...what Betty read, heard, recommends or just wants to say.
We just bought Krong
There’s a little mystery in the short plot and the gift given at the end of the story helps our little protagonist crack the “code”. Diego read the book before me but insisted I read it aloud to him. This one will be in and out of our bookshelf for a long time to come. Perfect for all ages.
Do you know of other picture books that introduce kids to different languages? Please share!
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It’s Semana Santa and we did this simple Easter project to build Spanish vocabulary, spelling and conversation. Thanks to Mommy Maestra and SpanglishBaby for providing free printables! I also printed free Easter images from First Palette and created this for the boys.
Diego did the Mommy Maestra’s Palabras plurales first and we read the SpanglishBaby vocab and coloring sheet to Santi.
Diego used the vocabulary words to identify the images I glued down. I made sure to scatter them around and repeat some of the images so he can write the vocab words over and over.
An activity for all ages! Diego and I helped review colors in Spanish for Santi. We spoke Spanish for over thirty minutes!
Eventually, Diego stopped looking at the worksheets to write the Spanish words!!
Diego waiting patiently for el color rojo!
You can do these types of Spanish vocabulary projects with any theme! I think I’ll do a Spring one next!
Have a fantastic Easter weekend!!!
Bilingual is definitely better; a lot of us know it, but we also know it isn’t easy! One of my very first posts on this blog was about the things we do at home to reinforce Spanish with our boys. That was a year ago and I am revisiting once again because in our home we all need a little push. The discussion has continued here throughout the year and I have reached out to friends who, like me, were born in the United States and consider themselves first-generation Mexican-American. I reached out to find our their secrets, their struggles and their success stories. Our children, the second generation, LIVE in English. So how do we stay focused and on track?
A few months ago, I learned that the authors of Spanglish Baby published Bilingual Is Better: Two Latina Moms on How the Bilingual Parenting Revolution is Changing the Face of America
So there is something about Valentine’s Day and Spanish projects that go hand in hand around here! The truth is I had to mix up our activities, workbooks and reading projects in Spanish with the boys so I thought, I need different ideas to go along with what we already do. I was also inspired by the work of the Latino Cultural Academy, I am reading Bilingual Is Better: Two Latina Moms on How the Bilingual Parenting Revolution is Changing the Face of America
I am on the lookout for my family and yours! I borrowed this latest Spanish colors, math and science idea from one of Diego’s homework assignments. I just translated it! This was perfect for both boys, Diego who is in kindergarten and for our two year-old Santi. [Read more...]
When Diego came home from school a few days ago, I had these construction paper hearts cut out and ready for him. I asked him to tell me what he loved the most in his life right now. We then made a list and translated the words to Spanish. We also translated common Valentine’s Day words. Most importantly, this small project definitely opened up a cute conversation between the two of us.
Jajaja! I love cookies too!
Diego helped me arrange the Spanish hearts into a wreath. It is now hanging in their “study”. I smile every time I see it.
We have been reading our Valentine’s Day books as well! Check them out! And don’t forget to enter my Valentine’s Day Giveaway!
Do you have creative/decorative Valentine’s Day activities to share? Would love to know!!
P.S. That little white heart on the right does not say “tequila” (although the adults around here love it very much). The heart says “Te Quiero”. 
Have a great weekend everyone!
Chicago friends, great news!! This past weekend was the beginning of a new program and the first day of the Spring session for the Latino Cultural Academy! Imagine a place where your little ones can go on Saturdays and be completely immersed in Spanish with other children, while being led by very knowledgeable teachers to collaborate and learn about Latino heritage!
The Latino Cultural Academy was founded by four multicultural Latino families aware of the challenges their second-generation Latino children were facing in connecting with their heritage. These parents made their children’s cultural education a priority and helped create an environment where many children can benefit from learning in a traditional classroom setting (at UIC!), while allowing them to contribute to the curriculum along with supportive participation from parents.
On this blog we have discussed the concern many of us have regarding our children losing their identity and Spanish language-but we continue to work hard on this issue. When I heard that a college friend of Jose’s was one of the founders of LCA, I said, I have to ask him some questions. Here is an exchange Jose Luz Frausto and I had recently: [Read more...]
I have more books for your bilingual cuties! These are the latest additions in our home and we are reading and re-reading and re-reading… Some were gifts, some were purchased and some are from the library. Only two of the books below are not bilingual (English only) but they are all by Latino authors and they all have a rich cultural theme.
Pele, King of Soccer/Pele, El rey del futbol
Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People
This one is only in English. Why not show your kiddie a Spanish poem from the poet? Pablo Neruda Para Ninos/ Pablo Nerudo for Children (Alba Y Mayo) (Spanish Edition)
Gracias / Thanks (English and Spanish Edition)
Just In Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book
by Yuyi Morales
Diego Rivera: His World and Ours
The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred
Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match / Marisol McDonald no combina
It is very important that bilingual parents support Latino authors. We need more books like these and publishers, authors, librarians and teachers need to know that Latino children’s literature is a great component in our kids’ education. Our voices are heard by asking our librarians to stock these authors on their shelves and of course, when we personally purchase wonderful picture books that our children can treasure.
Do you have other bilingual books and/or Latino author recommendations? Would love to know!
Have a great weekend!
P.s. My new subscription link is up and running. See it right below the social buttons? If you would like to receive email notifications when I post on my blog, please submit your email address. Gracias!
I made two trips to the library this week. I took Santi on a one-on-one little book date and literally scanned the picture book shelves for Latino-sounding last names…Morales, yes! Pull that book off that shelf! I do this a lot. I do racial profiling with books!! jajaja!
My second trip to the library was on Thursday. I was the Thursday Reader guest in Diego’s kindergarten (an awesome way to get parents in the classroom) and because I have a pretty full plate around here, I was not prepared. I asked Diego a few days before what he would like for me to read to the class. He said he wanted me to read How the Grinch Stole Christmas
My mom is here again! It’s been such a treat! She has been here three times since the birth of Jordi. We are very fortunate. You all know how much I love my mom and having her around to do things like this with my boys is a bonus!
I was finishing up tonight’s dinner and I peaked in the sunroom to see what Diego and Santi were doing. I found Diego next to my mom working on his Spanish reading. Santi was at their feet playing with cars but listening intently to Tita and Diego read from our Spanish books.
The scene brought be back to 24th and Drake in Chicago where my mom would sit with us in the kitchen to read. All my early memories of reading are set in that tiny kitchen! I remember her reading to us. I also remember the thick, red and white ESL textbooks she shared with my dad. I liked to flip through them and read the conversation bubbles on top of each cartoon. And later, I remember reading aloud from a children’s Bible in Spanish. I remember the images of all those books. And I’ll never forget these images of her helping me teach my children.
What are you feeling this Monday morning? I’m happy to be pampered yet another week! I have a haircut scheduled too! Ha! Can you tell I don’t get out much? Have a great week everyone!
Your friend,
Betty
It’s my birthday this weekend and look what arrived in the mail this week! Yes, the author of Jordi’s Star, Alma Flor Ada sent us books! Autographed books!! Bilingual books!!! Just like she said she would! I know they are for the boys but because they are for the boys…it made me so happy. [Read more...]
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