How We Support Dual Language Learners Several LCCAA Head Start students are considered Dual Language Learners - children who are learning English while also developing their home language. One in four children under the age of six lives in a home where a parent speaks a language other than English, estimates show.
learn new vocabulary words.
Labels- Items and pictures are labeled using all of the languages represented in the classroom. This will help the teachers to use words in a child’s home language and also allows the student to see his or her home language in print.
All day long LCCAA Head Start teachers strive to build LCCAA offers bilingual classrooms at both Hopkinslanguage and vocabulary for all students, with some Locke and Griswold, with Spanish-speaking teachers techniques used primarily for Dual Language Learners. and family service workers. Additionally, to better Visuals- Pictures help all students navigate the serve our families, newsletters and other documents are classroom. They may show where materials go or help being translated into Spanish. the children with multi-step directions, such as how to “We want all students and their families to feel part wash hands properly. of our Head Start family, so we will continue to find
Cultural items from home- Books, menus, empty food ways to improve processes and accommodate them,” boxes, photos and more can be used as conversation said Jennifer Bartlebaugh, Education and Disabilities starters that will help children feel included as they Specialist.
Policy Council Chooses Officers Prevent Lead Head Start Policy Council seated Locke will serve as Secretary with new officers on the last day of Melanie Wiseman from LaGrange Poisoning September when a group of parents serving as Assistant Secretary. came together from across the Seating of the new officers also LCCAA program. marked the last meeting for twoServing as Policy Council President term President Susan West who was for 2021-2022 will be Margaret thanked profusely for her service. Hartman who represents Hopkins “You are going to be the best Locke on the Council. Stephanee advocates for your kids,” West told Koscho from Firelands will serve as the new officers and members.” Vice President. Through Policy Council, you will Daphne Jackson from Hopkins
make decisions. It is so worth it.”
New Specialist Engages Families
Long time Head Start employee Maria Vasquez has been promoted to the program’s Family Engagement Specialist. Vasquez has a long history with LCCAA Head Start. Her younger sister attended the program and her mother was a parent volunteer.
Vasquez started working for the agency in 1998 as a family service worker. Her most recent position was the Collaborative Services Supervisor, overseeing many aspects of the program partnerships with school districts and other providers. Additionally, all of Vasquez’s children have been part of the Head Start program. “I truly enjoy working with children and families,” she said. “I love this job!”
October 24 through 30 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Monitoring lead levels in children is critically important in Lorain County. Many older homes in our communities contain lead paint. LCCAA Head Start offers lead and hemoglobin screenings as part of the health services we offer our families. Screenings can be done in our centers with parent permission. Talk to your family service worker for more information. Learn more about the dangers of lead at www.epa.gov/lead.
