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.
Provide all the children with empty shoe boxes (without lids) as well as small dolls and some toy animals that can fit in the boxes. Encourage the children to use the boxes as vehicles to drive their animals and dolls to the store. Model the desired actions for the children.
