EAL Support at Home: The Parent Starter Pack

The goal is confidence + comprehension, not perfection. If your child is learning English as an additional language, the biggest wins come from feeling safe to try, understanding what they read, and building vocabulary naturally over time.

You don’t need long sessions. You need a routine that’s calm, consistent, and easy to repeat.

Related guides: English & Verbal Reasoning · Books & Reading Lists · Study Skills & Focus · All blog posts

Who this is for

• EAL children aged 7–11 who can read some English but struggle with understanding.
• Kids who feel shy speaking English or worry about mistakes.
• Parents who want a simple routine that works without pressure.

What helps most (keep it simple)

• Daily reading aloud (10 minutes): a little every day builds fluency faster than long sessions once a week.
• Vocabulary in context: learn words inside real sentences, not isolated lists.
• Retelling in their own words: this builds comprehension, sequencing, and confidence.

The mindset that makes this work

Your child doesn’t need to “sound perfect.” They need to feel:

• safe to try (mistakes are normal),
• clear on meaning (they understand what’s happening),
• proud of progress (they can retell more over time).

A simple routine (10 minutes)

Use the same steps each time so your child knows what to expect.

1. Read together

   You can take turns, or you read while they follow. Keep it relaxed.

   Option: you read one page, they read one page. Or they echo-read one sentence after you.

2. Explain 3 new words

   Choose words that matter for meaning. Give a quick definition and use each word in a new sentence.

   Rule: skip rare “fancy” words. Pick words they’ll meet again.

3. Ask 1 inference question

   Example: “How do you think they felt?” or “Why did they do that?”

   Support: give two options first (“Do you think they felt worried or excited?”).

4. Retell the chapter

   Ask for a short summary: beginning → middle → end. Help with prompts if needed.

   Prompt words: “First… Then… After that… Finally…”

Make it easier (so they don’t freeze)

• Let them retell in mixed language. If they forget an English word, they can use their home language and you supply the English word.
• Accept short answers. “Because he was scared” is a win.
• Praise bravery. “Good trying” matters more than “good grammar.”

Try this next

Use one sentence stem to build strong explanations:

“I think this because…”

It trains the habit that matters most in comprehension: making a claim and backing it up with evidence.

Mini challenge: 7-day EAL streak

• 10 minutes reading
• 3 words (with a sentence each)
• 1 inference question
• 1 short retell

After a week, children usually feel more confident speaking, and comprehension answers get clearer and more specific.

If you want a vocabulary habit that pairs perfectly with this, use: Vocabulary That Sticks.

And if you want a simple daily structure to keep consistency high, pair it with: The 10-Minute Focus Routine.

Want a low-friction way to keep sessions consistent? Use the free Classroom Trial as your daily “focus warm-up,” then do this 10-minute reading routine.