This project investigates the knowledge and practices needed to support the enactment of a set of research-based, high impact practices for developing the academic language and literacy of young emergent bilinguals (EBs). The contribution of this work is in combining a focus on young EBs (TK-2) with online resources to support home and family engagement. 

The REEd Framework for Bilingual Family-School Partnerships 

The REEd Framework for Bilingual Family-School Partnerships prioritizes leveraging and respecting bilingual families’ home languages and cultures to promote reciprocal communication, empowering advocacy efforts, and trusting relationships in service of student learning. By creating practical tools that align with a research-based framework, the REEd Framework offers a bridge from theory to practice. A unique feature of our framework and tools is that we have infused a translanguaging approach throughout. Download the REEd Framework Executive Summary Download the full REEd Framework

The following video provides a brief introduction to the framework and its key components. 

Tools for Educators & Families

The REEd Framework for Bilingual Family-School Partnerships is unique in that it includes a suite of online tools that support educators in enacting the principles in the Framework and promoting language and literacy development among emergent bilingual students in the primary grades. We created tools in both document and video formats to ensure they are easy to access, download, and share among practicing educators. The tools in the tables below include surveys, rating scales, reflection questions, webinar recordings and slides, videos for parents, videos for educators, resource lists and guides, tools for leading professional learning, family events at school, classroom resources, and materials to promote learning at home. All these tools may be used or adapted by schools and educators to support bilingual school-family partnerships. 

These tools were developed by a team of bilingual educators, informed both by research and first-hand experience as classroom teachers working with bilingual students and families. Upon receiving feedback from teacher participants, we revised and expanded the tools and created new ones at teachers’ suggestions. Translations are provided for many of the tools for families in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Hmong, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. 

Framework Overview

Tools for Professional Learning

Framework Introduction- VIDEO (3 min) Complete Framework and Tools, NABE Presentation-  VIDEO (48 min) Framework Graphic – PNG Literature Review – PDF Executive Summary – PDF Involvement Engagement Continuum – PDF Framework Survey Questions – PDF Self-Rating Scales – PDF  Reflection Questions – PDF Professional Learning Community Inquiry Cycle – PDF

Communication

Tools for Professional Learning

Communication Webinar – recording – VIDEO (76 min) Communication Webinar – slides – PDF Self-Rating Scale – Communication – PDF Translation and Interpretation Resources – PDF Social Media Guide – PDF

Tools for Supporting Families

Family Communication Survey – PDF (translated) English Arabic Hmong Russian Simplified Chinese Spanish Traditional Chinese Vietnamese Social Media Posts – PDF

Relationships

Tools for Professional Learning

Relationships Webinar – recording – VIDEO (90 min) Relationships Webinar – slides – PDF Self-Rating Scale – Relationships – PDF Letter to the Principal – PDF

Tools for Supporting Families

Values and Traditions Survey – PDF (translated) English Arabic Hmong Russian Simplified Chinese Spanish Traditional Chinese Vietnamese

Advocacy

Tools for Professional Learning

Advocacy Webinar - recording – VIDEO (90 min) Advocacy Webinar – slides – PDF Self-Rating Scale – Advocacy – PDF Discussion Protocols – PDF Parents Mentoring Parents – PDF A Guide to Home Visits – PDF

Tools for Supporting Families

Questions Families Can Ask Teachers – PDF (translated) English Arabic Hmong Russian Simplified Chinese Spanish Traditional Chinese Vietnamese

Student Learning

Tools for Professional Learning

Fostering Academic Interactions – VIDEO (15 min) Fostering Academic Interactions Video Guiding Prompts for Educators – PDF Fortifying Complex Output – VIDEO (10 min) Fortifying Complex Output Video Guiding Prompts for Educators – PDF Using Complex Texts – VIDEO (11 min) Using Complex Texts Video Guiding Prompts for Educators - PDF Self-Rating Scale – Student Learning – PDF Crosswalk – CA EL Roadmap – PDF Books that Promote Translanguaging – PDF Translanguaging – A Sample Lesson Plan – PDF

Tools for Supporting Families

Supporting Literacy Through Conversations at Home – VIDEO (13 min) Apoyo a la alfabetización a través de conversaciones en casa – VIDEO (16 min) At-Home Literacy Resources – PDF At-Home Family Projects – PDF Family Writing Night – PDF How to Say Thank You – Poster – PDF Monthly Family Nights – PDF (translated all 8 languages) Guest Speaker Invitation – PDF (translated) English Arabic Hmong Russian Simplified Chinese Spanish Traditional Chinese Vietnamese Background Knowledge Activities – PDF (translated) English Arabic Hmong Russian Simplified Chinese Spanish Traditional Chinese Vietnamese Fruit Math – PDF (translated) English Arabic Hmong Russian Simplified Chinese Spanish Traditional Chinese Vietnamese Literacy and Language Pocket Guide – PDF (translated) English-Arabic English-Hmong English-Russian English-Simplified Chinese English-Spanish English-Traditional Chinese English-Vietnamese Meaningful Conversations Refrigerator Magnet – PDF (translated) English Arabic Hmong Russian Simplified Chinese Spanish Traditional Chinese Vietnamese Learn to Read Bookmarks – PDF (translated) English Arabic Hmong Russian Simplified Chinese Spanish Traditional Chinese Vietnamese

Teacher and Parent Modules for Teaching Language and Literacy in TK-2nd Grade

The modules below were developed by experts in the area of second language acquisition and teaching bilingual learners. They include a framework and research-based strategies that teachers and parents can use to extend children’s academic language and literacy in three areas: 1) discussion/interaction, 2) production (writing/speaking), and 3) interpretation of complex texts. The teacher modules include teaching strategies, instructional videos, and planning guidelines that align with Common Core and California ELD standards and research-based practices. The parent module is available in English and Spanish and includes conversational activities and questions to extend discussion, prompt children to explain their reasoning, and engage more deeply with literacy practices in any language.

Parent Modules: Supporting Literacy Through Conversations at Home

English Parent Module Presentation: Supporting Literacy Through Conversations at Home

Spanish Parent Module Presentation: Apoyo a la alabetización a travéz de conversaciones en casa

Additional Resources for Parents

Becoming Bilingual 

Reading with your Child (English, Spanish, Bengali, and Chinese) 

Literacy Games  

6 Games for Reading 

Start with a Book 

Juguemos con el lenguaje/ The Joy of Talking with Young Children (English and Spanish) 

Adding Math into your Daily Routine 

Reading Tips for Parents (available in many languages) 

Teacher Modules: Supporting Academic Language in Every Subject 

The following video presentation modules may be used by teachers to further their professional learning of instructional practices to support emerging bilingual students in grades TK-2. 

Module 1: Fostering Academic Interactions

Module 2: Fortifying Complex Output

Module 3: Using Complex Texts to Build Academic Language