Getting kids reading in Mandarin means finding books they want to — and can — read. That’s not always easy. Researchers at San Francisco State University ran an innovative program using graphic novels (or comic books or manga depending on how you want to describe them) which found that kids ate them up like candy.

But finding comic books in Chinese in the United States isn’t easy, especially if your child s learning simplified characters. I got an email today from a local store with an online presence, Little Monkey and Mouse, that’s got some in stock and wanted to share it. Click the link on their name to see what they’ve got.

The lovely folks in Vancouver Washington’s Mandarin immersion program have posted teachers reading books for kids online. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? and other Kindergarten hits are up now. You can see their full page here.

Starr King elementary wunder-parent Judy Shei is back with her smash-hit homework help videos on YouTube.

While her videos are specific to the second-grade homework done at San Francisco’s Mandarin immersion program, the model works for any Mandarin immersion school. If you’re a parent who happens to speak both languages, or even just Mandarin, this could be a huge support to students and families in your program. And a shout-out to anyone in Utah – because your program is state-wide, one parent could do this a grade and cover the  entire state…

I’ve been told that parents are doing something similar in Portland. Any others we should list?

Read more about how Judy started up her YouTube stardom here.

Judy herself is quick to say that she’s by no means perfectly fluent — only that she knows more than a second grader. That’s all it takes, so don’t worry that you’re not perfect. Parents who don’t speak a word of Mandarin will be massively thankful for any help at all, and all the kids on your school’s playground will know you as the homework video star!

The BYU Chinese Flagship Center is involved in various K-12 Outreach initiatives designed to create pipelines for Early and Advanced Flagship Programs.

Celebrating African Harvest

Date: Saturday, 09/08/2012 (11:00 am – 1:00 pm)

Location: Classroom Matters (2436 Sacramento, Berkeley, CA)

Phone: 510-684-3827

Cost: Free for Members / $10 for non-members (cost of supplies and instructors)

As the schools are preparing students for the Autumn Moon Festival PAASSC will host a Harvest event celebrating West African traditions. We are excited to announce the inclusion of Mandarin speaking instructors. PAASSC is driven to provide fun, provocative and stimulating events for African American students studying Chinese. Celebrating African Harvest Festivals will provide fun opportunities for your child to learn about West African heritage and traditions as well as links between African culture and the Chinese Autumn Moon Festival.

Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) teacher Tina Chan won the 2012 Teacher of the Year Award at the National Two-Way Immersion Education Conference held in Newport Beach June 27, district officials announced today.

The award is conferred annually by Two-Way CABE, an association affiliated with the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) whose primary mission is to provide professional development and technical assistance to Two-Way Bilingual Immersion and Dual Language programs across the nation. The Teacher of the Year Award recognizes Chan as representative of the new era of dual language educators and the national movement toward world languages. Herhard work, diligence and unequalled enthusiasm for the language and culture have ensured that the PUSD Mandarin Dual Language Immersion program is growing in student population and popularity.

“I am very honored and grateful for this award. I am very thankful to my principal Ana Maria Apodaca for her support and nomination,” said Chan. “This award does not only belong to me; it belongs to the entire hard-working Chinese Dual Language Immersion team at Field Elementary School.”

Chan is a kindergarten teacher in the district’s Mandarin Dual Language Immersion program located at PUSD’s Field Elementary School. With the program since the program’s inception in 2009, she has translated curriculum for students, participated in professional development both locally and abroad and worked collaboratively with faculty, parents and community members. The program has grown from 28 to 190 students since 2009.

Please read more here.