Frances Guzman

What Parents Need to Know about Bilingual Education – Podcast Episode 115 | Classnotes Podcast 116

Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed.Classnotes Podcast (November 26, 2012) Schools are required to provide instruction in a language that students understand. Parents serve an integral role as children’s first teachers and as they connect with the school to ensure their children are being served appropriately. Bilingual education is designed to teach English to children and give them a chance to use it while they also learn core subjects like math and science. Frances Guzmán, M.Ed., highlights what parents of children learning English need to know about this program. Frances is interviewed by Aurelio Montemayor, M.Ed.

Show length: 15:15.

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Resources

Parents As First Teachers – Creating an Enriched Home Learning Environment
Abelardo Villarreal, Ph.D.
http://www.idra.org/resource-center/parents-as-first-teachers/

Your Child – Learning English (pdf). 
Flier by the Intercultural Development Research Association and the National Association for Bilingual Education
http://www.idra.org/images/stories/Your%20Child_Learning%20English_eng.pdf

Pláticas en Acción – Bilingual Education
http://www.idra.org/families-and-communities/bilingual-education/

Annual IDRA La Semana del Niño Parent Institute
http://www.idra.org/IDRA_Events/IDRA_La_Semana_del_Nino/

IDRA’s Family Leadership in Education Center
This website helps families see how their school is doing and how the school should treat you (English & Spanish), see actions families can take, get resources on IDRA’s Family Leadership in Education model and learn about college preparation for all students.
http://www.idra.org/families-and-communities/

National Association for Bilingual Education
http://www.nabe.org/

Texas Association for Bilingual Education
http://www.tabe.org/

Family Engagement in Early Childhood – IDRA’s New Semillitas de aprendizaje™ Cartitas Letters Home Series
Laurie Posner, MPA
http://www.idra.org/resource-center/family-engagement-in-early-childhood/

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Show Notes

  • Frances recounts the recent day-long session on bilingual education that she and IDRA led for 115 parents as part of the annual Texas Association for Bilingual Education annual conference.

  • Frances talks about the important role that parents play in bilingual education.

  • Frances explains that bilingual education is a civil rights issue nationally, and that state laws in Texas position bilingual education as the most efficient process for helping children to learn English.

  • Frances discusses key issues around bilingual education that parents should understand: the types of available language instruction at their children’s school, staff qualifications, curriculum used, and the requirement to give permission for their children to participate. Frances considers whether bilingual education is appropriate for all Latino children.

  • Frances dispels two fallacies of bilingual education: (1) that it will “erase” or take away from the child’s first language or culture and (2) that it will prevent the student from actually learning English.

  • Aurelio points listeners to two IDRA publications on bilingual education and English language learners: “Education of English Languages in U.S. and Texas Schools and “Good Schools and Classrooms for Children Learning English: A Guide.”

  • Frances laments that bilingual education remains underfunded and argues that recent budget cuts shortchange everyone.