ALEXANDRA GIRON- CHAPTER 10- TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR ENSURING MEANINGFUL COMMUNICATION WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT PARENTS by

Local education agencies (LEA) must develop and implement a process to determine:

allygiron — 2025-09-04 19:52:11 UTC

If parents/guardians have limited English proficiency
What their primary language is
What their language needs are

As a teacher, this is the first step in supporting our EL students.

It is important to build and nurture relationships between schools and families.

allygiron — 2025-09-04 20:02:05 UTC

A great way to achieve this is to incorporate cultural traditions into the schools!

The importance of this is to create an inclusive learning environment where all the students are heard and celebrated.

Written communication should be translated into appropriate languages.

allygiron — 2025-09-04 20:06:20 UTC

All written communication such as report cards, class information, picture day announcements, permission slips, lunch menus, etc. need to be translated into languages of such given families. The link above is a free translation tool for teachers to use.

It is helpful for teachers to have easily available resources to help with communication.

Integrating EL students starts with the administration

allygiron — 2025-09-04 20:13:06 UTC

School wide policies must be put into effect that incorporates and accommodates the needs for every family. Being culturally diverse is a school wide pedagogy that starts at the top.

Having school wide policies ensure teachers strive to meet expectations.

LEP (limited English proficient) parents have the right to be active participants in their children's education.

allygiron — 2025-09-04 20:26:13 UTC

Not only do LEP parents have the right to be active participants in their children's education, but they should be encouraged to participate in their children's educational journey.

Family involvement is positive for everyone.

All staff school staff members should be trained in diverse cultural engagement

allygiron — 2025-09-04 20:32:04 UTC

School districts and administration need ensure that all staff are being properly and routinely trained in culturally responsive teaching in order to maintain an inclusive environment.

Trainings give teachers clear and concise tools to use.

The U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory....

allygiron — 2025-09-04 20:35:30 UTC

....developed the following framework to support family engagement activities that help schools and family's partner for improved student outcomes.

Having a visual framework to refer to, better helps teachers to implement that framework.

Dual capacity-building framework for family-school partnerships

allygiron — 2025-09-04 20:41:04 UTC

_{1. The challenges - lack of knowledge about developing partnerships, and personal, cultural, and structural barriers- faced by both the school/program staff and the families for building effective home–school partnerships.}

_{2. The process conditions- linking partnerships to learning and organizational conditions integral to the success of family-school partnership initiatives and interventions.}

_{3. The areas- skills, knowledge, networks, beliefs, values, and self-efficacy- that staff and families need to create, implement, and sustain family-oriented policy and program goals.}

_{4. A description of the capacity-building outcomes for school/program staff and families that support student achievement and school improvement.}

_{Knowing the ins and outs of this framework is useful for teachers know the implications as well as the pitfalls.}

Use community resources to help promote family engagement.

allygiron — 2025-09-04 20:49:58 UTC

Working with outside community sources can better strengthen the relationship between families and schools. Guest speakers, outside mentors, business owners, faith leaders, and cultural leaders can be used support schools' inclusive initiatives and share cultural insights.

Knowing and having outside access to these resources will make it more likely that teachers will use them.

There are numerous tools and resources that can help all schools be inclusive and accommodating to ALL families.

allygiron — 2025-09-04 20:54:31 UTC

Not only is it necessary, but it is also lawful!

This information allows teachers to know that accommodating EL students and their families is not option- it is a must.