1. Engaging ELL Parents:
Tips to Close the Communication
Welcome-Leslie
Gap and Increase Involvement
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2. Presenters-Leslie
Leslie
• Riki Si
Sipe
– Contract Reading Content Coach for the Alaska
Department of Education and Early Development
(EED)
• Sean Chalmers
– Account Executive, K12Translate
• Moderator: Leslie Iburg
– Marketing Coordinator, viaLanguage and
K12Translate
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3. Today s
Today’s Agenda Leslie
1. Introductions
2. Common Barriers/Solutions
Common Barriers/Solutions
3. 5 Steps to Take
4. Conclusion
5. Q & A
5 Q&A
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4. The Importance of Involved Parents -Sean
• Improved student
Improved student
achievement
• Better attendance
Better attendance
• Reduced dropout rates
• Behavior
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5. Barriers to ELL Engagement
Section Break: Common Barriers to Preventing ELL Parental Engagement- Leslie
Engagement-
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6. Barrier 1: Clash of (School) Cultures- Sean
1. Cultural differences
1 C lt l diff
2. Mentalities from native country vs. U.S.
3. Other variables
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7. Tip: Cross the Cultural Divide - Leslie
1. Cross the cultural divide and show mutual interest,
support for the student’s academic success
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8. Solutions – Riki
1. Parent Mentors
• Bilingual ‐ based in schools, working with parents in schools
and outside of school
2. Resources
• Dual language materials, parent workshops, mini‐
technologies
3. Student Events/Exhibitions
• Performing, events to draw in parents
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9. Barrier 2: Language - Sean
1. Decreases participation
2. Written/Spoken Communications
2 Wi /S k C i i
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10. Tip: Speak Their Language - Leslie
1. Essential to understand the
1 Essential to understand the
linguistic preference and
regional nuance of your
i l f
audience.
2. Use terminology and style
specific to their culture or
specific to their culture or
region.
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11. Solutions – Riki
1. Print and telephone translation services
• Translation Providers (K12Translate/viaLanguage)
• Telephone Interpreters (Language Line)
Telephone Interpreters (Language Line)
• Local resources
2. Translated web pages
• Machine translation good for
getting the gist
getting the gist
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12. Barrier 3: Literacy Levels -Leslie
1. Literacy levels of your audience
2. Illiterate Populations
Illiterate Populations
3. Oral Languages
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13. Tip: Ensure Readability - Sean
1. Assess & acknowledge
1 Assess & acknowledge
2. 4th‐6th grade max
g
3. Supplement with pictures,
videos, etc.
4. Literacy programs,
resources
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14. Solutions – Riki
1. Rosetta Stone for English
2. Newsletter‐ Point out easy information in
readable English
3. Connect parents to local programs
Connect parents to local programs
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15. Barrier 4: Logistical - Sean
1. Scheduling
2. Transportation
3. Child care
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16. Tip: Adjust and Adapt - Riki
• Scheduling important meetings,
conversations at convenient times
ti t i t ti
• Convenient locations
• With translation/interpretation services
• Migrant education funds can be used for parent
Migrant education funds can be used for parent
workshops
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17. Steps to Effectively Reach ELL Parents
Section Break: Steps to take to effectively reach ELL Parents Leslie
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18. Step 1: Assessment - Leslie
1. Language/cultural preferences
(
(bilingual vs. monolingual)
g g )
2. Communication preferences
(written, phone, in‐person)
3. Ask students, or send note
3 Ask students or send note
home
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19. Step 2: Facilitate Participation - Riki/Leslie
1. Adjusting our understanding & expectations of what ‘parent involvement’ is
2. Accommodate their preferences, schedules, etc.
3. Make it easy for them
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20. Step 3: Encourage - Sean
1. Communication and
collaboration
2. Provide personalized info on
their students in their
their students in their
preferred language
3. Elicit their feedback and
show you value their input
y p
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21. Step 4: Empower - Leslie
1. Provide home activities, reading lists, etc.
2. Distribute community resource/programs
2 Di ib i /
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22. Step 5: Involve the Community - Sean
1. Reach out to local religious/community leaders to
g / y
help bridge cultural gap and explain
cultural/education differences
cultural/education differences
2. ELL Parent Advisory groups and vice versa
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23. Summary - Leslie
1.
1 Barriers
2. Solutions
3.
3 Steps
St
4. Q & A
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24. Thank You! -Leslie
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C t t K12T l t
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g www.k12translate.com/Blog
g
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