Spanish Winter Words for Preschoolers
Brrrr! The temperatures are freezing and heavy snowfall has convinced your family to stay indoors (until it’s time to make a snowman, of course). Christmas songs and hot chocolate breaks have made their way into your daily routine. Invierno (winter) is here and in full swing. Looks like it’s time to start learning some Spanish winter words! With the flurry of excitement that your preschooler...Read More
Reading Strategies at Home for Bilingual Kids
Having a bilingual child doesn’t necessarily mean you have to work doubly hard to achieve reading and writing goals. It simply means you have to be strategic about it! In many cases, it is natural for literacy skills to increase momentarily in the dominant language and falter in the other one. The ebbs and flows of fluency and literacy in each language are often a sign of progress, but it...Read More
Why Doesn’t My Child Want to Speak Spanish with Me?
The rewarding challenge of raising bilingual children can take an unexpected turn into confusion. Despite your best efforts, you notice that your child refuses to speak your home language. The frustrations mount, and parents often begin to feel helpless in this situation. But wait, the good news is up ahead! If your child used to speak Spanish at home and has stopped, this article may...Read More
Learn Spanish with Music: Themes, Songs and Lesson Ideas for Preschool and Elementary
Music is one of the most powerful tools to teach a foreign language to young learners! It instantly fills the room with smiles, gets kids on their feet, and inspires them to become a part of whatever they are listening to. Teaching your child Spanish through music will boost their memory of new vocabulary, improve their pre-reading skills through rhyming, and promote the development of...Read More
Tortilla Culture in Latin America
A staple of the Central American diet, and the star of every Taco Tuesday, is the modest (yet truly remarkable) tortilla de maíz, or corn tortilla. While we are all pretty familiar with its taste and utility, we may not know much of anything else about this marvelous food. Do you know where the tortilla originated? Or how it’s been made since its creation? And why did copying the corn...Read More
Spanish Onomatopoeia: Words that Imitate Sounds
Splash, thud, vroom, zap! What is going on in here!? It sounds like a bunch of superheroes are starting to battle it out at a pool party. Herein lies the wonder of onomatopoeia, or words that imitate a particular sound. Now, read those four words at the beginning one more time. What images do you see when you read them? These words have the ability to evoke an image or sensation in your...Read More
Homework: How Much is Too Much?
Have you ever wondered if your child is getting enough—or too much—homework? The debate about homework rages on with parents and educators around the globe. Those with opinions take position along a spectrum, ranging from completely against homework to believing that kids today just aren’t getting enough. Where do you stand? According to research, the amount of time spent daily on...Read More
Awesome Spanish Books for Preschool Kids Who Love Read Alouds
Yo hablo español! are three precious words we want our child to say, and what’s more—to mean. Given the amount of language tools and resources for Spanish that never seem to end, the road to Spanish fluency can seem long and paved with obstacles. Fear not! One of the most powerful tools you have is also one of the most fun: reading! Learning a second language through reading offers a number...Read More
10 Songs in Spanish for Kids
Have you noticed that certain songs get stuck in your head? Or phrases from songs seem to appear out of nowhere and haunt you for days? This is the magic of music. Looking back on our childhood, we can remember the first songs we heard and learned to sing; they became our first stories. Thanks to the lyrics we memorized, we expanded our vocabulary. We asked more questions to our parents about...Read More