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.
Read an interactive book, such as Head to Toe by Eric Carle, and encourage the children to participate. Ask the children to touch a body part or imitate a movement according to the story. Ask, "What is he touching? Can you touch your head?"
