Encouraging Spanish-Speaking Families' Involvement Through Dichos

Abstract

Culturally and linguistically appropriate strategies for family involvement are essential to ensure successful home–school partnerships. This article explores the use of dichos, or popular sayings in the Spanish language, as tools that may have the potential to enhance school–home communication. Given their authenticity as constructs of the Latino culture and their prevalence in everyday oral discourse for the transmission of values and beliefs, dichos should facilitate communication with Latino Spanish-speaking families. The article provides examples of ways in which schools can use dichos to promote behaviors supportive of children's literacy development at home.

Key words:

• family involvement
• Latino oral tradition
• literacy development
• parent and school communication
• parental involvement
• family involvement