Partner with families to learn about their language practices, stories, and literacy-related interactions at home, recognizing that children bring rich knowledge and skills from their first languages and cultural experiences. Dual language learners should have opportunities to demonstrate proficiency in the standard in both their first language and English, with supports such as first-language use, cross-language connections, gestures, visuals, and props. These opportunities allow young dual language learners to build on what they know and can do in their first language as they continue to develop communication, language, and literacy skills in all their languages.
Include wordless picture books in the reading center, such as The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang and The Snowman by Raymond Briggs in the reading center. Encourage the children to create their own stories to accompany the pictures and to read their stories to other children.
