WASHINGTON —The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is pleased to announce the publication of Basics of Supporting Dual Language Learners: An Introduction for Educators of Children from Birth through Age 8, a book that covers the basics of developmentally appropriate teaching practices for young children who are dual language learners.

 

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, close to a quarter of the young children in this country are growing up in families where English is not the primary language. Written by expert Karen N. Nemeth, Basics of Supporting Dual Language Learners is designed to help all early childhood educators learn how to support these children.

 

“Whether readers are experienced early childhood educators or new to the field, this volume provides relevant information that will enable them to meet the needs of young children who are dual language learners with success,” said Nemeth.

 

Basics of Supporting Dual Language Learners covers key points about first and second language development, discusses the importance of supporting the home language, and describes how programs and schools can prepare for a diverse group of children. It includes a classroom checklist, techniques that work when the practitioner doesn’t speak the same languages as the children, techniques for bilingual practitioners who do, and guidance for directors and administrators on supporting their staff. 

 

The user-friendly book, part of NAEYC’s popular Basics series, is a useful introduction for teachers, assistants, administrators, monolingual and bilingual teachers and assistants, and social and family workers.

 

“This gem of a book should be required reading for all early childhood professionals,” said Laura J. Colker, early childhood consultant and contributing editor to NAEYC’s Teaching Young Children magazine. “Nemeth has the gift of making research practical. She gives readers the foundation needed for working with children who are dual language learners and then provides the how-to’s. There’s a wealth of useful information here for everyone, including the often-overlooked teacher who actually speaks the children’s home languages.”

 

Nemeth is an author, consultant, and presenter who focuses on first and second language development in young children. She hosts a resource-sharing website at www.languagecastle.com and is the author of Many Languages, One Classroom: Teaching Dual and English Language Learners and Many Languages, Building Connections: Supporting Infants and Toddlers Who Are Dual Language Learners. 

 

Basics of Supporting Dual Language Learners: An Introduction for Educators of Children from Birth through Age 8 ($20.00; 104 pages; ISBN 978-1-928896-84-5) is available for sale from NAEYC’s Online Store. Review copies are available upon request.