[NIFL-FAMILY:1310] Re: ESL Parenting question

From: Evers, Janice (JEvers@eminence.k12.ky.us)
Date: Tue Oct 15 2002 - 09:40:00 EDT


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From: "Evers, Janice" <JEvers@eminence.k12.ky.us>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1310] Re: ESL Parenting question
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Dear Colleen:

I have some very simple ideas that may help you to at least get started with
your ESL group.  I hope they help.

Nursery Rhymes and Songs.  They teach phonemic awareness and the English
language at the same time.  They also are things other children will know in
school and teachers expect the children to know when they enter
Kindergarten.  Have the parents make a notebook of these, practice them
during a planned PACT time and at home with their children.  At the very
least the children will recognize these when they go to school.  Then invite
parents to SHARE some of the rhymes and songs they heard when they were
growing up.  Put them in the notebook too as they are just as worthy of
print.  And will be very interesting to you as well!!

Also, teach colors, shapes, numbers in English during parent time.  These
are things the children will need to know when they go to school too.  This
can transfer over into PACT time as well.  Again, include the rich diversity
in your class to share what they are called in their language as well.

Bring in children's toys and go over names and how to play with them.
Explain as best as you can what the children are learning when they use
certain toys.

I know this is not what you think of as typical parenting, but, it is
important that parents help to prepare their children for school. 

Sincerely, 
Jan 

Jan Evers
OVEC Even Start Teacher
Eminence and West Point
(502) 845-5427 X. 2472
(502) 922-4797 X. 226





-----Original Message-----
From: Janet Isserlis [mailto:Janet_Isserlis@Brown.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 6:35 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1307] Re: ESL Parenting question


Colleen

It seems important to start with what the parents know and with what 
they want to know.  Finding ways to invite them to talk about their 
kids, their own beliefs about families and what parents do -- without 
putting anyone on the spot, and without setting up judgements, might 
be a way to get going.  If parents can identify areas that they want 
to know about -- or to see how "americans" parent (I use quotes to 
indicate that there is no One American way -- it could be a way to 
surface issues that they want to learn about, talk about, or share 
ideas about.

As well, are there unique challenges and positive things about being 
in Alaska, as opposed, to, say, Maine, or Florida?  Is geography a 
factor in daily living?  Rural, urban issues?

Janet Isserlis

> My Even Start program is about to start a twice
>weekly class -- 1 hour of parenting ed, lunch with the
>children, and 1.5 hours of ESL instruction. We have
>contracted the ESL instruction with an experienced
>teacher, but I will be responsible for the parenting
>piece. My group is quite mixed -- several Spanish
>speakers, one Chinese, one Cambodian, and some that I
>have referrals for but not concrete info.
>
>So my question is this: HOW do I teach parenting to
>this group?? I am monolingual, and in my community,
>there are not people who speak these languages
>available to do the teaching. I am not new to
>teaching, but I am new to both ESL and parenting
>instruction, so any advice is welcome! Thanks.
>
>Colleen Angaiak
>Even Start Coordinator
>Literacy Council of Alaska
>1949 Gillam Way, Box E
>Fairbanks, AK 99709
>907/456-5013 ñ phone
>907/456-1657 ñ fax
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do you Yahoo!?
>New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
>http://sbc.yahoo.com



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