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Families

ICS Family Handbook

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ICS Family Commitments

Families of Native Spanish Speakers Families of Spanish Learner Students

I will continue to reinforce that Spanish IS really important! I will talk to my child about how special it is to know Spanish and the benefits that come from being bilingual (problem-solving, multi-tasking, perspective-taking, employment, communication with others).

 I will continue to reinforce that Spanish IS really important! I will talk to my child about how special it is to know Spanish and the benefits that come from being bilingual (problem-solving, multi-tasking, perspective-talking, employment, communication with others).

It a child responds to me in English, I will continue my conversation in Spanish, encouraging my child to use their Spanish.

 I understand that learning a language can feel uncomfortable, takes time, and that my family will need both persistence and patience.

I understand that language learning looks different for every child.

 I understand that language learning looks different for every child.

I will encourage older siblings to speak Spanish with their younger siblings.

 I will encourage my child to take risks, remind them that mistakes are gifts and part of learning, and reinforce that "it is ok not to know" by modeling linguistic risk-taking myself.

I will read to my child in Spanish.

 I will listen to my child read in Spanish.
I will tell stories to my child in Spanish. I will have my child tell me stories in Spanish.
I will sing to my child in Spanish. I will sing with my child in Spanish.
I will count with my child in Spanish. I will count with my child in Spanish.
I will watch TV and movies with my child in Spanish. I will watch TV and movies with my child in Spanish.
I will play games with my child in Spanish. I will play games with my child in Spanish.
I will celebrate my child's progress in Spanish literacy (literacy includes listening, speaking, reading, and writing). I will celebrate my child's progress in Spanish literacy (literacy includes listening, speaking, reading, and writing).
I will correct my child's Spanish in a positive way by modeling the correct way to say it. I will allow my child to be immersed in Spanish and not expect/request translation for them during Spanish time.
If I have concerns about my child's progress across language, I will reach out to the teachers and/or Principal to ask for help. If I have concerns about my child's progress across language, I will reach out to the teachers and/or Principal to ask for help.
I will not discourage trans-languaging (using a mixture of English and Spanish). I will not discourage trans-languaging (using a mixture of English and Spanish).

 

ICS Teacher Commitments

Teachers will speak in the target language as often as possible, using only key words in the partner language when necessary to support comprehension. Wherever possible, teachers will support comprehension using gestures and objects. Use the partner language as a scaffold rather than a crutch.

If a student responds in the partner language or through trans-languaging, teachers will repeat back their response in the target language and ask the student to repeat it aloud.

Teachers will recognize that students may show resistance to learning the partner or target language as a result of pressure from the larger community or forces of assimilation.

Teachers will commit to celebrating and praising multilingualism and find ways to challenge the idea of \English being a superior language.

Teachers will commit to celebrating and praising students' progress in language acquisition.

Teachers will encourage their students to take risks, reminding them that mistakes are gifts and part of learning and reinforcing that "it is ok not to know" by modeling linguistic risk-taking themselves

Teachers will make an effort to learn words/phrases in students' home languages and model life-long language learning

Teachers will commit to preparing for lessons, reviewing the academic language, sentence frames, and texts ahead of time to ensure correct grammar, vocabulary, and spelling.

Teachers will recast student language back to them with accurate grammar; vocabulary, word order, conjugation, etc...
Teachers will maintain high expectations for ALL STUDENTS regardless of home language, student history, behavior patterns, or prior participation patterns

 

Student Family Handbook