Strategies for Supporting Educators and Engaging ELL Families

Abstract

Oftentimes we see the ways in which parental involvement can play a role in the ways in which students are successful in their classrooms. Through looking at behaviors, academics, and social and emotional skills, we can determine that more parental involvement, parents working alongside teachers, led to higher success rates for students. One of the issues with this statement is that it is not always easy for parents to become involved in their child’s education, especially if they are English Language Learners and being introduced to a new environment and culture. Some of the aspects that may make it difficult for parents to become involved in their child’s education include, economic status, employment, family stressors, families being unaware of how to engage in the school community, and teachers not being fully equipped to support students from different cultures. To address this problem teachers will meet in sessions to address ways in which they can be better equipped to support parents and involve them in their classroom community. ENL teachers will work alongside them by teaching them strategies and providing them with materials to use in their own classrooms to help engage them in the material. Teachers will also be asked to collect data in order to share with their colleagues and learn from one another.