NO ES UNA CAJA

NO ES UNA CAJA

Walter got really excited to read this book to me tonight.  NO ES UNA CAJA! Its about a bunny who plays in a box and insists that it is so much more than only a box. We have read it together a few times before, but he now knows it well enough that he can "read it back" to me. 

Kids, of course, start reading at different ages. My 5yo is right between knowing the sounds all the letters make and recognizing how they blend together. This book is a great way to encourage reading because the same words reappear on every page (words like NO and CAJA) while the illustrations help the reader to predict unique words. Walter can point out the word NO and the word CAJA in this book and in other stories. This is where reading starts. You can get NO ES UNA CAJA here  https://shop.scholastic.com/teachers-ecommerce/teacher/books/no-es-una-caja-9780545228596.html



This book and other early reading books will be going with him to school. Every morning at Walter's school they have Early Bird Reading. The parent that drops the kid off can stay and read with the child 15 minutes before the bell rings. The idea is to choose books that help budding readers to read independently. For example, books that repeat words or sounds, and pictures that aid children with the story. The books his elementary school has are all in English. But I will be providing him with some in Spanish so he can do it with dad every morning. Walter has expressed frustration that his school isn't in Spanish. I have the feeling that will wear off pretty soon as his community language of English gets stronger. My goal is to keep everything else outside of school as Spanish as possible.

First THOUSAND words in Spanish

First THOUSAND Words in Spanish

Sometimes W likes to read stories. Sometimes he likes to play games. This is a little of both. With this book, we turn storytime into game time. The First Thousand Words in Spanish is more than an illustrated dictionary for kids. It is an I SPY game for us. The margins are full of mini images of what is found in the center illustration. They are labeled so I can read the name and ask W to locate it in the center. This is a great book to beef up vocabulary that you likely didn't study in Spanish 101. As a Spanish speaker with 'conversational abilities,' introducing my kids to this kind of vocabulary takes effort and is important. Want to know the words to use in a workshop? there's a page for that. Want to know the names of everything you encounter at the beach? There is a page for that too. The book has pages on transportation, the garden, the toy shop, the doctor's office, school, the park, the hospital, and the city.

My kid isn't a reader yet so I have the advantage of reading the word to myself silently. So I start by asking him to recall the name of a  picture I'm pointing to. Sometimes I point to it and tell him the name if it's a new word. Sometimes I say the name and just have him locate it. It's a great way to help keep his vocabulary broad. He loves to make it a race. He also loves it when I show surprise and excitement and how many words he remembers. 

You can get the book on amazon ( look, lots of used versions for just a couple bucks!)

https://www.amazon.com/First-Thousand-Words-Spanish-Internet-Linked/dp/0794502849/ref=dp_ob_image_bk

BEDTIME MATH

BEDTIME MATH

So are you left-brain or right-brain dominant? 

Don't know? 

You have probably heard this theory on TV and in books for years, but guess what... it's a myth!  According to the theory, each side of your brain controls different types of thinking. It says that artistic people are more "right-brained" and logical thinkers have a stronger left side of their brain. But the truth is, the brain isn't as dichotomous as once thought.  Mixing logic and creative tasks is where the real magic happens. When the brain works on, for example, story problems in mathematics, foreign languages, or music, it uses both sides of the brain which in turn helps with other brain functions.

So what do you get when you mix mathematics and language learning? A lot of good exercises for the brain, that's what! Check out this great book we got at the local library that we have been using with our 5 yo before bedtime.

Matematicas antes de Dormir: Una Buena Excusa para Acostarte Tarde

Mathematics before Bed: A good excuse to go to bed late.

In English it is sold as " Bedtime Math"

Laura Overdeck along with her husband began to solve math problems with their kiddos before bed. Soon Bedtime Math was born and Laura decided to share their family tradition and make a book. https://www.amazon.com/Matem%C3%A1ticas-Antes-Dormir-Bedtime-Spanish-ebook/dp/B00ILYYOZO

So why do I love this book? Every 2 pages there is a little history given (for example Blue whales are X big. Elephants are also really big. They are Y big.) Then a little of mathematics is presented (You would need Z amount of Elephants to reach the weight of one blue whale), and then a little bit of practice! (If you already have 5 elephants, and you need 18 to reach the weight of a whale.. how many more elephants do you need?)  My son loves working out these problems in his head (and on his fingers). Each story presents an Easy, Medium and Hard math challenge based on the information given. So this book will definitely grow with your child or work as a bedtime story for different ages and abilities.  The topics are interesting and silly, The illustrations are quirky and provoke curiosity as well.

I love that we can use Spanish while learning math with this book. The more often you can study other subjects in the foreign language, the more frequently your children will start using the language in regular problem solving and thinking. 

Happy Reading!!

The Book of Emotions for Girls sand Boys: Stories From the Fairy "Mint"

The Book of Emotions for Girls sand Boys:
Stories From the Fairy  "Mint"

Gemma Lienas wrote this fantastic book that I wish I could give to every parent everywhrrrr!

We picked up this gem at our local library and went out and bought it on Amazon later cause we hadn't even scratched the surface.

The book has over 2 dozen stories ( each takes me a short 6 minutes to read) wherein a child is met with some sort of problem like jealousy, lack of patience, taking criticism, or lying. Then comes a little fairy... who smells like mint 🤷🏼‍♀️ who shows the children a new perspective so they can discover answers to these dilemmas by themselves.

The illustrations are colorful. The characters are diverse 😍 and the stories are relatable to 3-7 year olds and have great nuggets for parenting, too!

Books like this are so important for non-native parents to introduce interesting topics with a Spanish vocabulary and dialogue that could never really come out organically, for me at least. Walter and my conversations have more depth and I learn to use more natural syntax. And I'm giving him tools to better express himself when he's with other native speakers.

Let me know if you find it at your local library or if you buy it. It's a favorite over here!

Libro de las emociones para niñas y niños / The Book of Feelings for Girls and Boys (Spanish Edition) https://www.amazon.com/…/8416712603/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PT…

Content and Language Integrated Learning

Content and Language Integrated
 Learning

What activities can you start doing in a foreign language? Comment below!

At our house we love cooking! Content and Language Integrated Learning is using foreign languages to teach non-language subjects. It's super effective because it is applied language learning that's often fun, memorable, and in this case RICO! We love cooking with our kids not only to keep the culinary traditions of the family alive but to teach them unique language that comes from performing tasks in person. Phrases unique to cooking are introduced and solidified. And it's a fantastic way to spend time together. My kids love it! 

Diez Deditos

DIEZ DEDITOS

a great book of songs and actions for your littles!

This was one of our first purchases to support Spanish at home. Our kids love its illustrations, the actions for the songs are illustrated, and if you read music--the guitar chords and music notes are there! If you're unfamiliar with reading music, there's a CD or you can download the songs. José Luis Orozco, the one who selected, arranged and translated the songs in this book, is the voice on the CD and he's delightful. My 5yo considers him a friend. (He can be found on youtube!)

Diez Deditos and Other Play Rhymes and Action Songs from Latin America https://www.amazon.com/…/014230087X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_8V…