Luckily the Spanish alphabet is very similar to the English alphabet. My daughter was coloring with chalk outside last summer and wrote a simple Spanish word "gato" by herself even though we have never talked about the Spanish alphabet. I think it will come quite naturally and quickly.
I found 29 Spanish Alphabet Mini-Books done by scholastic, a book full of mini books. There is a reproducible 8 page mini book for each Spanish letter. They can color them and then read the books to me. Each mini book has a blank page to write or draw other words that start with that letter.
Ways to use mini-books:
*Pretend like the kids are the teacher. They have to show me the words and I have to repeat the words.
*Make up a pretend story using all the words in each mini book. For example, Estaba lloviendo y el arbol estaba muy triste. De repente, el arbol vio un arco iris en el cielo....
*After reading the book, play charades! Have the children act out one word from the book and the other children have to guess what it is.
*Play pictionary. Have one child draw a picture and the other students have to guess which word it is from the mini book.
*Do a scavenger hunt. As you read the book, look for objects in the house that could represent each word from the mini book.
****You can find other mini books with simple language with the Kindergarten McGraw-Hill home school connection here. They are free! You could also create your own mini books by cutting pictures of words that start with the same letter out of magazines.
http://teachinglearningspanish.blogspot.com/, a great site with tons of resources, will be closing their teaching forum. I decided to check out the forum. It had some great resources from immersion teachers. I found a link to some wonderful Kindergarten activities through McGraw-Hill (but could be used for older, beginning students and younger students.
Each unit from their Tesoros book comes with activities and a small mini book. The thing I love about the activities is they require discussion. It is a great way to get them speaking in Spanish.
Click here to see a unit that includes an activity talking about which picture happened first, a mini book that you could talk about all the different ways people help each other, and a mini book with simple language about growing up. Click here to choose any of the 31 units on the site. I am receiving samples of the Tesoros McGraw Hill Spanish reading program soon. I am considering using it for my daughter next year for homeschool. It might be a great idea for those of you wanting your children to learn to read in Spanish, but they are not getting it at school. I will have to tell you what I think of it...
Winner from random.org is Adriana #13. Congratulations!
Kids love to sing, so why not sing about everyday activities in Spanish?
Sing-a-Lingo has created an upbeat music CD for children to learn Spanish. Each song narrates regular activities like opening the refrigerator to eat, washing your hands, getting dressed, eating breakfast, getting ready for bed, etc. The music is so catchy and repetitious, my kids immediately start dancing and singing along when I put the music on. Here is a cute video clip of the creators, Piña and Michael Madera, dancing along with their song, "Hola, Amigos".
"Hola, Amigos" is our new favorite song to sing in the morning while we eat breakfast. It's a perfect reminder for my children to speak in Spanish (on our Spanish days). My youngest who is only 21 months can sing the words "Como estas?" and it is adorable. This would be a great way to introduce Spanish for anyone with small children. It would naturally flow with your normal routine!
Things I love about Sing-a-Lingo: -music is catchy -easy to dance to -very simple and repetitious, perfect for learning fast -completely in Spanish with no English
Sing-a-Lingo has created an all-day program which includes 2 CD's one for home and one for the car (great idea!), Singable Book for Bedtime, Lyric Cards, & Word Notes to put around objects at your house. What a great way to introduce children to Spanish all day long!
Want to win a copy of the CD En Mi Casa by Sing-a-Lingo?
Here is how to enter this giveaway contest:
*Go here and come back to this post, make a comment telling us one thing you learned about Sing-A-Lingo (awards, songs you listened to, etc.)
Want additional entries? After submitting your first entry you can do the following: -Become a facebook fan of Wanna Jugar with Migo page (you must already be a part of facebook). Click on the Become a fan button on the right side bar. Come back to this post and make another comment saying you are a fan. -Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and receive 2 more entries in the contest. Remember to come back to this post and make 2 more comments with a link to your blog entry. -Become a follower of this blog. Make a comment telling us that you follow our blog (even if you are already a follower)
Giveaway ends Thursday, March 25th at 10 pm Central Time.
Contest Rules- You can enter only up to five times for the contest by doing each one of the instructions above. The winner will be chosen randomly by random.org. Comments must provide a name, no completely anonymous. Only USA addresses, sorry. After I announce the winner , the winner must e-mail me within 72 hours to get the prize. If you provide an e-mail, we will e-mail you.
*If you think you will not check back when we announce winners, please e-mail me at wannajugarwithmigo [at] gmail [dot] com with your e-mail or include your e-mail with your comments so I can send you an e-mail that you win. In the past, winners have lost out on products they win because they didn't respond.
I wish I could update this blog more. I have so many ideas of topics to share and discuss, but so many things have come up! Life is getting busy.
I didn't want you to miss out on two fabulous giveaway going on right now on Mama Latina Tips blog. Click here to win a Spanish music CD for children from 123 Spanish Together. I love how the songs have fun rhythms and have a variety of topics.
I'm also hoping to sin a copy of this fabulous yoga DVD in Spanish. It is completely in Spanish and includes a work-out for children that looks adorable! Click here to enter the contest. Good luck!
First of all, I wanted to share a few successes! I started this blog to get support from others trying to teach their children Spanish. Yesterday and today my oldest daughter, Princesa, has surprised me with some vocabulary and phrases that I don't feel I have told her. Yesterday at dinner she was telling a story in Spanish and in the story there was an "arbolespinoso." I know I don't use those kind of words. I guess all the books, music and some movies have helped her learn more! Also this morning, I asked her what anavestruz was, I had forgotten. "It's an ostrich!" she told me effortlessly! Also, my immersion classes have really helped my middle daughter (3), Super Nina, to speak more Spanish. She is starting to say phrases and really remembers all of the vocabulary we sing and play games with in the classes!
I love sharing links to other blogs. There are so many ideas to learn from. I updated my blog list on the right side bar. I know I have left out some, so I apologize if I didn't include your blog on the list.
If you want me to include your blog on this list, they must.... -at least occasionally post about raising your children bilingually or share tips on teaching Spanish. -not include profanity or crude language -not focus only on advertising one product. It must share a variety of resources, products and ideas!
Please comment on this post if your blog shares the qualities as mentioned above and I would love to include your blog on the list!
By the way, Tricia, thank you for sharing all of your ideas when you comment on my blog! You really need to start a blog! You have incredible ideas! Everyone should read comments because many times they share ideas and resources there as well!
I had to share an incredible resource I found! The Texas State library has a resource for librarians with full lesson plans for incredible bilingual storytimes with different themes. You can read the intro as to why they created this manual here.
For each theme, they list great bilingual books, fingerplays, games, activities, crafts, songs, everything!
I love reading all the fingerplays. They have pictures that they use for flannel board stories. Don't have a flannel board or figurines? I like to print mine on card stock and attach a little magnet piece to them and then use a magnetic mini white board. Or if you have a simple felt board (just a board with felt on it!) you can hot glue a little felt on printed out papers and then stick papers on the felt board. Make sense?
Teachers and parents can use these with their children so easily. It is all right there! I will definitely be looking here for ideas for my immersion class!
I am so excited to review one of my favorite Spanish language products for kids! I highly recommend their products! They are wonderful! I normally don't go on and on about products, but I really must when talking about these DVD's and CD.
Whistlefritz has 3 DVD's and 1 CD out that are completely in Spanish. It's complete immersion, but even children who have not been exposed to any Spanish can understand it! I love how they have plenty of repetition, sing songs that gets the kids dancing and show silly skits that get the kids giggling.
My kids love the DVD's! They remember what they watched and even try to re-enact what happens in the pictures. In Vamos a Jugar, they cover parts of the body and clothing. There is a cute scene where Maria tries to put something on her head. After putting on a sock, a skirt, and pants, she finally realizes she needs a sombrero. Without fail, my girls giggle when they see this part. I caught my daughter repeating what Maria did while she was getting dressed the other day. I love how it gets them talking!
Los Animales DVD covers much more than animals. They learn how to say "Que dice el perro?" and other phrases. They count dogs, see dogs chasing cats and much more! They also integrate in traditional songs like Los Pollitos and Vegan a Ver Mi Granja. I love the burro skit when the donkey is kicking things and Maria doesn't know what is happenning. The kids love it and it catches their attention.
I had already purchased the first DVD's and Whistlefritz sent me the newest DVD to review: Adentro y Afuera. It covers rooms in the house and where something is while trying to find a cute little mouse. It covers yummy food and even getting ready for the day. My favorite part is a skit where Maria counts cookies, but then some are missing as the kids take them away. They count multiple times- what a great way to practice counting!
I also received the wonderful A Bailar CD by Jorge Anaya. Someone asked what music I liked to use with my children and in my immersion classes the most. We use this CD probably the most. They are wonderful and are lively enough to dance to. The clear, easy-to-understand singing reminds me of Jose-Luis Orozco, except the accompaniment is more lively and fun! I love El Baile de Las Manos with its simple wording. All the kids in my class love this song!
The giveaway
Want to win the newest DVD Adentro y Afuera by Whistlefritz?
Here is what you do: Go here, then click on the green button "View DVD Clip" to view a sample clip of one of their products. Come back to this post and leave a comment telling me what you liked about the clip.
After your first entry, you may do the following for additional entries:
-Go to Whistlefritz and find out what awards they have won. Come back to this post and make one comment telling me an award they have won. -Become a follower of this blog by clicking on "Become a Follower" on the right side bar. Make one comment telling me you did. - Blog or e-mail 5 friends (cc to wannajugarwithmigo [at] gmail [dot] come) about this giveaway giving them a link and come back to this post. Make 2 comments for blogging or e-mailing.
Giveaway is now closed
Contest Rules- You can enter only up to five times for the contest by doing each one of the instructions above. Contest ends September 15th at 10 PM Central Time. The winner will be chosen randomly by random.org. Comments must provide a name, no completely anonymous. Only USA addresses, sorry. I will announce the winner on September 16th and the winner must e-mail me within 72 hours. If you provide an e-mail, we will e-mail you.
***Random.org found commenter #20 as the winner- Bunsy!
5 incredible giveaways are happening at Latin Baby Book Club! Visit them- you have only until midnight tonight.
Here are a few things you could win:
I am hoping for the $50 gift card to their adorable shop. I have been wanting a PioPioPio T-shirt for a long time for my girls, but it's just not in the budget :)
I'm also going to start posting more teaching games on the blog. I will be starting an immersion Spanish class for kids 2-5 years of age soon. I will share how it goes and the activities we do!
There are some cute games and programs out there for young children that cost money, like Foreign Language Friends. I always want games that are age appropriate for my children that don't require Spanish reading skills. Most games for teaching Spanish do require reading because Spanish is usually taught when children are older.
But I found some great games that repeat words and phrases and are perfect for my kids. Did I mention they are free? They came from one of my favorite blogs from Spain(http://www.marife.wordpress.com/) You have to check them out!
They are created by la Junta de Castilla y León. They have juegos infantiles you can find here. There are games for body parts, musical instruments, cleaning the forest, letters and seasons. The Juega y Aprenda birdhouse games would not work on my computer. Did they work on yours? Here is a screen shot of the page. You can click the image to go to the site :)
La Junta de Castilla y Leon comes out with new games each summer. This summer has not yet come. Some of the games did not work on my computer, but click here or the image below to play some of the summer games.
If you go to the website above and then click on the Juega y Aprenda button, then click Aprende Jugando button. It will then take you to the screen shown below (there is no direct link to these games). They were some of our favorite games.
Since I just moved to a new area, I wanted to meet some other moms that are teaching their children Spanish. I searched and found a wonderful group! You can search groups and then show up to see if it is the right fit for you. The group I found is very friendly and nice. One of the rules of the group is to speak only in Spanish (no matter the level). Most of the moms are native speakers (there are only a few gringas :) It is so fun to let the kids play with other children that speak Spanish! Another Great way to find groups is to google your area or look at the SpanglishBaby forums. Try it out in your area- there might just be a perfect group waiting for you!
Make sure to visit Spanglish Baby every day this week. They will be having a giveaway everyday, but you must enter only on that day! If you haven't checked them out yeat, Spanglish Baby is an incredible resource!
Make sure to comment today to enter the giveaway for Bilingual Fun DVD! I have been wanted to try out this DVD for a long time!
I won the cute kid's cookbook that was posted yesterday! Yeay!
Things are pretty busy right now, but I had to share with you some great giveaways going on right now!
*The Latin Baby Book Club is giving away a book a day this week to celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros! Be sure to check out their giveaways every day. Right now they are giving away what looks like a cute book called The Bossy Gallito. Click here to enter the giveaway. This contest ends tonight at midnight, but there will be more giveaways for the rest of the week :)
*Spanglish Baby (an incredible resource if you haven't checked it out yet) is giving away a book called Book Fiesta that has beautiful illustrations. Click hereto enter this giveaway. It ends at midnight on Sunday, May 3rd.
****Today is the last day to enter the giveaway for Jose Luis Orozco's CD called De Colores. We will be giving away 5 CD's and I will announce the winners tomorrow. Click here to enter the CD giveaway. CONTEST CLOSED
One of my girls' favorite songs is Mariquita on this website. When you go, look on the right of the video screen and click on the ladybug under where it says "Presioneelboleto para ver."
It is a fun song to tickle your kids with. I had a little ladybug finger puppet and we would sing the song as I really put a ladybug on different parts of their bodies. They will want to see this one over and over.
Also, there are lots of little stories that are read aloud to the kids. My girls also love listening to these. They are read by native speakers and read slowly. They would be great for early learners of Spanish.
The main two reasons why I started this blog was to help me keep my goals with teaching my children Spanish and to get ideas from others who are teaching Spanish (or foreign languages). I find it so motivating to read how others are working hard (and it is hard work) to teach children Spanish.
I wanted to share just a few of the blogs that include Spanish Teaching that I think are so fantastic: (if I don't share yours, it's just that it got lost in my bookmarks, sorry) -Musicuentos A high school teacher who emphasized music and media while teaching Spanish. I love how she emphasizes making learning stress-free and fun! -Grillos y Canarios A mom who homeschools her three boys bilingually with a Montessori approach. -Montessori Spanish A mom who reinforces her children's learning Spanish and the Montessori method.
I thought this video was really cute. It would be a fun activity to do with kids or a class. They could each do their own rap about their own family. It's very catchy and my girls wanted to see it over and over again. Maybe we will have to do a rap and then I will post our video :)
This rap is by John DeMado. He does seminars for making foreign language teaching fun. What a cool way to teach students that they will love. His website is here.
I'm a mama bloguera! Check out the articleI wrote about why I am raising my kids bilingually and how their abuelos are helping us! This week there will be other blogging moms who are raising their kids bilingually, so make sure and stop by here
I love giveaways, but especially when they may get more materials to teach my kids Spanish!
Here are two great giveaways:
*Go to Spanglish Baby to get a copy of “Me Parezco Tanto a Mi Mamá, Me Parezco Tanto a Mi Papá” by Jorge Ramos. Just head on over to this link at SpanglishBaby.com. Contest ends at midnights EST on Sunday, March 22.
*Go here to enter a contest to choose your own book from Barefoot Books. There are tons of books in Spanish, including Books on CD! Contest ends March 30, 2009 1:00 PM EST.
I think games are a great teaching tool for kids. Kids love playing games on the computer, so it gives them motivation that Spanish (or any language) is fun. They can also increase vocabulary and comprehension. Keep in mind that some games do not require very much language at all (For example, a memory game that does not say each object in Spanish when it is turned over). Also, many times games do not increase their fluency in speaking. To get the most out of playing games on the computer, it is important to play with your child and have conversations about what is happening.
This site has so many games, interactive storybooks, videos, music and more links to help teach Spanish to children! It is incredible. I'm so grateful I have found it! She has included so many games that I don't really have much to add.
I found a lot of amazing sites yesterday while searching for more resources for my girls! I'm excited to share them with you!
I love cuentosinteractives because they are more than just a movie. They read aloud stories and usually have some type of involvement. For example, they ask the children questions that they have to answer by clicking the right object.
http://www.cuentosinteractivos.org/ - This site is made in connection with the University of Barcelona. Wow! What a resource! They have two sets of interactive stories: Ivan y Navi is geared towards 3-6 year-olds and El Mundo Al Reves is geared toward 6-8 year-olds. The stories are very unique and fun. I read a few that I loved. UnCirco en la Cama from Ivan y Navi stories is about a brother who is sick, so his brother creates a circus in his bedroom. Caperucita sin capucha is an adorable twist on Little Red Riding Hood from the El Mundo Al Reves collection. Some of the stories were different than the typical American children's stories, nothing inappropriate, just different. Also sometimes it is hard to know what they want you to click on next, but this is an incredible resource I am so excited about!
http://www.lavacaconnie.com/- Another resource that has a simple story about a bear looking for an animal that glows in the dark. The voices are a little hard to understand sometimes because they are little children and also the sound quality was a little hard to understand on my speakers. Another fun activity for my kids!
I'm sure you have also seen these other great interactive story sites: http://www.storyplace.org/sp/storyplace.asp- I especially love the Bibliotecapre-escolar http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/- My kids love "Clifford" (said with a Spanish accent). The stories will need an adult's help if your children don't know how to read.
Do you know of any other interactive storybooks you can share with me?
If you have any suggestions, questions or have a product you would like us to spotlight for a giveaway, e-mail us at wannajugarwithmigo [at] gmail [dot] com
