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Dual Language Learner Celebration Week 2022
Join the Office of Head Start and ZERO TO THREE in promoting these videos and resources celebrating our bilingual young children and the adults who support them.
In this resource
Learning two languages from birth changes the way a child’s brain is wired–just one of the many gifts that bilingualism offers to young children.
An increasing number of young children are exposed to more than one language from birth. Dual language learning has many benefits for children and families, including stronger connections to family and culture. Learn how supporting dual or multi-language development by exploring our curated resources and Head Start’s video events.
Facebook Live Events
We came together with the Office of Head Start and early childhood professionals Feb. 22–25, 2022 to celebrate children who are DLLs and their families. Check out these video interviews featuring experts in the field and celebrating the diversity of every dual language learner and the staff who support them.
Marissa Duran from the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program from Stanislaus County Office of Education, shares how they kept their programs open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Their efforts continue to provide strong support for staff, families, and children to thrive.
Dr. Xigrid Soto-Boykin, a speech pathologist and researcher, does some myth-busting on children who are dual language learners and inclusion.
Guest speakers from Riverside County Office of Education talk about how to use a research-based approach to train staff who work with children who are dual language learners and their families.
Members of Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe share their story of bringing together community members to create innovative resources to preserve and maintain their heritage language for their nation today and for generations to come.
Resources for Parents
Bilingual From Birth This guide encourages parents to use all home languages around babies and toddlers so children start listening—and learning—right from the start!
Dual Language Development: Double the Benefit This resource busts myths around bilingualism and outlines the many benefits of bilingualism or multilingualism.
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month 2020 See some of our favorite resources on serving American Indian and Alaska Native families compiled for the recent Native American Heritage Month.
Parenting for Social Justice Parents wonder how to raise children who will stand up against racism and injustice. We begin that conversation here.
Resources for Professionals
Tribal Language Preservation and Revitalization Read about the Head Start Program Performance Standards on tribal language preservation and revitalization in this Standards in Action vignette. It features a fictional grantee and highlights the process program leaders use with others to meet the standards. Program staff can use the vignette to reflect on and identify how to put the standards into practice in their own program.
Training Guide for Implementing Making It Work In Tribal Early Learning Settings This training guide helps early childhood staff and program leaders in American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) early learning settings implement the Making It Work (MIW) three-step process. There are many ways that staff engage with children and families. From center-based to family child care to home visiting, staff can pair the MIW three-step process with program models to integrate materials that represent the community, culturally and linguistically.
Professional Learning Guides to Support Children Who Are Dual Language Learners This series of professional learning guides are designed to support program leaders, including education managers, as they develop practices and systems to support the full and effective participation of children who are dual language learners (DLLs) and their families. There are three guides in this series:
- The first discusses integrating culturally and linguistically responsive practices
- The second focuses on providing intentional language support
- The third explores family engagement
Understanding Language Development to Inform High Quality Instructional Interactions Explore what the research says about how preschool children develop language and process two or more languages. Learn to identify and use research-based strategies, such as modeling and other supports. Find resources for supporting high-quality instructional interactions with children who are dual language learners.
Intentional Language Supports in the Preschool Classroom In this video, learn about the research around effective teaching practices that support children who are dual language learners (DLLs). Find specific strategies to support linguistically diverse children in problem-solving, experimentation, brainstorming, planning, and related vocabulary learning.
Elevating Cultural Responsiveness in Effective Teaching Practices Explore research related to the role of culturally responsive materials and practices in high-quality instructional interactions. Discover the value of making authentic connections between concepts that children are learning and their home language and culture. Examine examples of how to elevate instructional interactions with culturally authentic and relevant connections to support early learning in all domains.
Multicultural Principles for Early Childhood Leaders Head Start programs are effective when their systems and services support the cultural diversity of enrolled families. Furthermore, individual staff members must be able to demonstrate their respect for and respond to the different cultures in their community and among their co-workers. This resource provides recent research and perspectives on key multicultural principles and offers guidance to staff on how to implement these principles in their programs.
Coordinated Approach to Supporting Dual Language Learners Review this Standards in Action vignette for a look at the Head Start Program Performance Standards on coordinated approaches for supporting dual language learners. It features a fictional grantee and highlights how program leaders work with others to meet the standards. Program staff can use it to reflect on and identify how to put the standards into practice in their own program.
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