The Role of Educator Preparation Programs in Fostering Partnerships With Schools in Supporting English Language Learners, Immigrant Families, and Special Education

Teacher educator preparation programs play a central role in preparing teachers and practitioners who work with children with exceptionalities, immigrants, and English language learners (ELL), among others. Research indicates that immigrants, ELL, and children with exceptionalities benefit from effective family-professional partnerships in several ways. Family-professional relationships are also key in producing positive educational outcomes for vulnerable and children who are at-risk. The following layers of partnerships and relationships are discussed: university-based educator preparation programs (EPPs) and K-12 schools; immigrant families and K-12 schools; and teachers/caregivers in K-12 schools and immigrant children/ELL, including children with exceptionalities. The benefits of positive partnerships and relationships are discussed. These include positive educational outcomes for children and their families, positive outcomes for children's school readiness, enhanced quality of life for families and their children, family engagement in children's programs, strengthening of home-school program connection, and trust-building for all stakeholders.

To Raise a Bilingual or a Monolingual Child: Concerns of an Immigrant Mother

The number of immigrant families in Canada and other Western countries has increased in the last several decades. Immigrant families face challenges in bringing up their children in a new country, such as different expectations from two different cultures, being away from their family and immediate support network, financial problems, and language limitations. One of the main concerns of most immigrant parents is their child's language acquisition. Language development is the most significant predictor of children’s success in school and later life. Regarding the vital role of language development in each aspect of life, it is essential to explore this growing population's experiences and challenges related to their children’s language acquisition. This qualitative study benefited from a narrative inquiry for representing and interpreting an immigrant mother's experiences and challenges in bringing up a bilingual child in Canada. This paper addresses the multiple conflicts affecting immigrant parents' decision to bring up a bilingual or monolingual child. Some of immigrant parents' main concerns, including passing on their accents, code-switching, language delays, limited social interactions and using screen time for teaching language are discussed in this paper.

Families of Deaf Children With Co-Occurring Disabilities

The authors of this chapter focus on immigrant families who have deaf children with co-occurring disabilities. The journey is filled with understanding deafness, co-occurring disabilities, resources, cultural impact, communication and amplification options, and navigating the American education system. The chapter covers a range of information for professionals and families to understand what families with deaf children with co-occurring disabilities face and the continuous decisions that must be made and implemented while having limited access to support due mainly to language barriers and cultural understand. The chapter covers from the time the deaf child with co-occurring disabilities is identified and the multiple layers to understanding the path the family takes, knowing each one is as unique as the child.

Differences in Child Care Participation Between Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Families

This study used data from the Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements (SELCCA) and the Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB) to examine patterns of child care use among Canadian immigrant and nonimmigrant families. Overall, children from immigrant backgrounds were less likely to be in child care. When considering only those in child care, children from immigrant families were more likely to be in licensed care than those from nonimmigrant families. Parents of children with immigrant backgrounds indicated various reasons for not enrolling their child in child care. Ensuring access to child care may have a positive impact on immigrant families.

Immigrant families’ home use of electronic and online Icelandic L2 materials for children

This article presents two studies performed on 14 immigrant families with children aged one to 16; 12 families in Iceland and two Icelandic families living abroad. Lack of exposure and availability of online materials for learning Icelandic as an L2 may affect what skills children can practise at home. This study represents 32 children aged one to 16, all of whom practise Icelandic (L2) at home. Data regarding use and availability of online and offline learning materials were collected by means of a survey containing both open-ended and closed questions. A comprehensive, central directory of available materials was created in parallel as a desktop research. These studies reveal that Icelandic is spoken in most homes but children require further development of specific language skills, predominantly reading. Families consider reading, writing, and vocabulary to be the most important skills to practise, while grammar, speaking, and listening take lower priority. Children’s books are the most frequently used learning material, while textbooks, audiobooks, and other language programmes or apps are used less frequently. TV, films, and online channels (e.g. YouTube) are used to provide language exposure.