December 2022

This Month's Highlights

The Gift of Reading: Bilingual Guide

The holiday season is the perfect time to share the gift of reading! This guide (also available in Spanish) offers ideas of reading activities for families to do together, book recommendations, and links to educational gifts such as bilingual magazines and books and puzzles from PBS Kids.

 

In the News

Fifteen Tips for Helping ELLs Through Their First Winter

As blizzards, tornadoes, and ice storms affect different parts of the country, many families who are new to winter weather or who lack basic necessities may be severely impacted. This article offers ideas on how to address different aspects of winter with lots of examples from schools across the U.S. and Canada.

You can find more recommendations in Natural Disaster Resources for Schools: Partnering with Multilingual Families.

 

15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence

These suggestions for families and educators provide guidance on how to talk about school violence or violence in a community, discuss events in the news, and help children feel safe in their environment. We also include resources honoring the lives lost ten years ago this week at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT.

 

The Substitute Teacher Shortage: Impacts on ELLs and ELL Educators

 

New on Colorín Colorado

Family Literacy: New Multilingual Videos

Colorín Colorado is proud to present three new multilingual video series offering ideas on how families can support their child's literacy through activities at home, regardless of families' own literacy levels. Related outreach guides are included with each series.

Acknowledgements

These projects were made possible with the support of our founding partner, the American Federation of Teachers.

Being Bilingual Is a Superpower: Animated Video 8 Languages

This animated video, available in eight languages, offers ideas on how families can support their child's literacy through activities that celebrate language, culture, and special time together at home! This project features the artwork of award-winning illustrator Rafael López.

See outreach guide >

Family Literacy Tips for All Families: Videos in English and Spanish

All families can help their children become readers! These videos offer practical tips on supporting reading at home. These videos are available in English and Spanish and feature early literacy expert Bernadette Pilar Zermeño.

See outreach guide >

Indigenous Family Outreach: Videos in English, Spanish, and Mam

In this special video series, Henry Sales (Mam), an Indigenous educator from Guatemala who works in the Bay Area, encourages other Mam and Indigenous families from Latin America to keep their culture and language strong. The videos are available in English, Spanish, and Mam.

See outreach guide >

In the Classroom

5 Myths About ELLs and Special Education

Learn more about common myths related to English language learners (ELLs) and special education along with strategies for identifying and supporting students' strengths and needs. This article was created through a partnership with Understood.org.

 

Family Resources and Outreach

English Language Learners in Special Education: How to Partner With Your Students' Families

What are some considerations that teachers need to keep in mind when partnering with families of English language learners (ELLs) in special education settings? Here are some strategies for culturally and linguistically responsive outreach and collaboration from Juliana Urtubey, MA, the 2021 National Teacher of the Year. This article was created through a partnership with Understood.org.

You can hear more from Juliana in this video interview with Colorín Colorado!

 

Books and Authors

Winter Holiday Booklist Collection

• Winter Holiday Booklist
• Christmas Stories: Hispanic Heritage
• Christmas Stories: American Indian Heritage
• Winter Stories: Asian Pacific American Heritage
• Snow, Snow, Snow!

 
 

Read Across America: Reading Diverse Books All Year Long!