Dual Language Learners Landing Pad

At younger and younger ages, children are negotiating difficult transitions between their home and educational or developmental settings. With increasing frequency, those transitions require an adaptation to two or more diverse sets of languages or dialects. This landing pad highlights research, policies, and position statements (Why Do It?), print materials (Read All About It), videos and DVDs (See for Yourself), and Web resources (Find It Online) to support young dual language learners (DLL) or dual dialect learners (DDL). Featured resources are high-quality, readily available, and no-cost or low-cost. A special section (Virginia Guidance) features Web sites, organizations, and other state-specific resources.

Responsiveness to ALL Children, Families, and Professionals: Integrating Cultural and Linguistic Diversity into Policy and Practice.

For optimal development and learning of all children, individuals who work with children must respect, value, and support the culture, values, and languages of each home and promote the active participation of all families. This position statement from the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) highlights culturally and linguistically responsive practices for personnel and programs that serve infants, toddlers, young children and families. A brief synthesis of these practices is provided in the executive summary.

http://www.dec-sped.org/uploads/docs/about_dec/position_concept_papers/Position%20Statement_Cultural%20and%20Linguistic%20Diversity_updated_sept2010.pdf (position statement)

http://www.dec-sped.org/uploads/docs/about_dec/position_concept_papers/Position%20Statement_Cultural%20and%20Linguistic%20Diversity_Exec%20Summary_updated_sept2010.pdf (executive summary)

The Cognitive Consequences of Early Bilingualism

The study of bilingual children shows that learning and using two languages may positively affect fundamental aspects of cognitive and neural development that influence how knowledge is acquired and used. The positive effects of bilingualishm are seen most profoundly in what are known as executive function or self-control tasks, and in how the knowledge that young bilingual speakers have in one language is transferred to the other language. http://www.class.uh.edu/psyc/cogdev/__docs/publications/Zero_Yoshida.pdf

Early Dual Language Learning

Organized in a question and answer format, this article reviews common concern about dual language learning, reviews pertinent research, and offers suggestions about dual language learning during the infant-toddler period. http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/29-1_Genesee.pdf

See For Yourself

Beyond Words: effective Use of Translators, Interpreters, and Cultural Mediators

This DVD addresses the need to have well-trained interpreters, translators, and cultural mediators using a team approach. It examines recent trends in school demographics and offers specific training on how to resolve cultural misunderstandings between school and families, how to develop trust and empathy between families and professionals, how to employ the best strategies for translations and interpretation in school settings. The bilingual Spanish/English DVD includes a downloadable companion booklet and handouts. This DVD is available from Landlocked Films for $59.95.

Language and Culture: Respecting Family Choice

How do bilingual/bicultural families make choices about what languages their children speak at home and at school? How can educators and providers support and inform this decision-making process? Should these choices be different for a child with an identified special need? What are the long-term cultural consequences of preserving the languages of one's heritage, or of losing them? This film by Susan Moore and Clara Pérez-Méndez addresses these issues through interviews with a wide variety of people, from recent immigrants to the great-grandchildren of Native Americans. This video/DVD is available in English or Spanish from Landlocked Films for $53.95.

Find It Online Part 1

Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC)

The Office of Head Start's ECLKC has many free resources related to young dual language learners. These include a list of free multimedia resources and a bilingual (English-Spanish) glossary.

http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/Dual%20Language%20Learners (general information)
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/Dual%20Language%20Leaners?DLL_%20Resources/GuidetoDualLan.htm (multimedia resources)
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/Espanol/glosario/Bilingual-Glossary-Glosario-Bilingue-20100610.pdf(glossary)

Colorín Colorado

Colorín Colorado is a bilingual (Spanish/English) website for Spanish-speaking parents from the Reading Rockets Project. The website offers parents advice on how to encourage reading at home, how to help children succeed at school, fun reading tips and activities, suggested books and stories, handouts, and links to related resources. http://www.colorincolorado.org

Building Culturally & Linguistically Competent Services to Support Young Children, Their Families and School Readiness

The purpose of this tool kit is to provide guidance, tools, and resources that will assist communities in building culturally and linguistically competent services, supports, programs, and practices related to young children and their families. Areas of emphasis include diversity and the cultural context of the family and community, the impact of culture on child development, planning and implementing culturally and linguistically competent services, and strategies for preparting culturally competent personnel. http://www.aecf.org/upload/publicationfiles/hs3622h325.pdf

Center for Early Care and Education Research - Dual Language Learners (CECER-DLL)

This national research center is charged with advancing the capacity of the research field to improve assessment and measurement and examine and improve early care and education practices. The initiative targets children who are dual language learnes (birth-age5) and their families across settings. The Center's Web site is a good place to find a definition of dual language learners. http://cecerdll.fpg.unc.edu/

Challenging Common Myths about Young English Language Learners

Educational outcomes for young English Language Learners (ELL) from who are from three to eight years old can improve if we abandon outdated misconceptions and inform our practices with current scientific findings. Author Linda Espinosa challenges six commonly held beliefs about the development of young children who are learning English as their second language and presents research evidence, drawn from a variety of disciplines, which can be better shape education policies and practices for all children. http://www.fcd-us.org/resources/challenging-commom-myths-about-young-english-language-learners

Dual Language Learners in Early Care and Education Settings

This short articile highlights ways in which early childhood professionals can support young dual language learners and their families. http://www.zerotothree.org/site/R?i=V2R04ARLwVgNuhXZ3hwl-A

Dual Language Learning: What Does It Take?

An extensive review of current policies and practices, coupled with research on what works and what doesn't, has led to this document, which captures relevant findings and recommendations related to supporting young dual language learners and their families. http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/ecdh/eecd/Dual Language Learners and Their Families/Learning in Two Languages/DualLanguageLea.htm

National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition & Language Instruction Educational Programs (NCELA)

NCELA offers a wealth of information about language instruction educational programs, teacher quality, assessment and accountability for ELL students, and parental and family involvement in education. http://www.ncela.gwu.edu

Read About It

Getting it RIGHT for Young Children from Diverse Backgrounds: Applying Research to Improve Practice

Linda Espinosa provides a compelling case, based on current research findings, for intensifying our efforts in high quality early education - particularly targeted toward those children who have been deemed "at-risk" for school failure. Central to this book are successful teaching strategies for children who are not native English speakers and for whom little practical guidance has been available. This book is available from Pearson Higher Education for $29.33. http://www.pearsonhighered.com/product?ISBN=013222416X

One Child, Two Languages: A Guide for Early Childhood Educators of Children Learning English as a Second Language (2nd ed.)

Reflecting 10 years of dramatic change in early education - especially in critical areas like assessment and cultural diversity - this monograph provides up-to-date research, usable information, and essential tools to meet the needs of second language learners in today's learning environments. The book is available from Paul Brookes for $31.95. http://products.brookespublishing.com/One-Child-Two-Languages-P90.aspx

Virginia Guidance

CLAS Act Virginia (Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Health Care Services)

This Virginia Department of Health website offers resource guides and information on linguistically appropriate health care. Information to support culturally appropriate health care and multicultural practices is also provided. http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/ohpp/CLASact/default.aspx

Developmental Checklist Brochures & Posters

The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia has created public awareness materials, including a checklist brochure (available in English, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, and Vietnamese) and posters (available in English and Spanish). http://www.infantva.org/Pr-PublicAwareness.htm

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)

PEATC's website is available in Spanish to support Spanish-speaking family members and providers who are looking for resources. http://www.peatc.org/peatc.cgim?template=en_espanol

Virginia Board of Medicine - Practitioner Information

Use this website to research by location, specialty, and language for physicians in Virginia who speak languages other than English. http://www.vahealthprovider.com/search_adv.asp

Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center

Virginia Commonwealth University
Partnership for People with Disabilities
www.eipd.vcu.edu

Integrated Training Collaborative
Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia
Partnership for People with Disabilities

This professional development activity is supported by the Integrated Training Collaborative (ITC), with funding support from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Copyright © 2011, Updated 2013.