3 Ways to Connect with the Parents of ELLs

Click below to hear how to connect with parents of ELLs:

How is it possible to build a positive home-school connection with parents of ELLs when they don’t speak the same language as us? We know the power these connections have on our students and how important it is to their success, but how do we practically make it happen? 

In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing tips and tricks to help build those connections so the families of your English language learners feel welcome in your classroom and school. I’ll share from the perspective of my own experience as a parent of a second language learner. 

Since we live in Panama City, we have had a unique opportunity to send our children to Spanish-speaking preschools. It has been an incredible experience, but it was really hard to be in the shoes of a parent who didn’t speak the native language and to feel what parents of our ELL experience. It can be really uncomfortable for parents who don’t understand exactly what’s going on or what the school’s expectations are for them as a parent.

Parents of ELLs want their children to be successful in school, and they want to help support you with their children. In many cases, it is a fear of misunderstandings and uncertainty that holds these parents back. 

Tune in today for simple and easy ways that you can build a strong home-school connection with the parents of your ELL students. When you show parents how much you care about their child and how much you care about their whole family by wanting them to feel connected and a part of your school community, it will make a big impact.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Keys to creating an environment where parents of ELLs feel comfortable asking questions or telling you they don’t understand
• Tools for making communication easier and more effective that will go a long way in building a positive home-school connection
• How to collaborate with teachers, staff, and people in the community to host trainings that will be helpful for parents so they can support their students as they are learning the language
• Tools you can use to make trainings more accessible for parents who can’t attend in person
• Ways to provide opportunities for parents to be involved in the classroom through sharing about their culture and their experiences that will help them feel included and welcomed

Related resources:

• Overcoming the Language Barrier in Videos with Aloud
• Learn more about the Talking Points app
• Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Check out the ELL Strategy Academy
• Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs

Related episodes and blog posts:

• 5 Ways to Welcome ELL Parents
• Episode 9, How to Motivate Students that are Reluctant to Learn English
• How to Connect with Parents of ELLs During Conferences

Connect with Beth:

• Join the Facebook group: Inspiring Young Learners Engage! 
• Follow her on Instagram @inspiringyounglearners.

More about Equipping ELLs:

We all know that teaching isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be this hard. Equipping ELLs is a podcast for both ESL specialists and homeroom teachers who are looking for effective and engaging ways to support their English Language Learners without adding to their endless to-do list. Tune in each week to hear tips, strategies, and inspirational stories that will empower you to better reach your ELL students, equip them with life-long skills, and strengthen relationships with colleagues and parents.

Your host, Beth Vaucher, is the founder of Inspiring Young Learners. She is an ESL certified homeroom teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in the US and internationally. Her background of M.Ed in ESL and Curriculum and Instruction combined with her experience has led her to develop a bestselling newcomer curriculum that has sold in over 90 countries around the globe. She brings a different perspective to teaching ELLs from her years teaching and living abroad and working with ELLs from around the world. You will walk away from each episode with the ideas and tools you need to transform your experience as a teacher and cultivate a thriving and welcoming environment for your ELL students.