Teaching English Language Learners

by Elizabeth Towne, KAEYC Board Member

This is my third year of teaching 3- to 5-year-olds. It is my first year experiencing English language learners. It has been a challenging learning opportunity for both the children and me while working through the receptive skills needed for understanding both languages. I find myself stretching back to my three years of Spanish in high school for the few words and phrases I scarcely remember.

Here are some tips for teaching English language learners.

1. Help them feel welcome and supported in the classroom. Children and adults understand body language and physical cues. They will understand that you care about them and are happy to see them. A positive relationship is a great start to comprehension.
2. Learn some words and phrases in their home language. This will help with initial problems like seeing if they need to go to the bathroom. It will also allow the child to know their home language has value.
3. Have dual language children translate for the English language learners. This further gives the home language value and allows for peer coaching.
4. Model what you would like the children to do. Children are able to imitate actions and they will understand expectations if they are shown what to do. This will help them transition with the group and learn the routine of the classroom.

There are many resources to learning a new language. There are several free apps that can be downloaded that teach different languages (i.e. Duolingo, Memrise, Mango Languages and Busuu). I'm currently using the app Duolingo to refresh my Spanish. There are community classes that offer language courses that are reasonably priced. There are also college courses and learning software that can also be utilized, but are often more pricey. Remember to practice any new language so it will remain in your active memory. Seek out professional support and guidance, but also use the children's family as a first resource!

Make a Difference! Advocacy Made Easy for Kansas Early Learning Professionals

By Amanda Gress, Kansas Action for Children and Voices for Children Foundation, KAEYC Board Member

At Kansas Action for Children (KAC), one of the best parts of my work is helping Kansans across the state make a difference in the political process. Will Kansas commit to the investments that will help Kansas children thrive? Will state policymakers choose policy options that improve the quality of early learning experiences for all Kansas children? Engaged early learning professionals in a legislator’s home district can make the difference in the Statehouse when it counts the most.

KAC collected our experience and advice for effective advocacy in our “Intro to Advocacy” toolkit (if you’d like a hard copy, just give KAC a call). In a nutshell, here’s how you can make a difference:

• Learn what’s happening. Our toolkit shares an overview of the legislative process, and there’s a wealth of information available online. I recommend signing up for KAC’s email updates, following the hashtag #ksleg on Twitter, and exploring the state Legislature’s website at www.kslegislature.org.
• Build relationships. Once you’ve found the policymakers who represent you (you can use NAEYC’s Action Center), reach out and introduce yourself. You are an early learning expert, and you see how public policy choices impact children every single day. That makes you a valuable resource for lawmakers, and you can cultivate a relationship with them by getting involved in local civic events, like town hall meetings, and by keeping in touch. For example, if you see a new resource about why high-quality early learning matters, you might consider sending it to your legislator with a short note about how you see the impact of early learning paying off in your community.
• Take action! When you’re passionate about an issue and have an opinion about what decision is best for Kansas kids, it’s time to take action and let your lawmaker know. Whether you call, write or meet in person, it’s important to keep your message short and simple. Share your name and where you’re from (so they know you’re a constituent), why you’re reaching out, and a specific request. Whenever possible, personalize your message to your own story and your community.
• Get your message out. Many voices are stronger than one, and you can increase your effectiveness by getting others to share your message. You can reach out to your network of stakeholders with newsletters, social media posts or emails. You can also be in touch with members of your local media (for example, with a letter to the editor) describing your point of view.

Every year policymakers make decisions that affect Kansas children, and the 2017 Legislative Session will be an important one for Kansas kids. Let’s start now and work together to make a difference! Read through Intro to Advocacy to see if it sparks any new ideas for getting involved, and please feel free to be in touch with Kansas Action for Children (785.232.0550, or kac@kac.org) if we can be of help.