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With rising diversity comes the challenge of working with children with different languages in preschool programs. One reaction to this changing world is the growing "English only" movement. In the Foundation for Child Development publication, Challenging Common Myths About Young English Language Learners, Linda Espinosa identifies some myths about language and learning and sets the record straight in a most convincing fashion. In the publication's summary, Espinosa observes...

"Scientific studies suggest that young English language learners are quite capable of learning subject matter in two languages. In fact, they may benefit cognitively from learning more than one language. Transitioning from their first language to English before they have a firm grasp of their first language, usually by the end of Third Grade, may be detrimental in the long run. Early literacy skills learned in the home language do transfer to English. The children who were taught in English-only classrooms or transitioned to English instruction before they demonstrated well-established oral language abilities in their own language frequently never achieved high levels of English fluency and did not fare as well as those who had the opportunity to learn in two languages. All children benefit cognitively, linguistically, and culturally from learning more than one language."

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Exchange has a number of Beginnings Workshop curriculum units (listed below) on language and literacy. Each 16-page unit (priced at $7) brings together the theoretical and practical ideas of the leading thinkers in the field.

• Language and Literacy
• Conversations with Children and Adults
• Storytelling
• Bilingual Education
• Talking
• Building Literacy
• Multi-Language Programs

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