How can we foster language and literacy development in our classrooms? It’s a big question as the language diversity in our schools grows every year. Bilingual learners truly are linguistic geniuses. Their brains work in overdrive to connect concepts, sounds, and understanding between two or more languages. It is a symphony at work as children’s native language and literacy skills become interwoven with their new English language and literacy skills.
Learning just a little bit about your English Language Learners’ first language allows you to understand all the pieces that your bilingual children are weaving together and the kinds of support they may need to find the perfect harmony between multiple languages. Interested in learning about other ways to support the ELLs in your classroom? Dive in and learn how to create a welcoming classroom for your ELLs, specific strategies that support bilingual children in each area of literacy development, and tips on connecting with families.