Blog

Researchers continue to find benefits to learning a second language. A recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology shows that bilingual children as young as two exhibit greater cognitive flexibility than unilingual toddlers. Read a news report on the study here. The ability to look at the world from multiple perspectives and […]

We are excited about increasing opportunities to collaborate with language teachers. To that end, I’ll be co-moderating a twitter chat weekly. Use the hashtag #langchat to participate at 8 EST every Thursday night. Chat Moderators: Diego Ojeda: @DiegoOjeda66 Elvira Deyamport: @Elle_Spanish Sara-Elizabeth Cottrell: @secottrell Erica Fischer: @CalicoTeach Please help us select our first topic by […]

One of the my favorite resources for teaching Spanish class is the Calico Spanish flashcard set. Twenty-one of the cards are animals, ranging from monkeys to horses to chicks. Each of the colorful pictures makes a clear connection between the Spanish vocabulary word and the animal to which it corresponds. These cards are the perfect […]

Welcome to 2011! I hope your New Year’s Eve celebrations were full of joy and anticipation for what the new year will bring. When classes start again on Monday, perhaps you can welcome the new year with your students in the Spanish tradition. Beginning in 1909, grape growers in Alicante, Spain started a tradition of […]

Learning how to express your feelings is essential in order to connect with a language. It is easy for students to fall into the rut of always answering, “I’m good. (Yo estoy bien,)” but what are other emotions they can express? Classroom Game: ¿Cómo Estás? The Calico Spanish Flashcards come with 9 phrases for expressing […]

Looking for a fun and easy cultural project for your elementary Spanish class? Hojalata is the perfect activity for young learners who want to learn more about Mexican art culture. Hojalata is the tin art made in Mexico that creates both practical and ornate objects. Mexican artisans and craftsmen draw on their imagination to mold […]

I love the Advent season. As an exchange student in Germany, I celebrated Advent for the four Sundays before Christmas with afternoon tea, cookies, conversation, laughter and candlelight. It was a magical celebration and I have continued the tradition with my own family. You can share this tradition with your students easily thanks to Deutsche-Welle. […]

and A Sing-Along with Joel Valle! Last week over 80 kids gathered together up in the gymnasium to sing, dance and listen to Joel Valle play songs from the Mi Guitarrí: Spanish Songs for Kids CD. For several weeks each Spanish class had been practicing the songs so that students could confidently sing along in […]

¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias! Thanksgiving is a very American holiday, but taking time to reflect and be thankful is a quality found in every culture. Several weeks ago, a local ice-cream shop donated ice-cream to the school where I teach. The owners are Hispanic, so my students had to place their orders in […]

Mexico will celebrate its centennial revolution on November 20th. They’re remembering the beginning steps towards a more just democracy for the common man. What benefits came from that struggle? In 1916 the revolutionary struggle was decided in favor of Venustiano Carranza. An official election was called for and deputies representing almost the entire country gathered […]