Supporting English Language Learners

Presenters:

Christy Cox, Region X Child Development and Early Learning Specialist, christine.cox@acf.hhs.gov

John Borrero, Region II Child Development and Early Learning Specialist, john.borrero@acf.hhs.gov

Region X Conference Call
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST

"As a child who was a second language learner from first generation immigrants, being culturally competent in English, and in the home language, has been essential and invaluable. This is because one cannot help but feel a deep sense of loss when one's home language cannot be passed on to our own children. It is something that is so essential to one's identity and self-esteem."
- Head Start English Language Learners Focus Group Report

1. Conference Call Agenda

   • Region X 'Cameos'
   • Head Start Mandates
   • Research Overview
   • Questions and Comments
   • Best Practices
   • Systemic Approach
   • Resources
   • Questions and Comments

2. Region X Cameo Appearances

   • Eastern Oregon University Head Start, La Grande, OR
     Tammie McEnroe, Education and Disabilities Manager
   • Pocatello-Chubbuck School District #25, Pocatello, ID
     Kim Baumgart, Education and Disabilities Manager
   • First AME Child and Family Center, Seattle, WA
     Jane Davies, Education and Disabilities Manager
   • Skagit Islands Head Start 0-5, Mount Vernon, WA
     Joan Youngquist, Director and Becky Richter, Education Manager

3. Office of Head Start Mandates

   • Head Start Performance Standards
   • Head Start School Readiness Act 2007
   • Head Start Child Outcomes Framework

4. Research Overview - Vocabulary and Definitions

   • Bilingual
   • Dual-Language
   • English Language Learner (ELL)
   • English as a Second Language (ESL)
   • Home Language
   • Immersion
   • Language Acquisition
   • Limited English Proficiency
   • Primary or Dominant Language
   • Secondary Language
   • Sequential Acquisition
   • Simultaneous Acquisition

5. Research Overview - Dispelling Myths and Misconceptions with Relevant Research

   Myths and Misconceptions
   • Young children learn a second language more easily and faster than adolescents and adults.
   • Immersion in English speaking classrooms is the fastest way to learn.
   • Parents should be encouraged to use English in the home.
   • It is detrimental to have children learn more than one language

6. Questions and Comments

7. Best Practices - Ongoing Child Assessment

   • Stages of Second Language Development
     From Becoming Bilingual: First and Second Language Acquisition in the Head Start English Language Learner Toolkit
   • Home Language Use
   • Receptive, Silent, or Non-Verbal
   • Telegraphic or Formulaic Speech
   • Productive
   • Developmental Continuum
     From Developmental Continuums: A Framework for Literacy Instruction and Assessment (2001) by Bonnie Campbell Hill. Christian-Gorden Publisher
   • The English as an Additional Language Speaking and Listening Continuum

8. Best Practices - Meaningful Language Interaction

   • Language is the Key: Talking and Playing & Talking and Books
     Follow the CAR
     1. Follow the child’s lead
     2. Comment and wait
     3. Ask questions and wait
     4. Respond by adding a little more and wait
   • El Idioma Es la Clave: Conversación y Juego Y Conversación y Libros
     Siguiendo el CARRO
     1. Seguir la guía del niño
     2. Comentar y esperar
     3. Averigüar (hacer preguntas) y esperar
     4. Responder, aumentando un poco más
     5. Repitir Otra vez en español (the home language)

   Contact Lora Heulitt at the National Head Start Family Literacy Center for more information. lora.heulitt@csuci.edu

9. Best Practices - Puppetry

   • Preliminary research has shown puppetry use as promising practice for promoting
     • Language development with students acquiring both their first and their second language
     • Social/Emotional supports
   • Instant Puppetry Activity
     • Share a book of your choice. Invite kids to draw the characters and cut them out (or offer pre-cut puppets that kids can color or decorate, or use pre-made puppets). Then ask children to retell and reenact the story from the book with the puppets they made. Puppets can be used on an overhead projector to create shadows or stapled to a popsicle stick and used as a stick puppet.
     • For more great ideas, read the article on the Thinking Classroom website  http://ct-net.net/tc_sample_6-1 or visit the Puppet Tools website http://www.puppetools.com.

   Resources provided by Dr. Vida Zuljevik at pravopis2000@yahoo.com.

10. Best Practices - "Ten things you can do..."

    See handout.

11. Systems Approach

    • Head Start systems
    • Early Head Start systems
    • Head Start English Language Learners Systems and Services Grid - handout
      • Region V, Lydia Zapata and Linda Hamburg

12. Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center Resources - http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov

    • Head Start Bulletin #78: English Language Learners (2005). Head Start Bureau.
      http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/resources/ECLKC_Bookstore/Bulletin%2078_%20English%20Language%20Learners.htm or as a PDF file http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/resources/ECLKC_Bookstore/PDFs/505FB871D88B0C1DB0F66C2067608880.pdf
    • Head Start English Language Learner Focus Group Report (2002). Head Start Bureau.
      http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/english_learners/index.htm
    • Head Start English Language Learners Tool Kit. Head Start Bureau
      http://www.headstartinfo.org/English_lang_learners_tkit.htm
    • Linguistic Diversity and Early Literacy: Serving Culturally Diverse Families in Early Head Start Technical Assistance Paper #5 (2001). Early Head Start National Resource Center.
      http://www.ehsnrc.org/pdffiles/TA5.pdf [PDF]
    • Multicultural Principles for Head Start Programs (1996). Head Start Bureau.
      http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=55&do=detail in English and Spanish
    • The Head Start Child Outcomes Framework(Updated 2003). Head Start Bureau.
      http://www.hsnrc.org/CDI/pdfs/UGCOF.pdf [PDF]

13. Resources

    • Articles or Papers
      • Challenging Common Myths About Young English Language Learners (January 2008). by Linda M. Espinosa in http://www.fcd-us.org/resources/resources_show.htm?doc_id=669789
      • Myths and Misconceptions about Second Language Learning: What Every Teacher Needs to Unlearn (1992). by Barry McLaughlin, http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/ncrcdsll/epr5.htm
      • Bilingual Infant/Toddler Environments: Supporting Language and Learning in Our Youngest Children and Making A Difference: A Framework for Supporting First and Second Language Development in Preschool Children of Migrant Farm Workers in Spanish and English at http://ece.aed.org/publications/mshs.htm
       
      • Evaluation and Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education: Children Who Are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (1999). Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Special Education http://www.k12.wa.us/Specialed/pubdocs/CLD.pdf [PDF] (Specifically concerning children with special needs or disabilities.)
    • Books
      • Genesee, Paradis and Crago (2004). Dual Language Development & Disorders-A Handbook on Bilingualism & Second Language Learning. (Specifically concerning children with special needs or disabilities.)
      • Tabors, Paton O. (2008). One Child, Two Languages: A Guide for Early Childhood Educators of Children Learning English as a Second Language.

14. Resources

    • Website
      • Colorín Colorado http://www.colorincolorado.org/ A parent and teacher-friendly website funded by Dept. of Education/Office of Special Education Programs, American Federation of Teachers, WETA and National Institute for Literacy, available in Spanish and English.
    • Other Resources
      • Language is the Key (2002) by Washington Learning Systems, Inc. http://www.walearning.com/ (One free copy per Head Start program distributed by the Head Start Family Literacy Center. Contact lora.heulitt@csuci.edufor more information.)
      • English as an Additional Language Developmental Continuum in Developmental Continuums: A Framework for Literacy Instruction and Assessment (2001) by Bonnie Campbell Hill. http://aes.ac.in/es/CDRomresourcesforteachers/Developmental%20Continuums/CD-ROM%20Resources/CONTIN/EALCOLOR.pdf [PDF]

Posted on June 17, 2008.