Language Development
-Behavior of Language: According to behavioral psychologist Skinner, language is formed by behavior and reinforcement. When your praise and reward your child for using language correctly and making attempts to speak properly, they will continue to do so in response to those rewards. Therefore, if you want to help your child to succeed in language and language arts, Skinner would tell you to reinforce the behavior with rewards!
Learning English as a Second Language
If your child is learning English as a second language and is enrolled in our ESOL program, we highly encourage you to continue speaking to him or her in your foreign language at home. Nowadays, it is so important for children to know multiple languages and the child’s native language could serve him or her in the future.
The following are options for your child if him/her is learning English as a second language and should be discussed with teachers and administrators:
Submersion: The student is placed in a regular classroom and is expected to acquire the language by being exposed to it in the classroom by teachers and students. Accommodations may be placed based on the child’s needs. For more information on this program, speak with a general education teacher in regards to what types of accommodations are made for students in the ESOL program.
Structured English immersion: In this program, students are given intensive classes in order to learn English. This program takes about a year. When students complete the year, they are placed in a regular classroom.
Immersion: Children speak a second language in the classroom at exclusive periods.
Foreign language instruction: Children receive a second language that is different from that of their regular studies. Our school is conducted in English. Second language programs include Spanish and Mandarin.
The following are options for your child if him/her is learning English as a second language and should be discussed with teachers and administrators:
Submersion: The student is placed in a regular classroom and is expected to acquire the language by being exposed to it in the classroom by teachers and students. Accommodations may be placed based on the child’s needs. For more information on this program, speak with a general education teacher in regards to what types of accommodations are made for students in the ESOL program.
Structured English immersion: In this program, students are given intensive classes in order to learn English. This program takes about a year. When students complete the year, they are placed in a regular classroom.
Immersion: Children speak a second language in the classroom at exclusive periods.
Foreign language instruction: Children receive a second language that is different from that of their regular studies. Our school is conducted in English. Second language programs include Spanish and Mandarin.
Things You Can Do To Help
Talking regularly with your children
Make sure to engage in conversation with your children daily in order to help them learn to express them. By speaking with your children about different topics, you can teach them to code-switch. When speaking about academics, conversations can be more structured and professional. When speaking about daily life, the conversations do not have to be as structured. This will help children understand the concept of code switching and when it is appropriate to use dialect.
Reading to them
By reading to your children you are helping them to expand their vocabulary and increasing their love of literature.
- Encourage them to look up words in the dictionary and share with them more difficult words and their meanings
- Encourage your children to read on their won
- Give them examples of words that signify something and words that do not
- When children use words incorrectly, make sure to correct hem in a loving manner
Make sure to engage in conversation with your children daily in order to help them learn to express them. By speaking with your children about different topics, you can teach them to code-switch. When speaking about academics, conversations can be more structured and professional. When speaking about daily life, the conversations do not have to be as structured. This will help children understand the concept of code switching and when it is appropriate to use dialect.
Reading to them
By reading to your children you are helping them to expand their vocabulary and increasing their love of literature.
- Encourage them to look up words in the dictionary and share with them more difficult words and their meanings
- Encourage your children to read on their won
- Give them examples of words that signify something and words that do not
- When children use words incorrectly, make sure to correct hem in a loving manner
Specific Language Impairments
If you know that your child has a specific language impairment, please make arrangements with the office and let your teacher know so that the child can receive the appropriate resources. If we notice, at school, that your child is exhibiting any delays difficulties in language, we will notify you for permission to use available resources in school or outside of school, if you wish to do this instead.