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A myriad of studies on the power of a mother’s voice reveal that it can dramatically increase levels of oxytocin, the social-bonding hormone, lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and can soothe children in stressful situations, says the article “How Babies Know Their Mother’s Voice — Even in the Womb.” One study in … Read More

Knowing that the principal is the most influential and important individual at a school, here are four terrific ways principals can support English Language Learner (ELL) students, says a white paper on the role that school principals play. The principal’s leadership is what sets the tone of a school, … Read More

To kick-off this fun holiday that runs from September 15 through October 15, here are some awesome activities for Hispanic Heritage Month for communities, schools and families! The Scholastic literary resource organization suggests growing a heritage garden common to a lot of Spanish-speaking countries. Some of the staple crops can include peppers, squash, corn and beans. … Read More

Since the approval of Proposition 58, people are wondering about bilingual education in California—now what is the big question. CABE, the California Association for Bilingual Education, says that CA sites and school districts now have a lot more things to take into consideration when implementing a biliteracy program. Starting in July 2017, if the parents … Read More

Dual Language Schools in CA Dual Language Schools in CA are like seeds in a watermelon, they’re popping up everywhere in the state, these days. As California evolves into the notion that kids who know one or more languages is a big plus, it’s likely that dual immersion programs will only continue to grow. Many high school students are reaping … Read More

Do Electronic Toys Foster Language? Though convenient for parents, researchers are asking the question if electronic toys foster language. What many are finding is that electronic toys and devices are coming up short compared to traditional books. According to the article “When It Comes to Infant Language Development, Not All Toys Are Created Equal, with electronic toys, experts are seeing … Read More

English Learner (EL) Tool Kit In January 2015, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released the English Learner (EL) Tool Kit. These guidelines are a companion to the 40-page “Dear Colleague Letter,” (DCL) that was released at the same time. The DCL was prepared by the ED’s Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice. The purpose of … Read More

The Changes in Family Language with Hispanic Families Most Latino families in America feel the pressure of integrating English into their lives while not letting their own native language slip away, and this is just one of the many changes in family language with Hispanic families. This is not the first time that Latinos see their language going to the … Read More

Language Development in the Early Years (0-5) According to the Raising Children Network, there are a number of big milestones during language development in the early years (0-5). Let’s take a look at these various time frames outlined by the organization. 0-3 months It’s normal at this stage for babies to fuss and cry. Towards the end of this period, … Read More

The Brain and Two Languages A terrific article on the brain and two languages on the World Economic Forum website says that dual language brains activate both languages even in situations where only one is being used. So, while the bilingual person’s attention is focused only on one, he or she is quieting interference from the other, says the site. … Read More