Bilingual Speakers

Advantages of Shared Reading:

1. Books are meaningful, functional, and REPEATABLE (multiple exposures)

2. Books provide visuals

3. Vocabulary is naturally thematic

How To Do Shared Reading:

1. Introduce the story. Talk about the title and author and make predictions based on the cover.

2. As you read the story, introduce and teach new vocabulary words using multiple modalities and techniques: role-playing, provide synonyms and antonyms, use the word in a sentence, connect to prior knowledge. Basically, don't just define a word and move on.

3. Ask questions about story grammar elements: characters, setting, problem, reactions, events, resolution.

4. Make predictions as you read. "What do you think will happen next?"

5. Talk about characters, their feelings, etc... 

6. Relate events to the child's life.

7. Ask "wh" questions and check for comprehension.

8. Repeat the SAME BOOK another day.

**Talk your child through your reasoning each step of the way**

Vocabulary Bridging To Primary Language

Vocabulary bridging is providing rich expansions of a new vocabulary word in English and your child’s first language. Bilingual children need lots of exposure across varying contexts to associate all semantic features of words in one language to another language.  

Additional Tips for Parents at Home

Tips for the "Late Talker"