Multilingual Learner News

Happy Friday, Lake Bluff multilingual families!

I hope students are enjoying this day off from school. Teachers are hard at work today looking at student data and working together to make plans to respond to student needs.

Above is a graphic I have seen in a few places on social media this week. It gives a visual representation of first languages spoken throughout the world. Of course, this picture does not take into account that much of the world is bilingual or even multilingual! This means that those 55 speakers may not be "dancing alone," instead they might switch to another of their languages to communicate and "dance" with those around them!

Read on for information about:

Conferences
A Discussion Tool for Multilingual Families
Translation help needed
Job Opening at Lake Bluff: Multilingual Learner Aide
Lunch menu
Calendar (there are a few NO SCHOOL days in October)

If you would to see this newsletter TRANSLATED, please use the TRANSLATE button. (If you are viewing in your email, you may need to click on VIEW IT IN YOUR BROWSER above.)

Take care and be safe,

Jennifer Conigliaro

Multilingual Learner (ML) Teacher

You should have received an email from your child's teacher to schedule a conference. Parent - teacher conferences are on the following days:

Thursday, October 21, 12:30-8:00PM
Friday, October 22, 8:00-11:30AM

Conferences for October will be on the computer. Your child's teacher will send you the link. If you would like to have an interpreter present at the conference, please contact Jennifer Conigliaro at jconigliaro@shorewood.k12.wi.us. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Parent/Teacher Conferences:

English language development takes time. Developing English language skills is necessary for students to achieve in the classroom. It is important to know how your child’s English language skills are developing and how those skills are being supported in the classroom. It is also helpful to know how to support your child’s English language development at home.

The following are some ideas for questions you might ask teachers during parent-teacher conferences.

Questions ML Parents Can Ask Teachers:

Is my child making progress in his/her English language development?
What do you do to ensure he/she understands you and the work he/she needs to do?
Are all of my child’s teachers aware of his/her language needs?
What can I do to support my child’s English language development?
Who are my child’s friends? Does he or she play with other students? What does he or she enjoy doing at school?
What can I do to support my child with his or her relationships with other students?

Questions ML Parents Can Ask the ML Teacher:

When was my child screened for English language support?
Which assessment was used to screen my child?
What were my child’s scores?
What type of language program or service do you recommend for my child?
What does my child need to do to exit the program?

Information for Parents Regarding Student-Led Conferences:

If your child has a student-led conference, he or she has prepared for this conference in the classroom with the classroom teacher’s guidance.
You may still ask the teacher any questions you have or talk about other concerns.

Important: If an interpreter is not at the conference and you would like one, please ask! Interpreters for almost all languages can be available in minutes through video conferencing. You have a right to an interpreter for all school communication.

You can access a printable copy of these discussion questions by clicking here.

Lake Bluff is always looking for help translating letters home and interpreting for families. If you or someone you know is interested in providing translation or interpretation help, on a volunteer or paid basis, please contact Jennifer Conigliaro at jconigliaro@shorewood.k12.wi.us. Languages we are looking for now include the following: Japanese, Vietnamese, Nepali, and Korean. Pass the word!