Ana Miranda
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Why should you raise bi-literate children?

2/4/2018

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Why you should raise bi-literate children

When you look at your little one today it might be difficult to imagine them growing up. Heck, you might even refuse to do it. Time flies and they grow up so fast, you just want to enjoy every moment of every phase.

But bear with me for a moment. Look into your future. How do you see your family? What do your children do as they grow up? How do you want to feel as you look back?

Multilingual families have important choices to make regarding their language goals and priorities. There are so many different settings and factors that play a role in those choices (feel free to share yours!) but today we’ll talk about raising your children literate in the minority language. Have you thought about it? 
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Many parents are either afraid of confusing their child or believe they’ll just pick it up later. And so, many bilingual children are not literate in one of their mother tongues, which is a pity.

In your ideal future, do your children master all their languages' skills? Or are they able to speak, but not write? Where are they going to college? Are they glad they'd learned it early or are they struggling?  


Young children are incredible learners. All they need is time, consistency and someone who’s there for them. You can teach your child to read!

By learning to read and write well in English (or any other minority language) they will, in the short run:

★ Have a deeper connection to your culture;  
★ Enjoy your favorite childhood stories with you;
★ Develop their sense of identity as a multilingual person;
★ Grow their vocabulary, comprehension and expression skills;
★ Be able to access and appreciate a wider variety of content;
★ Develop a higher awareness of how languages work;

On top of that, they are more likely to experience academic and professional success in the long run. It’s an open world of opportunities, connection and identity that starts with your choice and commitment.

What’s holding you back?

★★★ ​

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How to sneak in literacy in your multilingual home

5/2/2018

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How many times have you thought lately: “We need to work on their (language) skills. How can we make sure they read and write in (language)?”, but then gave in to “We simply have no time for that!”

You’re busy, the kids are busy, the days go by much too fast. They go to school, they do homework, after-school clubs, play-dates… how can you teach them to read in another language on top of all that?

And how can you do it in a way that doesn’t feel like extra work? That won’t create tension and resistance?
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Well, first things first: make time. What are the time-wasters in your house? Is it too much screen time? Are they enrolled in too many extra-curricular lessons? Get organized and make your routine work in your favor.
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The number one thing parents do to support their children’s literacy skills in English is reading to them and listening to them read. It’s a natural and fantastic way to learn and bond.

But you want more than bedtime stories and here are some ideas:
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★Pay attention to their curiosities: are they into comics, Lego, cooking? Are they obsessed with movie characters, a specific toy, an animal? Do they like puppets, role playing, drawing, scrap-booking? Use that.

★Use technology in your favor: find apps, games and videos that promote language development and that are age appropriate. Have a screen time agreement in place.

★Have books (fiction and non-fiction), magazines, paper, chalk or whiteboard, different markers, pens and pencils easily ready - for older kids, who don’t scribble on walls anymore ;)

★In your day-to-day life, have them read and write text messages, birthday cards or even letters/emails to friends and family.

★When you call your family, ask them to read to your children and to listen to them read.

★ Siblings can read to each other at any time and anywhere.

★ Play Scrabble, crossword puzzles, hangman, word ladder, word snake, categories.

★Ask them to help you write the weekly shopping list, calendar reminders, the menu for the week or for a special occasion.

★Read anything together at different opportunities: a recipe, game instructions, a note from school, tickets, etc.

★Write a simple book review on Goodreads. See that reading list grow! Set a goal, think of a nice way to celebrate a certain number of books read.

★Start a happiness jar, where they write something that made them smile that day. When they’re feeling down they can open it and find all those happy memories!

★Older kids can start a journal.

★You can have fun conversation/writing prompts in a jar, box or bowl.

Reading and writing are better practiced with purpose. Why are they reading? For pleasure, to learn something new, to connect with someone? Why are they writing? To communicate with loved ones, to express their creativity, for practical reasons, for fun?

Reading and writing for the sake of it is not engaging or motivating. Can you recall ever learning something when you were feeling detached or resistant?


Finally, don’t stop reading to them! Older children still enjoy being read to. Pick a book that’s beyond their own reading skill, keep stimulating their comprehension, vocabulary and imagination.

★★★

Now I’m curious: how do you sneak in literacy in your multilingual home? 

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     I'm Ana - a teacher who loves reading, writing, traveling and nature. 

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