English Language Learner (ELL) Teacher Mary Lagnaoui has been awarded a Literacy Grant for $2,500 for her initiative to create a bilingual books project at George Mason Elementary School.
The Bilingual Books Project aims to help ELL students in third through fifth grade make connections between home and school, and encourages the development of academic vocabularies in b
oth first and second languages.
“As ACPS teachers, we always look for ways to keep children invested in learning and to help children make strong home-school connections. It’s wonderful to know that the people at Phi Kappa Phi believed in my bilingual books initiative. I feel fortunate that I can share the grant in my position as an English Language teacher,” Lagnaoui said.
As part of the project, participating students will receive bilingual picture dictionaries and picture books. ELL teachers will provide guidance on using the materials by helping students make important associations between home and school, while emphasizing literacy and bilingualism as assets to individuals and communities.
“Using bilingual materials can spark an ELL student’s curiosity about furthering developing both languages, and brings to light the belief that bilingualism is a lifelong project, an asset to nurture and share, not hide or lose,” Lagnaoui said.