Strategies for teaching preschool multilingual students

Multiple Select

Which strategies help multilingual preschoolers learn English?

• Rich Literacy Environment

• Scaffolding

• Modeling

• Explicit vocabulary instruction

to both adults and kids

Opportunities to talk

​books, calendars, alphabet posters, numbers, shapers, labeled objects, student work

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Print Examples

​I have Who Has game

with children who have strong English language skills

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pair multilingual learners

Classroom routine

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Structured and predictable

Examples of Language Structures

Read Aloud

Always have writing and reading materials available

​that match students' interests and language abilities

Let them choose activities

teach vocabulary, build background knowledge, and make connections

Thematic Units:

​​Encourage continued native language development

​If all your students are monolingual, include examples of other languages in your lessons.

​​Teach words in other languages

Encourage parents to speak and read in native languages at home

Learn simple phrases, like hello or thank you

Play songs in different languages.

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Use children's home language

when children need help expressing themselves ( "Mary, may I have the red crayon now?)

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​Provide prompts

Total Physical Response: storytelling, read-alouds, Simon Says, action songs

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TPR

Plan activities that involve using language

over and over : memorize language examples

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Read books repeatedly

​Read aloud often

​Include kids' primary language in print around your room

when they speak English

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​Allow children to make mistakes

Ask them to bring books in their native languages to school to share

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​Involve parents

Ask Perents

to bring labeled family photos to school

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Memory Game

Spot it! Game

Cook and taste food from various cultures together!