Teaching and Learning Resources

Using authentic (i.e. untranslated) Spanish texts can be daunting, especially if the author comes from a country or culture other than your own. Don’t let your discomfort stop you! Spanish-speakers are an incredibly diverse group of people; their dialects, historical contexts, and cultures vary greatly from one region to the next. Exposing our young readers to this diversity through literature will benefit them greatly and we as teachers need to step up to the task of doing it well!

Here are some of our favorite strategies for making the most of an authentic Spanish text with U.S. bilingual students.

Caitlin Kiley  When I think back to elementary school, the thing I remember loving most about the school day (besides recess, of course) was when my teachers read aloud to the class. By the first day of fifth grade, we...