Early Childhood videos assignment

Dual Language Learners: Working with Families of Young Children
Est. Time: 30 Minutes

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n1http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu 122315

THE

IRIS
CENTER

 Activity

Objective
Understand the importance of supporting a child’s home language in the classroom and of
involving families in decisions about how to support their child’s language development.

DEC Recommended Practices

This Activity addresses the DEC Recommended Practices (DEC-RP) topic areas outlined
below:

Family

F1. Practitioners build trusting and respectful partnerships with the family through interactions
that are sensitive and responsive to cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic diversity.

F8. Practitioners provide the family of a young child who has or is at risk for developmental
delay/disability, and who is a dual language learner, with information about the benefits of
learning in multiple languages for the child’s growth and development.

Environment

E1. Practitioners provide services and supports in natural and inclusive environments during
daily routines and activities to promote the child’s access to and participation in learning
experiences.

E3. Practitioners work with the family and other adults to modify and adapt the physical, social,
and temporal environments to promote each child’s access to and participation in learning
experiences.

Overview
The families of young dual language learners (DLLs) are an important resource for classroom
teachers. Families are a critical partner in helping children to maintain their home language. In
addition, teachers can enlist the assistance of families in supporting their classroom learning
environments in a variety of ways, including inviting them to share stories, songs, or foods
from their culture. Asking families to share materials shows a value and respect for the families
and their cultures. Further, if specific linguistic and cultural materials are not readily available,
teachers can create these with the help of families using photographs and other materials from
the children’s homes.

Dual Language Learners: Working with Families of Young Children
Est. Time: 30 Minutes

n2http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu 122315

THE

IRIS
CENTER

 Activity

Activity
The DEC Recommended Practices (DEC-RP) can help families to understand the benefits of
maintaining children’s home language as they learn English. Click either the URL or the image
below to visit a Webpage where you can watch the video The Best of Both Worlds: Nurturing
Multiple Languages. After you have done so, answer the questions that follow.

Young Dual Language Learners: Working with Families

Credit: National Center on Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness (2015). Washington, DC: Office of Head Start.

Questions/Discussion Topics
1. Why is it important to involve families in decisions about how to support young children’s

language development?
2. What suggestions do you have for working with the families of young DLLs?

Young Dual Language Learners: Working with Families

Young Dual Language Learners: Working with Families