Recommended Citation: Catlett, C., Moore, S. M., and Pérez-Méndez, C. (2017). Resources to support the full participation of young children who are Dual Language Learners (DLLs) and their families. PURPOSE With the growing number of young children (birth – third grade) increasing in Vermont, practitioners may struggle with implementing appropriate assessment strategies, utilizing culturally appropriate information gathering skills with families, engaging families in the process of assessment, intervention and preschool placement, and knowing how to work effectively with interpreters, translators, cultural mediators and parent school liaisons. Confidence, comfort, and capability with these skills are essential to supporting the full participation of each young child with a home language other than English and the successful engagement of each child’s family in supporting that child’s full potential. The purpose of this toolkit is to provide early childhood colleagues with evidence-based practices, tools, and strategies improve and increase the use of inclusive, culturally appropriate, responsive, and research based practices for culturally and ability diverse young children who are Dual Language Learners (DLLs) and their families. The majority of resouces in the toolkit are readily available to access online at no cost. Resources that are not free but are very worthwhile investments are highlighted in boxes. each heading, resources are organized by type, using the coding system below. RESEARCH PRINT AV WEB Investments $ Resources that are available in Spanish are highlighted in yellow. Sharing of this resource is encouraged. The compilers hope it will provide one form of professional support needed by providers to develop the practices they need to positively impact the lives of young children who are dual language learners and their families. Table of Contents TOPIC PAGE Supporting the Learning and Development of Young Children Who Are Dual Language Learners (DLLs) Research/evidence sources 4
PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES RESEARC H/EVIDENCE Family Engagement, Diverse Families, and Childhood Education Programs: An Integrated Review of the Literature Fostering Parent and Professional Collaboration: Research Global Family Research Project https://globalfrp.org/ Harvard Family Research Project: Family Involvement Having Their Say: Parents Describe Why and How They are Engaged in Their Children’s Education The Impact of Family Involvement on the Education of Children Ages 3 to 8: A Focus on Literacy and Math Achievement Outcomes and Social-Emotional Skills Responsiveness to Family Cultures, Values, and Languages PRINT RESOURCES Asking the Right Questions in the Right Ways: Strategies for Ethnographic Interviewing Early Childhood and Family Homelessness Resource List Engaged Families, Effective Pre-K: Policies That Bolster Student Success Engaging Diverse Families Family and Community Involvement: Reaching Out to Diverse Populations Family Connections to Peers and Community Family Engagement and Children with Disabilities: A Resource Guide for Educators and Parents (2012) (2016) The Immigrant Guide: What Every Immigrant Needs to Know (Practice Information for Living and Succeeding in the United States) Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration A Portrait of Latino Fathers: Strengths and Challenges Program Preparedness Checklist Version 5: A Tool to Assist Head Start and Early Head Start Programs to Assess Their Systems and Services for Dual Language Learners and Their Families PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES