Calico Spanish recently launched over 30 engaging, comprehensible comics for Spanish learners. Any Calico Comic will immerse learners in Spanish-speaking cultures alongside the beloved Calico Spanish characters.

To ensure teachers feel confident and prepared to introduce Calico Comics to their learners, we’ve included step-by-step, ready-to-teach lesson plans that require minimal preparation. Additionally, we’d like to offer a few helpful recommendations in this blog to help educators feel fully prepared for their first lesson.

Read the Calico Comic with intention before teaching

This might sound simple, but it’s important to always pre-read content before presenting it to learners. As you read, think about the vocabulary your learners have already encountered. Consider these guiding questions:

• Which words might be challenging for them to understand?
• How can illustrations support their comprehension?
• What key takeaways do you want your learners to gain from the story?

Review the Calico Comic pre-reading vocabulary sheets and post-reading activity sheets

Each comic includes a vocabulary sheet, poster, and post-reading activities. We understand that our program is used across various grade levels, so some activities may feel too advanced for younger learners — and that’s okay! There are plenty of ways to scaffold these activities to suit their needs.

For example, take a look at the images below showcasing different approaches to the same activity sheet from the Level B comic Una fiesta sorpresa. One option is to cut out the dialogue strips and have learners match them to the corresponding images. Another option is to challenge learners to write the dialogue themselves.

Lastly, you will need to decide which format of the Calico Comic you want to use. Your Calico Spanish subscription includes the comics and associated activities in PDF and Google Slides formats. Alternatively, physical copies of each level’s comics can be purchased here! 

Click HERE to purchase physical Calico Comics

Review the ready-to-teach lesson plans in the Calico Spanish teaching portal 

Each Calico Comic comes with ready-to-teach lesson plans included within your Calico Spanish curriculum subscription. Our ready-to-teach lesson plans provide step-by-step instructions, so all you need to do is pre-read the content and print the activities. While we encourage you to let your creativity shine by altering the existing activities or by adding your own activities, it’s entirely optional.

Although Calico Spanish is traditionally designed for elementary and exploratory Spanish classes, Calico Comics can be enjoyed by learners of all ages! Our curriculum director, Haylee Ziegler, even incorporates them into her high school Spanish classes during independent reading time each week.

Want to sample the first Calico Comic for FREE? Sign up for a free trial of Calico Spanish!

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Calico Comics, our step-by-step lesson plans, or our extensive resource library, please email us at support@calicospanish.com. We’re happy to assist you!