Helping you provide better early education for dual language learners
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Win at Online Meetings When You are NOT Home Alone!
I have a LOT of experience presenting webinars and participating in conference calls when there are children around, so I’m sharing my insider secrets for success. We won’t mention the time that the cat brought a live bird in the house and the grandkids were screaming and chasing it around during my conference call …. ...
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Creative Ideas for Playing with Grandchildren When You Can’t Be Together
If you and your grandchildren are stuck at home this week – but not in the SAME home – here are some great ideas to pass the time together across the miles. A perfect opportunity to practice your heritage language or learn a new language together! Low tech ideas: Write letters to each other. Everyone loves ...
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Fast 5 Gamechangers Empower DLLs With Conversations!
Perhaps the best kind of teacher talk might be less teacher talk! All through college and professional development experiences, teachers learn what to say to children. But, one of the greatest gifts you can give to young learners, especially DLLs, is to step back and let the children do the talking. Research continues to show ...
Read MoreWhat early childhood educators need to succeed with DLLs
Here are the recommendations and resources I sent for consideration for NAEYC’s Power to the Profession initiative. I believe policy needs to say more about preparing monolingual and multilingual early childhood educators to teach children who are dual language learners. Karen Nemeth Here are a dozen reasons why: Most preschool teachers now (or in the ...
Read MoreRubric for Evaluating Apps for DLLs (c)
R.E.A.D.© Rubric for Evaluating Apps for DLLs© Karen Nemeth, www.languagecastle.com Digital Decisions: Choosing the Right Technology Tools for Early Childhood Education, Fran S. Simon & Karen Nemeth – Gryphon House Using Technology as a Teaching Tool for Dual Language Learners in Preschool through Grade 3, Karen Nemeth & Fran Simon, Young Children March 2013 Karen@languagecastle.com ...
Read MoreThe “Magic 8” Preschool Practices Adapted for DLLs
By Karen Nemeth Have you read about the “Magic 8”? These are the eight practices that are most likely to build preschool student success, according to research by Dr. Dale Farran and her co-authors1,2,5.. They could provide great advantages for young children who are dual language learners, but how can they be applied in ...
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Considering Children who are DLLs in Emergency Planning Events in the news have many schools and programs taking a second look at their emergency plans. Let’s think what an emergency – or even a simple fire drill – must be like for a young child who doesn’t fully understand the language! Establish class buddies – ...
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Response to Recent Question on Advising Diverse Families about Electronic Toys and Early Language
I recently received a request for some resources to help families understand the impact of handing over electronic talking toys, phones and tablets to young children. Here are a few links, including the June 2017 article from Psychology Today. Feel free to suggest additional resources in the comments section.
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Dual Language Learners in Early Childhood Education: A Federal Guidance Crosswalk
Twelve national reports and policy statements have been released over the past two years that provide recommendations for supporting dual language learners (DLLs) in early childhood. This crosswalk is designed to show how these recommendations can work together to support effective early childhood care and education. Column headings represent the components recommended by the various ...
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Resources for Supporting Diverse Infants and Toddlers in Connection with Early Childhood Language Development Standards
By Karen Nemeth May 11, 2017 Infants and toddlers thrive when all of their languages are supported. The diversity of those languages will continue to grow and present challenges to professionals who work with babies and their families. Some states are adopting early language development standards that begin at age 2 ½ years. How can ...
Read MoreFast 5 Gamechangers: Yes, You CAN Support Any Home Language!
How many languages are spoken in your early childhood program? Most have 3 or more! New U.S. DOE and Head Start policies highlight the importance of supporting home languages and that can leave teachers feeling overwhelmed. How can you support so many different languages? We know you want to do what’s best for each ...
Read MoreFast 5 Gamechangers to Support Math Learning for Young DLLs
by Karen Nemeth There’s nothing boring about math but some math activities CAN be boring or hard to understand. This is especially true for children who are dual language learners. They really need math activities that are embedded in meaningful contexts that interest them to help them understand. Using empty plastic, paper or worksheet items ...
Read MoreFast 5 Gamechangers for Using Bilingual Alphabets
We want all preschool children to start learning the alphabet. That’s not always easy when they come to preschool with different language backgrounds. It can be confusing for a Spanish speaker to see a picture of “una manzana” (Spanish word for apple) next to the letter A while the other kids are saying “aaah”. This multilingual ...
Read MoreFast 5 Gamechangers Help Diverse Young Children Respect Each Other
Early childhood educators have the power to start early and start strong by helping all children learn to respect themselves and others. When children and teachers speak different languages, they need special strategies to build that life-changing sense of community. Pronounce each child’s name as closely as possible. Model for your DLLs and for ...
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Top Tips for Translating Materials for Preschool DLLs and Families
1. Say less!! Reach out to preschool DLLs and their families by paring down to the absolute minimum of messages and words needed to save money and time on translations.
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Big Ideas for Finding Books for Preschool DLLs
Need help finding books for preschool DLLs to support the home languages and cultures of your children? In this post I give you quick tips and deeper resources to help you keep the learning going!
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How can technology help diverse families? It’s in this new book!
Here’s how Chip Donohue announced his new book. It’s a privilege to include diversity in our chapter among these great experts! “I’m excited to announce the release of my second edited volume, Family Engagement in the Digital Age: Early Childhood Educators as Media Mentors co-published by Routledge and NAEYC The book includes a Foreword by Ellen ...
Read MoreFast 5 Gamechangers – Revolutionize Classroom Labels for DLLs!
Preschools have labels because they value ‘environmental print’. But… if no one reads the labels or talks about them, do they really help teach language and literacy?
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Cultural/Linguistic Responsiveness is NOT Enough for DLLs
Cultural and linguistic responsiveness is NOT enough to address the early learning needs of young children who are dual language learners. This infographic tells the story about what should be included in plans for preschool DLLs. Feel free to use it as a planning tool or an advocacy tool.
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Wait a Year to Assess Preschool DLLs with Disabilities? No! And Here’s Why
I was asked by a district whether it was a good idea to wait for a preschool dual language learner to spend a year in English-only kindergarten before screening or assessing him for possible speech/language services. Here’s my answer along with relevant resources. photo by Bigstock.com 1. Full English immersion is not the best approach ...
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The D.A.P. Gap: Is Cute the Enemy of Quality?
By Karen N. Nemeth, Let’s be honest. Worksheets, cookie cutter craft activities, printables, and plastic manipulatives are widely reviled by early childhood education experts, yet they are widely available and often used in preschool and child care programs. At a recent luncheon with early childhood professional development providers and authors, we tried to sort out ...
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Strategies that Work with Multiple Languages – A Resource Collection
We all know that the appearance of multiple languages and cultures is growing in early childhood education. In the past, children with different languages might have been the responsibility of a specialist like an ESL teacher or certified bilingual education teacher.
Read MoreFast 5 Gamechangers for Cultural Connections in Early Childhood Education
We all know the importance of connecting with young children by understanding who they are and what’s important to them. Real cultural connections for DLLs go way beyond plastic food, flags, or posters about holidays. Here are some ways to make intentional, authentic, personal connections that help dual language learners:
Read MoreFast 5 Gamechangers- Preschool Science Learning for DLLs
Science is a great subject for early learning because it is hands-on and includes language, literacy, math, and other learning domains. But, how can teachers make science learning meaningful for children who don’t speak the same language?
Read More< style="color:;" class=" ">Here's how Language Castle can help improve classrooms for diverse young children
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