Kristina Dimaiuta's ENL Class Home
Welcome to English as a New Language
English as a New Language services are provided to help our Multilingual Learners develop and become proficient in listening, speaking, reading, and writing English for grades Kindergarten through 5th grade!
Parent Resources
Email Mrs. Dimaiuta at kdimaiuta@schools.nyc.gov
Click the Link ---> PS144 School Website
Click the Link ---> NYC DOE Website: Multilingual Learners
Click the Link ---> NYSITELL & NYSESLAT Information
*Tips for Parents of English Language/Multilingual Learners*
1. Make sure your child is prepared for school. This means they are getting plenty of rest and assistance on homework assignments. If you are unable to provide your student with homework assistance, look into programs within your school to help your child.
2. Work with your child's teacher. Talk about problems you've noticed, progress that's been made and ask questions about what they think may help your child.
3. When your child is having difficulty understanding schoolwork in English explain concepts in your home language first. Once they understand then work on the concept in English.
4. Encourage your child to be proud of your heritage. Find ways for them to incorporate their knowledge of this in their classroom (like on class projects). Encourage them to read and write in your home language. Books in different languages can be found on Amazon.com and other online book retailers.
5. If your stay in the U.S. is not permanent, encourage your child to learn all he or she can while here. Remind them that learning English is not to replace what they already know but instead is to enhance it. Talk to them about their feelings about being in a different place because a lot of time negative feelings can have a huge impact on what is learned. Help your children to feel pride in themselves and their heritage.
6. Have fun with language! Play games such as Scrabble and Boggle to help with English spelling. Use I SPY and ABC Books to increase vocabulary in a fun way. Read the comics in both languages and play games where you think of words in one language and your child has to think of the same word in the other language.
7. Help your child to focus on understanding of books as well as pronouncing the words. Encourage your child to read and read again, in your home language and in English.
8. Your child should be reading books for pleasure at an easy independent level. Encourage them to do this by doing so yourself. These can be in either language and any type of reading: magazines, comics, graphic novels, newspapers, and even online articles. Use every sign, billboard, or menu as an example of reading.
9. Tell your child how important you think school is and encourage him or her to participate in class. Then point out ways you use education daily. Examples could be reading for pleasure, using money in stores, or how you use science, math and language at your job.
10. You need to find a balance in using both English and your home language in your home. When children never hear their home language after they begin school then they begin to lose that language. Bilingual people have more options in our world so your goal should be that your child know both languages well. You should have books in both languages, and watch television in both languages. There might be certain activities where it is more appropriate to use one language or the other and that won't create problems. Above all don't make your child feel embarrassed or ashamed of either language. No language is better than another but it is important to learn English in order to do well in the United States.
L.C. Schmitt Elementary School - http://www.bcsc.k12.in.us/Page/6958
English Language/Multilingual Learner Student Resources
www.kidsa-z.com/main/Login Many books by level to read and listen to (*more to come on this website regarding student user names and log in information)
http://en.childrenslibrary.org/ This site contains children’s books from around the world. These books have been scanned into the computer and can be read in a variety of languages.
http://www.starfall.com/ Fun games and activities for early stages of learning
http://www.turtlediary.com/ela-games.html Vocabulary/Word Online Games and Activities
http://www.mrshurleysesl.com/englishpractice.html#new1 Language Practice and Activities for K-8
http://wonderopolis.org/ This site asks a question, a "wonder", each day and then provides information as well as an activity to explore this question. What a great way to connect with your child and what they are learning in school!
https://translate.google.com/ - Translations can be made in many different languages
app.imaginelearning.com - Funded program provided for English Language Learners
