Our Blog

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

Meaningful Ways to Spend Your Summer Break There are so many meaningful ways to spend your summer break. Here are some great ideas to get the ball rolling. First and Foremost, Pamper Yourself It’s critical to take time out just for you, as this is how you recharge and reconnect with yourself. There are many relaxing ways to do this … Read More

The Basic Components of a Children’s Story The Basic Components of a Children’s Story are simple to understand when broken down. Both ELL parents and students would benefit from this handout to review together at home, after they read a book together. Download PDF The Basic Components of a Children’s Story 1. Characters Who is your story about? 2. Setting … Read More

When looking at a statistical portrait on social and emotional issues of children among the races, the ones who are the most overlooked in this country are minority youth and children. A report on racial and ethnic disparities by the Wilder organization, for instance, found that children from minority families … Read More

The Top World Languages Spoken in the USA and Globally For many of us, finding out what the top world languages spoken in the USA and globally are is so interesting! First, let’s take a look at the ones that take front and center stage in the States. The MLA Language website indicates that English is spoken by 80 percent … Read More

Schools should consider adopting this statement “parents as school partners,” as their motto, because these four words say so much. It’s tough to consider how parents and schools could not go hand-in-hand with one another. However, because kids and families come in all shapes, colors and sizes, it’s inevitable that some are going to get lost in the shuffle. What … Read More