Supporting our Earliest Learners Alieza Durana and Am aya Garcia - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Supporting our Earliest Learners Alieza Durana and Am aya Garcia New Am erica

Current Reality: Care in Maryland

Nora’s Story The Perfect Storm YouTube Link: https:/ / goo.gl/ Je31EF

Dual Language Learners • DLLs are children between the ages of birth to 8 who are in the process of learning English while still developing proficiency in their home languages.

A Growing Part of the Early Childhood Population Around one in five American students speaks a language other than • English at home 30 percent of Head Start children are DLLs and as are 23 percent of • three-and-four-year olds in the United States In Montgomery County, 40 percent of residents over the age of 5 • speak a language other than English at home. 13 percent of MCPS students are English learners who represent 164 countries and 184 languages

Best Practices for DLLs Participation in high quality ECE programs is especially impactful • for DLLs Overwhelming support from early education and care researchers • and advocates on promoting the use of DLLs home language in all care settings Strong emphasis on oral language development • Attention to the role of culture and early language experiences • Scaffold DLLs learning using common modifications (e.g. visuals, • explicit vocabulary instruction, authentic learning experiences)

Spotlight: Strategies for Supporting DLLs Home Languages Bilingual instruction is not always possible • To support home language: • – Read books in the child’s home language – Create books that include words in the home language – Teach letters and numbers in home language – Label activity centers, furniture and parts of the room in both English and home languages – Use parents or community volunteers to help provide activities in the home language

Workforce Considerations • DLLs are enrolled in informal care at higher rates than non-DLLs • There are clear divisions in the linguistic diversity of the early care and education workforce • Need to ensure that all care providers are given professional development and learning opportunities on how to support DLLs early language, cognitive and socio-emotional development

How Educators in Fresno, CA Are Working Together to Support DLLs YouTube Link: https:/ / goo.gl/ S1AKPe

Discussion Questions What are some early care challenges in Montgomery County? How • does that vary for DLLs? By race and class? What are promising programs and approaches that you have seen • being implemented in the county? What role should your local government play in setting up policies • that are responsive to the increasing linguistic diversity of children in the county? What issues need to be addressed with training and preparation of • the early care workforce?