Welcome to Our English Learner Page!

The English Language Learner (EL) Program supports the mission of the Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District to prepare all students to be contributing citizens of local and global societies in an ever-changing world. Our English language learners (ELs) and their families are supported both culturally and linguistically through the diligent care of our ESL Teachers, who act as the bridge to understanding the cultural expectations of the district and the Ashburnham/Westminster community.

What Parents of EL Students Can Do to Help their Children Succeed in School at All Grade Levels.

 Ask your child when he/she comes home:

What did you do in school today?
What new thing did you learn?

  Homework:

Find a quiet place for your child to do his/her homework.
Be sure required homework is completed each night.
Be sure homework is placed in school bag to be returned to teacher in school.
Consider enrolling your child in homework club and/or other school-based after-school programs.

 Encourage reading:

Read to your child in either English or your home language.
Discuss the books with your child:
Ask questions:  What happened?  What will happen next?  Why?

If possible, become involved in the school:
Read the school’s weekly newsletter/bulletin
Attend concerts, shows, and other programs at school
Join the PTO 
Chaperone field trips – speak to your child’s teacher
Volunteer in the school – ask the school secretary for information

Use the Libraries in Westminster and Ashburnham:  

Forbush Memorial Library

 118 Main Street, Westminster MA

Phone:  978.874.7416
Website:  www.forbushlibrary.org

Stevens Memorial Library

20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham MA

 Phone:  978.827.4116

Website:  www.ashburnhamlibrary.org

 Encourage your child to be proud of your family heritage.  Find ways for them to incorporate their knowledge of this in their classroom (such as on class projects).  Encourage them to read and write in your home language. 

 Tell your child how important you think school is and encourage him or her to participate in class.  Point out ways that you use education daily, such as reading for pleasure, using money in stores or using science, math or language at your job.

 Find a balance in using both English and your home language in your home.  When children never hear their home language after they begin school then they begin to lose that language.  Bilingual people have more options in our world so knowing both languages well will be a benefit to your child.  As much as possible, you should have books in both languages and watch television in both languages.  There might be certain activities where it is more appropriate to use one language or the other.  Above all don’t make your child feel embarrassed or ashamed of either language.  No one language is better than another.  However, it is important to learn English well in order to be successful in the US.

 Links for parents:

http://www.colorincolorado.org/families  This site has a lot of information on how to help your child in school as well as how to do well in your community.

 http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=hubsh  This site contains children's songs from around the world.  Use it to learn rhymes in your language and English.

 http://en.childrenslibrary.org/  This site contains childrens books from around the world.  These books have been scanned into the computer and can be read in a variety of languages.

 http://wonderopolis.org/  This site asks a question, a "wonder", each day and then provides information as well as an activity to explore this question.  What a great way to connect with your child and what they are learning in school!

 http://www.myefa.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=welcome  This site might be more advanced than your child but if you need assistance with learning English it is a wonderful site with listening activities to help learn grammar.