Beyond School Supplies: 3 Things Bilingual Learners Should Practice Before the First Day of School
- Helen Peguero
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
The backpacks are packed. The pencils are sharpened. The new notebooks are ready. But is your bilingual learner prepared for the language of school?
Back-to-school preparation often focuses on school supplies, schedules, clothes, and routines. But for bilingual learners, there is another important part of preparing for a new school year: making sure they have the language and confidence to communicate at school.
Whether your child is learning in English, Spanish, or both, here are 3 things you can practice together before the first day.
1. Practice School Vocabulary
Before school starts, review some of the words your child will use throughout the day. You don't need to sit down for a formal vocabulary lesson. In fact, I recommend making it part of everyday activities.
Some words to practice:
English Español
Backpack 🎒 Mochila
Notebook 📓 Cuaderno
Pencil ✏️ Lápiz
Folder 📁 Carpeta
Teacher 👩🏫 Maestro/a
Classroom Salón de clases
Homework 📄 Tarea
Recess 🛝 Recreo
Lunch 🥪 Almuerzo
Library 📚 Biblioteca
How can we use these words at home?
Instead of simply asking your child to memorize words, use them in context.
For example:
"Where is your back?"
"Dónde está tu mochila?"
Or:
"Put the pencil in your folder."
"Pon el lápiz en tu carpeta."
You can even practice while shopping for school supplies!
The goal isn't memorization. It's helping your child recognize and use the words naturally.
2. Practice Asking for Help
This is one of the most important skills a bilingual learner can have.
A child may understand much more than they feel comfortable expressing, especially in a classroom where they are learning in a language that isn't their strongest.
So, don't just practice vocabulary. Practice self-advocacy.
Teach your child phrases such as:
“I don't understand.”
No entiendo.
“Can you repeat that?”
¿Puede repetirlo?
“Can you help me?”
¿Me puede ayudar?
“What does this word mean?”
¿Qué significa esta palabra?
“I need more time.”
Necesito más tiempo.
Then practice them through simple role-play.
You can pretend to be the teacher:
“Okay, everyone! Take out your science notebook and turn to page 12.”
Then ask:
“What could you say if you don't know what to do?”
Your child can practice:
“I don't understand. Can you help me?”
Remember:
Asking for help isn't a sign that a child is struggling or "behind." It's a skill. And bilingual learners deserve to feel confident using that skill in whichever language they need.
3. Practice Talking About Their Feelings
Starting a new school year can bring up A LOT of emotions.
Excitement. Nervousness. Frustration. Happiness. Confusion. Even loneliness.
For bilingual children, finding the words to express those feelings can sometimes be challenging.That's why emotional vocabulary deserves a place in your back-to-school preparation, too.
Practice words like:
😊 Happy — Feliz
😟 Worried — Preocupado/a
😢 Sad — Triste
😡 Angry — Enojado/a
😬 Nervous — Nervioso/a
😴 Tired — Cansado/a
😌 Calm — Tranquilo/a
😕 Confused — Confundido/a
💪🏽 Confident — Seguro/a
Then move beyond vocabulary.
Ask:
“How are you feeling about going back to school?”
¿Cómo te sientes de regresar a la escuela?
And most importantly, give them permission to answer in whichever language feels most comfortable. If they respond in English, that's okay. If they respond in Spanish, that's okay. If they use both—that's okay too.
The goal is communication.
A Simple Back-to-School Practice Routine
You don't need an hour-long lesson every night. Try spending 5–10 minutes a day practicing one of these skills:
Monday: School vocabulary
Tuesday: Asking for help
Wednesday: Feelings
Thursday: Read a bilingual book
Friday: Review through a game
Keep it short. Keep it fun. And most importantly, keep the pressure low.
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