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.
Give each child an aluminum pie plate and a marker or drumstick. Call out objects in a category such as animals or food. As you call out the object, “broc-col-i,” have the children beat out the syllables on the pie plate using the marker. Ask, “How many beats did you count?” This activity could be done in small group.
