The Latino Family Literacy Project provides workshops and webinars for school teachers and school staff for Parent Involvement. Staff will learn how to provide a culturally relevant model for parent involvement, family reading and vocabulary development.

The following is a list of useful resources and programs for ELL students living in New Mexico.

State of New Mexico Informational Resources:

• New Mexico Public Education Department: http://ped.state.nm.us/ped/index.html
• ELL Support Page: http://ped.state.nm.us/ped/Bilingual_index.html
• WIDA English Language Development Standards: https://www.wida.us/standards/eld.aspx
• WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) is an organization comprised of a number of different states throughout the country dedicated to raising the standards of bilingual education policies and monitoring the progress and development of ELL’s in the United States.
• New Mexico State Board Learning Standards Assessments: http://ped.state.nm.us/AssessmentAccountability/AssessmentEvaluation/index.html
• Title III Information: http://www.ncela.us/t3sis/NewMexico.php
• New Mexico English Proficiency Assessment Standards: http://ped.state.nm.us/AssessmentAccountability/AssessmentEvaluation/index.html

Educational Programs and Learning Resources:

• The New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education – The NMABE is an advocacy organization dedicated to promoting bilingual education for grades K-12 throughout the state. They focus on professional development, linguistic diversity, and increased resources for bilingual programs as well as research application and dissemination: http://nmabe.net/
• New Mexico Education Association – The New Mexico affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers which works to advocate for and establish a standard of success and excellence in public schools within the United States: http://www.nea.org/home/49832.htm
• Lectura Books – Publishers of award-winning English and Spanish language development books for infants to teenagers, including the 2014 Moonbeam Award Winner for Best Children’s Book, (Spanish) Boy Zorro and the Bully.
• Lectura Books Professional Development Workshops – Training workshops designed to assist teachers, aides, and parental coordinators with implementing aspects of the Latino Family Literacy Project, which meets compliance with Title I and Title III Parent involvement initiatives: https://www.latinoliteracy.com/workshops/
• Family Phonics Workbooks: An English vocabulary program for parents and children learning English, taught using a simple method to teach parents strong English vocabulary and proper pronunciation through the use of phonics: https://www.lecturabooks.com/family-phonics-workbooks/

If you liked this blog, visit out our Facebook and Twitter page. We frequently post updated and relevant information related to ELLs.

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The following is a list of useful resources and programs for ELL students living in Virginia.

State of Virginia Informational Resources:

• Virginia Department of Education: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/
• ELL Support Page: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/esl/index.shtml
• WIDA English Language Development Standards: https://www.wida.us/standards/eld.aspx
• WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) is an organization comprised of a number of various states designed to establish and implement bilingual education policies, in addition to the regular monitoring of progress and development of ELL’s in the United States.
• Virginia Proficiency Learning Standards Proficiency Examination Program: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/test_administration/index.shtml
•  Title III Information: http://www.ncela.us/t3sis/Virginia.php

Educational Programs and Learning Resources:

• Virginia State Education Association – Regional affiliate of the National Education Association, the biggest education lobby in the United States, tasked with promoting legislation to support teachers and educators and make new funding resources available to the education profession: http://www.nea.org/home/49818.htm
• Virginia Parent Information Resource Center – PEATC (Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center) – A federal program designed for promoting successful teaching partnerships between parents, teachers, and school administrations to improve the educational structure for children in grades K-12 from all backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities and/or disabilities: http://www.nationalpirc.org/directory/VA.html
• Lectura Books Professional Development Workshops – Training workshops designed to assist educators and school administrations with implementing aspects of the Latino Family Literacy Project, which meets compliance with Title I and Title III Parent involvement initiatives: https://www.latinoliteracy.com/workshops/
• Latino Family Literacy Project School and District Staff Development Workshops – Teaching workshops designed for helping parents and teachers alike to help Spanish-speaking children learn English to build their literacy and vocabulary skills, while instructing school districts how to work with Spanish-speaking families in order for their children to excel academically: https://www.lecturabooks.com/professional-development/
• https://www.lecturabooks.com/product/house-literacy-elementary-collection” target=”_blank”>The House of Literacy Book Set – Available in Pre-School and Elementary levels, these collections contain of books are designed to help parents of ELLs read to their children in Spanish while providing an opportunity towards improving English language vocabulary skills. These sets encourage parental involvement in the English Language education of their children: https://www.lecturabooks.com/product/house-of-literacy-preschool-collection/

If you liked this blog, visit out our Facebook and Twitter page. We frequently post updated and relevant information related to ELLs.

References

https://www.lecturabooks.com/product/house-literacy-elementary-collection/

http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/states-and-districts-highest-number-and-share-english-language-learners

http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/top-languages-spoken-english-language-learners-nationally-and-state

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Bilingualism has long been considered something of an advantage. Children who are taught to learn multiple languages are often better prepared for their lives ahead, not just for the reason that they can converse with people from diverse backgrounds in other countries, but because bilingualism is often an indication of a higher intellect at work. In addition, the ability of being bilingual brings with it some evidence of a greater control over one’s own thought processes and mental skills. The evidence suggests that having a grasp of more than one language with fluency helps strengthen the brain, training it to concentrate more effectively, grasp complex thoughts and concepts, and focus one’s attention more thoroughly.

So it stands to reason that English language learners may be getting a leg up as they pursue their studies at even the elementary school level. As they work to sound out and comprehend the many basic sounds of English, they are also equipping themselves with the skills to be more attentive and sharp, enabling their minds for greater cognitive and deductive capabilities.

Lectura Books offers award-winning bilingual books. Reading is a great way to teach a child to become bilingual. To watch a video trailer of some of their most popular books, visit their Youtube Channel.

Stay updated with the latest information about ELLs and follow our Facebook and Twitter pages. We post new information every day.

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1. Preschoolers are highly visual creatures. They are engaged through sight as much as they are through touch. Bright colors and shiny objects are just some of the items that capture their attention and engage their imagination. By contrast, getting them to understand the basics of literacy can be a challenge. Reading to a child is an activity that promotes the importance of story and serves as a valuable entry point to teaching them effective literacy skills. But reading to a preschooler is only one part of the process. Getting them to engage with literacy by their own accord is another. This can be done in a variety of ways that incorporate creativity and art in equal measure. Books that have pictures are a fundamental tool for teaching literacy in preschool. Appropriate age children’s books don’t rely as heavily on text as they do on illustrations, and this is one of the most important methods towards connecting art with literacy in teaching preschoolers how to read.

3. Then there are the activities that let them create their own stories. Drawing pictures on paper with pencils, crayons, and paints lets them create the image and the back story surrounding it. Collages are also a handy exercise that allows children to build a story through designing images in any order they see fit. Anything that enables a child to be creative will help foster their imagination to make a connection to other learning processes that are presented in the classroom setting. This can go a long way to improving their literacy skills by opening their minds to new ideas and promoting an interest and enthusiasm for learning. Incorporating art in the classroom may even spark an interest in the arts themselves, whether it’s drawing, painting, or even finding other creative outlets for self-expression as they grow older.

Lectura Books understands the connection between art and literacy and has published award-winning dual language books in English and Spanish specifically for preschool children. These books contain vivid, artistic illustrations that grab the attention of the reader. You can preview a few of the books used in the program on Lectura Books Youtube page.

Stay updated with the latest information about ELLs and follow our Facebook and Twitter pages. We post new information every day.

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