Young children in Kindergarten are developing language every day. Just like other milestones (walking, writing, or reading), children learn English at different rates. At this age, language learning happens best in classrooms that are welcoming, interactive, and rich with opportunities to listen, speak, read, and play with language.
In our district, Multilingual Learner (ML) teachers work closely with Kindergarten teachers to plan English language development supports for multilingual learners. These services are provided in inclusive classrooms where children can grow in both social and academic language while learning alongside their peers.
We also regularly monitor the progress of our youngest English learners. ESL teachers collaborate with Kindergarten teachers to review how students are developing their English, reflect on classroom practices, and make adjustments as needed so that every child’s language needs are met.
For additional English language development practice, all schools have a Kindergarten resource, National Geographic Reach for the Stars, that supports speaking, listening, reading, and writing with new vocabulary words and sentences in English.