barriers to ELL Engagement
Section Break: Common Barriers to Preventing ELL Parental Engagement- Leslie
Engagement-
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6. Barrier 1: Clash of (School) Cultures- Sean
1. Cultural differences
1 C lt l diff
2. Mentalities from native country vs. U.S.
3. Other variables
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7. Tip: Cross the Cultural Divide - Leslie
1. Cross the cultural divide and show mutual interest,
support for the student’s academic success
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8. Solutions – Riki
1. Parent Mentors
• Bilingual ‐ based in schools, working with parents in schools
and outside of school
2. Resources
• Dual language materials, parent workshops, mini‐
technologies
3. Student Events/Exhibitions
• Performing, events to draw in parents
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9. Barrier 2: Language - Sean
1. Decreases participation
2. Written/Spoken Communications
2 Wi /S k C i i
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10. Tip: Speak Their Language - Leslie
1. Essential to understand the
1 Essential to understand the
linguistic preference and
regional nuance of your
i l f
audience.
2. Use terminology and style
specific to their culture or
specific to their culture or
region.
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11. Solutions – Riki
1. Print and telephone translation services
• Translation Providers (K12Translate/viaLanguage)
• Telephone Interpreters (Language Line)
Telephone Interpreters (Language Line)
• Local resources
2. Translated web pages
• Machine translation good for
getting the gist
getting the gist
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12. Barrier 3: Literacy Levels -Leslie
1. Literacy levels of your audience
2. Illiterate Populations
Illiterate Populations
3. Oral Languages
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13. Tip: Ensure Readability - Sean
1. Assess & acknowledge
1 Assess & acknowledge
2. 4th‐6th grade max
g
3. Supplement with pictures,
videos, etc.
4. Literacy programs,
resources
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14. Solutions – Riki
1. Rosetta Stone for English
2. Newsletter‐ Point out easy information in
readable English
3. Connect parents to local programs
Connect parents to local programs
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15. Barrier 4: Logistical - Sean
1. Scheduling
2. Transportation
3. Child care
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16. Tip: Adjust and Adapt - Riki
• Scheduling important meetings,
conversations at convenient times
ti t i t ti
• Convenient locations
• With translation/interpretation services
• Migrant education funds can be used for parent
Migrant education funds can be used for parent
workshops
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17. Steps to Effectively Reach ELL Parents
Section Break: Steps to take to effectively reach ELL Parents Leslie
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18. Step 1: Assessment - Leslie
1. Language/cultural preferences
(
(bilingual vs. monolingual)
g g )
2. Communication preferences
(written, phone, in‐person)
3. Ask students, or send note
3 Ask students or send note
home
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19. Step 2: Facilitate Participation - Riki/Leslie
1. Adjusting our understanding & expectations of what ‘parent involvement’ is
2. Accommodate their preferences, schedules, etc.
3. Make it easy for them
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20. Step 3: Encourage - Sean
1. Communication and
collaboration
2. Provide personalized info on
their students in their
their students in their
preferred language
3. Elicit their feedback and
show you value their input
y p
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21. Step 4: Empower - Leslie
1. Provide home activities, reading lists, etc.
2. Distribute community resource/programs
2 Di ib i /
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22. Step 5: Involve the Community - Sean
1. Reach out to local religious/community leaders to
g / y
help bridge cultural gap and explain
cultural/education differences
cultural/education differences
2. ELL Parent Advisory groups and vice versa
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23. Summary - Leslie
1.
1 Barriers
2. Solutions
3.
3 Steps
St
4. Q & A
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24. Thank You! -Leslie
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C t t K12T l t
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g www.k12translate.com/Blog
g
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