Families Learning Together: A Guide for Bilingual Families

This practical literacy guide is primarily to support families’ efforts in their children’s learning. Other school site professionals, such as community liaisons who provide workshops for parents, may find it useful. Once children are in school, parents oftentimes feel they do not have the skills to support the academic demands of the classroom. In addition, parents who do not speak sufficient English to interact with the texts the children bring home, are less able to meaningfully support learning. Research indicates the use of the home language supports learning at home. By using this guide, with chapters on reading strategies, vocabulary development, graphic organizers and writing strategies, parents will help their child develop mental tools for learning at school.