Schools often face challenges in their efforts to reach English learner (EL) families. In addition to language differences, multilingual families may not be familiar with the technologies, systems, or norms common to K-12 education in the United States.
To build a learning community that effectively engages all families and invites them to participate in their students’ education, regardless of language or resources, it’s important for schools to understand and address the barriers that most frequently affect multilingual families.
Part I: Laying the Foundation
1. Create a Welcoming Environment
- Provide multilingual parent coordinators
- Set up home meetings with EL families
- Include translators at school meetings
How welcoming is your school environment to EL families? Consider the many touchpoints that families may have with your school. Do you have multilingual staff or greeters? Is school information being translated at the school and class level when families come to campus? And, of course, is there support for the family’s home language?
In-person support is often one of the most important assets for multilingual families. Some schools have a paid or volunteer multilingual parent coordinator who becomes a trusted resource for families. To help multilingual families feel more comfortable engaging with the school, other initiatives may include setting up home meetings and providing translators for school meetings.
#2: Recognize culture in the classroom and at school
- Implement culturally responsive teaching
- Use photos and images that represent your community
Recognizing families’ home cultures can help them feel more comfortable engaging with your school community. Does classroom instruction incorporate culturally responsive teaching? Does your school celebrate culturally significant holidays? Do the photos and images you share accurately represent the demographics in your community?
When students and families see their cultures acknowledged and reflected in their school community,
it can go a long way in encouraging them to engage.
Part II: Addressing Technology Barriers
3. Provide multilingual support for new technologies
- Clearly communicate instructions in families’ home languages
- Make multilingual assistance easily accessible
School and district administrators are acutely aware of the challenges in implementing any new technology that families are required to use, including access, ability, and adoption. For EL families, it’s crucial to provide parents and guardians with multilingual support in setting up new tools—especially if these tools will be used for communication.
When you roll out a new technology, make sure clear instructions are provided in families’ home languages. In-person multilingual assistance can be instrumental as well. Take advantage of events like back-to-school nights and open houses to set up displays in families’ home languages and walk them through the process of downloading, signing up, and logging in to new technology.
Download the full eBook to learn:
Nine strategies for reaching and engaging multilingual families in your community,
from creating a supportive environment to tackling common barriers to sustaining meaningful engagement.
