International Mother Language Day 2/21/14

Join the Office of Head Start and the National Center on Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness (NCCLR)
and celebrate International Mother Language Day!

What is it?
International Mother Language Day, sponsored by the United Nations, honors the 6,000 languages spoken around the world. It's a great time to celebrate, speak, and learn our mother and home languages. Head Start programs, where more than 140 languages are spoken, can lead local efforts to share the value, importance, and joy of all languages!

Why celebrate?
"Languages are absolutely vital to the identity of groups and Individuals…" Kōichirō Matsurra, former Director-General of UNESCO. Head Start programs are committed to taking every opportunity to affirm every child's culture, language, and lifeways. International Mother Language Day provides a chance to celebrate diversity, increase understanding, and engage in dialog.

Click on this link for materials and curriculum:
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/cultural-linguistic/center/mother-language.html


Mother Language Day Resources for Head Start Programs

NEW Celebrating Mother Language Day 2014 English and Español [PDF, 508KB]

Flyer 1 — Mother Language Day: How Can Head Start Programs Participate? English and
Español [PDF, 795KB]

Flyer 2 — Mother Language Day: How Can Families Participate? English and Español [PDF, 975KB]

Flyer 3 — Mother Language Day: How Can Children Participate? English and Español [PDF, 982KB]

NCCLR resources for use in conjunction with Mother Language Day

NEW Same Different and Diverse [PDF, 724KB]

Head Start Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness Resource Catalogue, Volumes 1 and 2

Importance of Home Language Series


NCCLR Quick Guides for Teachers

Last Reviewed: February 2013

Last Updated: February 3, 2014

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