• Work with the alphabet daily with your child (magnetic letters / identification/sound)
• Help your child make connections to letters and sounds
• Practice reading sight words and have your child identify them in stories they are reading or that you are reading to them
• Read aloud to your child every night with excitement and emotion
• Teach your child the alphabet song
• Talk with your child about the information in the books you are reading
• Frequently visit your local library and choose books together
• Have your child write frequently and praise your child’s reading /writing skills
• Encourage your child to sound out and spell words when writing rather than telling them how to spell words
• Be a positive role model for reading
• Speak to your child with a large vocabulary to help your child learn new words
• Help your child extend their oral language by helping them think of words they could add to their sentences
• When reading with your child, point out different aspects of grammar and conventions (e.g. punctuation, first word, capital letters)

• Work with the alphabet daily with your child (magnetic letters / identification/sound)
• Help your child make connections to letters and sounds
• Practice reading sight words and have your child identify them in stories they are reading or that you are reading to them
• Read aloud to your child every night with excitement and emotion
• Teach your child the alphabet song
• Talk with your child about the information in the books you are reading
• Frequently visit your local library and choose books together
• Have your child write frequently and praise your child’s reading /writing skills
• Encourage your child to sound out and spell words when writing rather than telling them how to spell words
• Be a positive role model for reading
• Speak to your child with a large vocabulary to help your child learn new words
• Help your child extend their oral language by helping them think of words they could add to their sentences
• When reading with your child, point out different aspects of grammar and conventions (e.g. punctuation, first word, capital letters)
• Share with your child different cultural or ethnic celebrations
• Discuss with your child the days of the week and months of the year and how they are organized in a sequential manner
• Show your child a map and help them to identify basic bodies of water and landforms
• Have your child memorize their complete address and phone number
• Discuss with your child different jobs that people hold in your community
• Work with your child to identify the different forms of money in America (coins and dollars)
• Explain the difference between a want and a need
• Discuss with your child how your family makes fair decisions
• Discuss the difference between rules (similar to what they have at home or school) and laws
• Make a list of what makes a good citizen with your child
• Help your child find alternative ways to solve problems
• Ask your child to draw a picture or act out problems
• Help your child analyze wrong answers
• Ask open ended questions (not able to be answered with yes or no)
• When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers
• Practice using mental math with your child
• Use computer or smart phone apps to practice math facts while in your car
• Praise your child for working through a challenging problem
• Have your child explain the mathematics task/problem to you step-by-step
• Model problem solving by thinking aloud as you work through a problem
• Find ways to practice number operations (addition and subtraction)
• Find ways to sort, collect and organize information
• Use environmental objects to get your child to think about mathematics (speed/highway signs, grocery stores, menus, license plates, cooking/baking etc.)
• Model curiosity
• Encourage your child to ask questions
• Ask your child to make observations that focus on their senses
• Encourage your child to record their observations
• Explore and find answers together
• Give your child time and space to explore
• Use items you have at home to conduct experiments

• Help your child find alternative ways to solve problems
• Ask your child to draw a picture or act out problems
• Help your child analyze wrong answers
• Ask open ended questions (not able to be answered with yes or no)
• When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers
• Practice using mental math with your child
• Use computer or smart phone apps to practice math facts while in your car
• Praise your child for working through a challenging problem
• Have your child explain the mathematics task/problem to you step-by-step
• Model problem solving by thinking aloud as you work through a problem
• Find ways to practice number operations (addition and subtraction)
• Find ways to sort, collect and organize information
• Use environmental objects to get your child to think about mathematics (speed/highway signs, grocery stores, menus, license plates, cooking/baking etc.)

• Model curiosity
• Encourage your child to ask questions
• Ask your child to make observations that focus on their senses
• Encourage your child to record their observations
• Explore and find answers together
• Give your child time and space to explore
• Use items you have at home to conduct experiments

• Set a specific time and place for homework
• Provide a quiet well-lit place for homework
• Remove any possible distractions
• Stay positive about homework
• Stay informed and in communication with teacher
• When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers
• Provide necessary supplies and identify resources
• Communicate with teachers regarding homework (challenges and successes)
• Reward progress with homework

Monitor homework progress, but let your child work independently

• Attend Back-to-School Night and Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Know the names of your child’s teachers and friends
• Visit the School and Its Website
• Support Homework Expectations
• Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn
• Teach Organizational Skills
• Teach Study Skills
• Get Involved
• Know the Disciplinary Policies
• Take Attendance Seriously
• Tuck a supportive note into your child’s backpack each morning
• Make Time to Talk to Your Child About School (Academics, Social, Homework etc.)
  Sample questions:
  - What was the best thing that happened at school today?
  - What was challenging at school today?
  - Can you show me or describe something that you learned today?
  - What could you have done to make your day at school even better?

• Arrive on time
• Be prepared
• Talk to your child about the conference before you attend
• Determine the best way to keep in touch with the teacher
• Ask specific questions
  Sample questions:
  - Is my child working up to his/her ability?
  - How will you evaluate my child’s progress?
  - What can I do at home to support my child?
  - What is the class/school discipline policy?
  - What is your homework policy?
  - What resources are available to assist with homework?
  - What are my child’s strengths, weaknesses, and learning style?
  - What questions would you recommend that I ask my child about your class each day?

• Focus on child’s strengths while working to improve their weaknesses
• Be positive and supportive
• Model how to struggle with a task and eventually succeed
• Expose child to reading material that is interesting to them
• Make sure your child has opportunities to excel at non-academic activities

Limit electronics, especially during homework time

The International Welcome Center would support newcomer families while integrating into the Broward County Public School system and community. The staff at the center is committed to assisting our students with their transition to a new school system and community by facilitating effective reception, language assessment, and appropriate placement.

International Welcome Center Flyer

• Registration Support

  • Assistance with the registration process
  • Assistance in completing standard forms required for registration (i.e., lunch forms, transportation forms, health forms, code of student conduct, emergency information)
  • Introduction to district procedures and information about school calendars, school hours, discipline procedures, etc.

  Community Support and Resources

  • General orientation on BCPS programs, community resources, health care services and social services
  • Information about adult ESOL courses offered through BCPS
  • Information about academic programs such as magnet, choice, etc.

  Academic

  • Interpretation services through the Multilingual Team of Bilingual Intake Facilitators
  • Screening and identification of potential English Language Learners
  • Transcript review and programmatic assessment
  • Workshops and events
  • Informal advising on college and career readiness

• Your child will learn a second language differently from the way he/she learned the first language
• Competence in the first language makes acquiring a second language easier.
• Oral language such as that used in social communication is often learned within the first two years of exposure to a second language.
• It could take 5 to 7 years or longer for your child to acquire the language proficiency needed to be successful with tasks involving abstract reasoning and thinking in the second language.
• Your child may experience some difficulty with grade level academic work in English as he or she is in the process of acquiring English as a second language
• Norms, expectations, school routines and rules differ from culture to culture, and your child may require a period of adjustment. Therefore, your child will benefit from your guidance and reassurance.
• Your child may show signs of frustration and behavior changes while adjusting to a new language and culture.
• Motivation to learn makes acquiring a second language easier.
• Children learning a second language may exhibit a silent period where they listen but are less likely to speak.
• Student’s English proficiency levels can vary in listening, speaking, reading, and writing language skills. For example, some students may have stronger listening and speaking skills then reading and writing skills.
• Younger children do not acquire a second language faster and easier than adults or older children, but they are less likely to have an accent.
• Younger children may have more difficulty acquiring a second language because of limited experiences in the first language. Children who learn two languages simultaneously from birth may have an easier time becoming proficient in both languages.

• Continue to speak to your child in your native language. Remember a strong first language enhances second language acquisition and being bilingual is an asset.
• Provide a positive and supportive environment for your child to develop a healthy self-concept. Praise your child for his/her efforts in school.
• Encourage your child to share his/her school experiences with you on a daily basis
• Expose your child to many community activities to increase general knowledge and vocabulary. Outings such as trips to the beach and to the park can be great topics of conversation. Check your local newspaper for available activities.
• Allow your child to watch appropriate educational TV programs and videos to enhance skills such as counting, letter recognition, colors and vocabulary. For older children, educational programs may help develop greater general knowledge and academic skills.
• Read and/or tell stories to your child in your native language. Encourage discussion of stories.
• Encourage your child to ask questions about what he/she is reading; such as “who”, “what”, “where”, “when”, “why”, and “how.”
• Ask your child’s teacher for a list of high-frequency words and have your child learn them.
• Volunteer to share relevant background information with school personnel such as developmental, medical and educational history.
• Advise school personnel of any changes at home, which may affect your child’s functioning. Contact the school if you have questions or concerns about your child’s progress or behavior.
• Get involved in the educational process of your child by scheduling conferences with teachers. An interpreter may be requested. Showing a genuine interest in your child’s school experience will increase motivation and help prevent behavior problems.
• Get involved in school activities. For example, ask your school about opportunities to volunteer, attend evening activities, or share your cultural heritage with your child’s class.
• Check out books from the school or public library at your child’s independent reading level for your child to read at home. Books may be available in different languages.