Empowering English Language Learner Family Engagement

Abstract

This capstone aims to support any people who work, or plan to work, closely with English language learners (ELLs) and their families. From personal experience and discussion with others who work with ELLs, family engagement was seen to be a high concern in the area of ELL education. ELLs, like all students, are impacted by the level of support they are given. Providing students with support from home, school, and their community offers more opportunity to learn and a more positive view of education. To increase family engagement among the ELL population, schools and educators must be provided with tools or strategies to empower family’s engagement in students' learning. Understanding why ELL families may have limited or no engagement in students' education is the first step to supporting them. Debunking misconceptions that are tossed around about ELL families and their views of education opens many opportunities for supporting families in ways that work for them. After understanding is built by getting to really know families and learn about them, support can be provided through language support, interest topic based lessons and assignments, communication, homework support, and community support. Strategies and supports, such as those provided in this capstone and Teacher Toolbox (Appendix D) can be modified to fit any and all families and their learners. In applying strategies to support and empower families, along with meaningful reflection from educators, it is intended that families will feel more welcome, be more meaningfully engaged, and learning for students will improve.