Developing and Piloting a Bilingual Parent Report Tool for Preschool Children of Latino Heritage

• In Event: Adults and Families in Early Childhood

Abstract

Many children of Latino heritage are English Learners who speak Spanish as their first language. Teachers working with young English Learners often have limited information about their language development to guide screening decisions and instruction. The Formulario Familiar Bilingüe de Información y Observación/Family Bilingual Information & Observation Questionnaire (BIO) is a new bilingual parent report instrument designed to help educators understand the language exposure, language development, and current language usage in both Spanish and English of preschool age children of Latino heritage. Results from each stage of the instrument development process will be presented, including a parent focus group, pilot study, and expert review process. Also, implications for using the BIO will be discussed.

Authors

• Belinda J. Hardin, University of North Carolina - Greensboro

• Catherine Scott-Little, University of North Carolina - Greensboro

• Mariana Mereoiu, Bowling Green State University