A1 I’m Karen Nemeth - cohost of #ELLCHAT . I’m an author and consultant focusing on supporting children who are ELLs/DLLs in #earlyed - I’m from eastern PA.
I can’t promise I won’t fall asleep before the end of the chat, but I’m joining at least for a bit! It’s been a while! Elizabeth Emmons, ESL teacher in Massachusetts K-12 #ELLChat
A2: I think, on a higher level, validating ELL students' experience and the various skills/talents they bring to school, while giving them the time, space, and support they need to succeed academically. #ELLChat
Whew! Thanks Judy! I thought I was missing out hearing from you fantastic people!! What a list of greatness!! Teachers from everywhere! So glad to be here! #ELLCHAT
Sorry a little late #ellchat Chris here from TN.
A2) The biggest challenges are language and time. Finding a time that meets their needs not our “school schedule" one
A2 in early childhood, sharing information with families is so important, but teachers often say it is easier to teach children who speak different languages that is to work with their families! #ELLCHAT
A2) Having a diverse population represented (20+ different languages) and only speaking English myself creates language barrier in relationship #ELLchat
A2- Language, availability- lots of our families work shifts at the nearby factory, pre-existing attitude towards education or learning English- also sometimes I think school communication can be overwhelming #ELLCHAT
A2 Yeah, but while programs complain about the challenges of communicating with so many different languages, they don’t always reflect on their own practices - sometimes schools try to send home way too many words - and that’s the real problem! #ELLCHAT
A2: Challenges I see at the HS is students not giving their parents the message and/or invite so we have rely on personally calling all parents
#ellchat
Q2: I have great relationships with my students’ families, but it takes risk and trust on both ends to get to this point with each family. Building these relationships with parents takes time, while the information and benefits gained from them valuable now/yesterday. #ELLCHAT
Whew! Thanks Judy! I thought I was missing out hearing from you fantastic people!! What a list of greatness!! Teachers from everywhere! So glad to be here! #ELLCHAT
A2: I’ve noticed the biggest challenge in HS is Teacher mindset.There is this instant stigma: “No English? No communication” or a fossilized ideology that “I’ll never b able to get in touch w the Ps so why bother?” There must b a shift & more effort.Speaking real here. #ELLchat
A2: Challenges? Time and language difference. We offer a lot of helpful info to our families at morning community meetings. Google translate is good to have in a pinch- what do others use? #ellchat
A2 Yeah, but while programs complain about the challenges of communicating with so many different languages, they don’t always reflect on their own practices - sometimes schools try to send home way too many words - and that’s the real problem! #ELLCHAT
A2 My number 1 advice for overcoming the challenges of communicating with families in many languages is: Say less!! Read strategies in this article: https://t.co/LIxSrgyb4c#ELLCHAT
A2: This Book has helped me over the years even though I don’t like the tone of most the letters....it’s a start. I use Remind& Instagram to make videos WITH students & show pics of the letters.I get GREAT responses from many parents thru earning of trust. #ELLchat
Q2 - Sometimes it can be a bit challenging to make sure that we have the right phone number to use. As phone #s change, it’s important to stay on top of those changes. #ellchat
A2: This Book has helped me over the years even though I don’t like the tone of most the letters....it’s a start. I use Remind& Instagram to make videos WITH students & show pics of the letters.I get GREAT responses from many parents thru earning of trust. #ELLchat
A2: This Book has helped me over the years even though I don’t like the tone of most the letters....it’s a start. I use Remind& Instagram to make videos WITH students & show pics of the letters.I get GREAT responses from many parents thru earning of trust. #ELLchat
A3) We have Assistants who help with family communication. They work with the Ss in schools and help translate with parents. We have many of our languages represented, but some are more scarce than others. #ellchat
Even one minority language can be challenging— or one that does not Google translate well! Once we almost sent a math newsletter home that suggested parents hit their children because Google doesn’t speak Arabic well. #ELLChat
A3- 3 Way Translation Services and Translations of Important Documents by a local agency, hiring of a secretary that speaks/reads a common 2nd language, and @TalkingPointsEd app #ELLChat
In my new role this year, I started using @TalkingPointsEd to help me reach parents in multiple language via text. I've also used @Seesaw... parents love both
Exactly. It’s more of a challenge Than the communication part. My goal as a “teacher on loan” in the 3schools evaluating the #ELL perception of the content area teachers’ teaching is 2seek honest buy in in2 TRYING. I’m modeling it now.There is pushback but it’ll happen! #ELLchat
A3 This resource gives you some ideas about how to get the conversation started with diverse families: Gathering and Using the Language Information Families Share https://t.co/J9Q5KAOSRX#ELLCHAT
Q3: We are a work in progress, but making efforts to translate what we can and send out important forms for families. We use remind app but it’s challenging for parents who have lower literacy levels themselves. Any tips from others on this are welcome!#ellchat
A3: Our fabulous school is making sure we have staff available who can communicate with our ESL families (mostly Hispanic).
We’re also offering an ESL meeting in Spanish during curriculum night.
#ellchat
Q3: We always meet with an interpreter for PT conferences when needed and we try to have one before the school year starts to meet with new families. #ellchat
A3) Our county has interpreters (need more) and access to a phone translation service...The language department at one of our local universities has also offered to help with translations when needed. #ELLCHAT
I’m going to look into this one! Thanks!
Does anyone know of a vocabulary/phrase list for English/other languages for parent/teacher meetings? #ellchat
Our bilingual translator is great, but he can’t be everywhere during conferences. A brief list would help!
A2: This Book has helped me over the years even though I don’t like the tone of most the letters....it’s a start. I use Remind& Instagram to make videos WITH students & show pics of the letters.I get GREAT responses from many parents thru earning of trust. #ELLchat
Sorry to see this. We are a small district but majority minority. Everything that goes home is in both languages. Our office staffs and most paras are bilingual. Hoping for better for your students. #ellchat
A4) Culture night in some of our buildings have been a great way to bring all our cultures together (food, talent show, native attire = tons of fun and learning!) #ELLchat
A4: Elementary schools have parent volunteers who reach out to new families. At district level, we have after-hours fall event at public library for all ESL families #ELLChat
We're a brand new school. We organized a MPAC (multilingual parent advisory crew) it's really a BPAC but we named it what fit. We are meeting monthly- not four times a year.. also family events we plan together...consistency #ELLchat
A4) I taught in a small district with diverse populations. We ask parents to bring a friend or family member to help interpret during conferences. #ellchat
A4- I'm still new to my new school, but at my previous one, we had German concerts, moms cooked one hot lunch a month (this school had a large Low German Mennonite population), German class for LGMs #ellchat
A2: I would also say that schools sometimes don't realize in what ways they are inadvertently leaving out ELL families or what changes they need to make to make them feel part of the school community #ELLChat
A4: Elementary schools have parent volunteers who reach out to new families. At district level, we have after-hours fall event at public library for all ESL families #ELLChat
When I worked in NYC, we had a Parent Coordinator who was a HUGE help and then the position was eliminated! In my current district, we ALL pitch in to somehow get our message out. #ellchat
A4 I’ve known some programs that involve families both in classrooms and not - to provide flexible, responsive options. Not every adult is comfortable “reading stories to the children”! right??? #ELLCHAT
A2: Or even differing cultural expectations as to what constitutes appropriate parental involvement in a child's education. Some ELL families trust in the schools and give them distance, while this can be perceived as not wanting to be involved. #ELLChat
A4: I have found that persistence pays off! Find what they’re comfortable communicating about and move from their. For some parents it’s details about how to help their child with reading, for others it’s talking about their child’s new unicorn backpack 1/2 #ellchat
A4: Our PTO had an ice cream social at our school playground for kinder and all new families. We have a mentoring program where we pair staff volunteers with newcomers, and we invite their families in three times per year. @emilyfranESL was our guest speaker last year! #ELLchat
A3: All Docs translated by law. They have Russian&Spanish translators due 2high population but limited in time&#. I’ll say it again its mindset. Pay paraeducators more&U have EVERY LANG available,there needs 2ban embracing of translanguage community from ALL in district! #EllChat
A3) I had parent volunteers in my classroom and it reaped such benefits with the students. They loved to see their Moms working in the school and parents love knowing more about the school. #ELLCHAT
A4 I’ve known some programs that involve families both in classrooms and not - to provide flexible, responsive options. Not every adult is comfortable “reading stories to the children”! right??? #ELLCHAT
A5) My latest push is literature that reflects the diversity of our families, not just in home culture, but in situation. I believe when Ss see themselves or their families reflected what they read, it helps show we include them in our school. #ellchat
A4. We've had Ss write letters to the next class or new Ss about "what to expect or what to be excited to learn this year". I've been thinking it'd be neat to extend that practice to parents - letters or brief audio clips in different languages. #ellchat
A4: I also send lots of pictures to them of WHAT their child’s learning looks like. Even if parents aren’t ready to talk with ME about school, the pictures help them start conversations with their child. Sometimes I even include a question they should ask! 2/2 #ellchat
A5) My latest push is literature that reflects the diversity of our families, not just in home culture, but in situation. I believe when Ss see themselves or their families reflected what they read, it helps show we include them in our school. #ellchat
A4- We've done a Heritage night so families can show off the amazing cultures in our district through food, music, dance, clothes, and presentations #ELLChat
A5: It requires a collaborative mindset. Can't assume I know resources & funds of knowledge of all my students, so I have to engage families in way that enables them to share #ELLChat
A3: Go to the communities!As a teacher, I would do PPT prezis at churches, synagogues, mosques, temples.Always someone who translates! Rooms were FILLED & after looked liked Lucy from the Peanuts w/ my table & sign “Parent Conf”. It is time we go 2 our Ps! It’s AMAZING! #EllChat
A5. Representation in the curriculum. Linguistic representstion. Cultural representaion. Books with narratives and pictures that represent students and families. #RepresentationMatters#ELLChat
Q5: we interviewed reps from different cultural communities in town and asked them about education in their countries and what they want their children’s teachers to know. There are many more cultures to learn about. How do you keep on top of it all? #ELLChat
A5 - I'm very into literature that reflects the students' culture and experience and literature that is accessible (lots of wordless books, oral books in lots of languages) and experiences experiences experiences. #ELLCHAT
A4 I was so happy when the US ED and HHS Joint Policy Statement on Supporting the Development of Children who are DLLs in Early Childhood Programs specifically recommended PARTNERING with families as a research-based approach! https://t.co/BD2a3AmdM1#ELLCHAT
A4) We host workshops and discussions on a variety of topics - topics are determined by what parents need based on feedback provided through conversations or surveys...also share information about school events with the community and local businesses. #ELLCHAT
Weekly we have a school wide crew (it's like a tight knit assembly) we are celebrating holidays and having mini-culture lessons with our "culture crew"- a group comprised of students teaching about the culture or holiday. #ELLchat
A5 This is great - and even greater when you can find ways to display those diverse resources. They create an atmosphere of respect and celebration when families and children can see them all around! #ELLCHAT
A5: Right now, teaching teachers to do this. If discussing specific topic re: US govt, have ELLs compare/contrast said topic w home country gov. That connection opens up SO MUCH dialogue & increases student interest.Encourage Ss to discuss w Ps are report back. #ELLChat Ps ❤️it
Q5) I think it's important for Ss to see their culture valued by the school. I supported classroom teachers to do this by giving them books to read to the whole class that reflected the culture of ELLs in their class. #ellchat
A5 Remember - if you have a multicultural day or evening that some families perceive that as just a token. Some programs use those events as starters to include what they learn about families in the learning environment all year long #ELLCHAT
A5: I think by helping our teachers implement culturally-responsive teaching, we're able to create a school culture that values its diverse student populations. https://t.co/d8MLNgfsi8#ELLChat
And I can help you with it! I swear by this way of working with parents. I am thanked by pastors, imams, priests and rabbis bc the day I come, attendance is up! Lolol It’s one or two Fri Sat a month.. and it’s a forever bond once done. #ELLchat
A6) I help the parents value their support of the education process and how important it is to give Ss time/a place to do homework, study and read. I always say, continue to share your language at home and we will work on English at school. #ellchat
A5: Our room started with blank walls and is being decorated with students’ work and language.
This helps students embrace who they are so when they come home they embrace it even more!
#ellchat
A5- With my co-teacher, we are doing a Cultural Spotlight of the month, by inviting parents to come in and do a show and tell presentation of the country they are from along with their son or daughter #ELLChat
A6: One of the most important messages I want families to know is that they should keep speaking their native language at home - benefits of bilingualism #ELLChat
#EllChat Go to the communities!As a teacher, I would do PPT prezis at churches, synagogues, mosques, temples.Always someone who translates! Rooms were FILLED & after looked liked Lucy from the Peanuts w/ my table & sign “Parent Conf”. It is time we go 2 our Ps! It’s AMAZING!
A5 In It Together: How Student, Family, and Community Partnerships Advance Engagement and Achievement in Diverse Classrooms by @DebbieZacarian & M. Silverstone https://t.co/AEOKj1xcIm#ELLCHAT
A6: One of the most important messages I want families to know is that they should keep speaking their native language at home - benefits of bilingualism #ELLChat
A6: THIS is the wrong mindset!
Our ESL parents NEED to know that the way they help and support their children is validated and accepted.
It doesn’t have to be a curtain way to be right. #assets#Culturematters#ellchat
A6) I help the parents value their support of the education process and how important it is to give Ss time/a place to do homework, study and read. I always say, continue to share your language at home and we will work on English at school. #ellchat
A2: The language barrier is always a tricky thing to overcome. Being at a school in Thailand where most of the parents are native Thai speakers, even a small miscommunication can be misconstrued into something that's a big deal. #ellchat
I remember when teaching in Kuwait, I told a parent that her child "was slow to finish her work" (I was a new teacher, obviously :p) and that was misinterpreted as being "cognitively slow". I was so mortified! That parent relationship was never the same after that. #ellchat
A6; Ask teachers and schools for native language guides and resources- alot of times people have them; if not, continue to enrich your child in L1 on your own. #Ellchat
This is key.Without it,there is no reason for strategies. It first must start w what the heart thinks...honestly&then empower the “innocently ignorant” teacher w understanding thus recognizing their own cultural competency...which leads to cultural responsive tching! #ELLChat
A6: One of the most important messages I want families to know is that they should keep speaking their native language at home - benefits of bilingualism #ELLChat
A6- read/speak at home in your language. Bake. Play games. Go outside. Get your kid to show you something they are learning about. Homework for the sake of homework gives me the willies so I might have weird answers for this one #ELLCHAT
