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but the pictures are excellent and illustrate The book describes a young boy preparing Any book can be used to teach reading the text beautifully. for Carnival and plays his Andean flute for comprehension and vocabulary. Don’t rule Familiarity: American children’s books the parade. Meanwhile, we see his family, out People en español. It may not be high- in translation like Froggy se viste by Jona- the village, the clothes and the various mu- brow literature, but the students love it and than London and Frank Remkiewicz and Al- sical instruments used in that area. learn to read in the target language. More- exander y el día terrible, horrible, espantoso, THEMATIC CONNECTIONS over, they can create their own magazine. SEVEN REASONS horroroso by Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz are Interdisciplinary possibilities: You must be careful to not select a book both very successful choices for Spanish les- • April is Poetry month and Eng- that is too difficult because the comprehen- sons. Firstly, the familiarity of the books is lish classes are often teaching po- sion struggle will frustrate the reader. Scho- FOR THE inviting for the students; and, secondly it etry. What a perfect time to introduce lastic magazine at www.maryglasgow.com requires less mental translation since the some new poems to the class and have has many readings that can be used and they students know the storyline. Both of these each student pick one to read at a po- are often available in novice, intermediate books work well to develop vocabulary for etry reading, tea time or to record or advanced level. HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHER everyday activities, clothes and the family. for a podcast that parents can enjoy. The following activities are the same as Illustrations: Picture books are engaging My eighth grade students really en- those used to teach reading in English. and, in addition to telling their own story, joy Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems Pre-reading activities: prediction based TO USE invite students to create other versions of on Growing up Hispanic in the on title or picture, cover up title and, based stories to fit the images. United States (Edge Book) by Lori on pictures, have students write the title. CULTURAL RELEVANCY Marie Carlson and Oscar Hijuelos. Teaching new vocabulary possibly with My eighth grade essential question for Many of these poems include a blend- illustrations or objects (I use clothes with LITERATURE the year is “What is foreign and how does ing of Spanish and English and give Froggy se viste). foreign become familiar?” Our geographic the students an idea of the bilingual After reading a short amount, ask ques- focus is Latin America. To kick off the unit world of Latinos. tions for students to discuss, first with a part- TO TEACH WORLD LANGUAGES I use a one page excerpt from Esmeralda • Newspaper articles can also be an easy ner, and then with the class. Give headlines Santiago’s novel, Cuando era puertorriqueña fit for interdisciplinary readings. My for that section and have students select the (When I was Puerto Rican). Ms. Santiago de- classes will be using the Huffington best one. by Augusta Gonzalez and Talia Gonzalez 7. To differentiate according to student abilities scribes the nostalgic feelings that the guava Post in Spanish as well as articles from Ask students to write down any new Paco Peco, Chico Rico Want to learn more? Keep on reading! My litera- fruit evokes. She describes the fear she felt various Spanish and Latin American words in their reading journal or worksheet Insultaba como un loco ture examples are in Spanish but the strategies de- when she first immigrated to the United press to prepare for their mock presi- and use the dictionary to define them. A su tío Federico. scribed can be applied to any language. States and the culture shock of experiencing dential election this fall. Provide post reading vocabulary activi- Y éste dijo: THE HOOK a different climate, language and different Using biographies: ties such as: cloze activities, bingo, charades Poco pico, Paco Peco Why will students enjoy using literature? Because foods. This short, one page excerpt provides When I teach my Latino unit, I use bi- or drawing the new vocabulary. When I recite this tongue twister rapidly in class, it’s interesting and fun! They don’t even realize they the class with both a reading comprehen- ographies in the target language, like Ce- Comprehension activities can include: everyone stops and turns to me. They are fascinated are learning. Some of the different characteristics that sion lesson as well as a springboard for an sar Chavez by Ginger Wadsworth and Mark questions, role play scenes, draw the story with the sounds, the speed and trying to figure out can make literature a natural hook: interesting discussion about how it feels to Schroeder and Azúcar (bio of Celia Cruz) map, change the ending, and write a journal what I am saying. This simple traditional rhyme then Musicality: As in the “Paco Peco” example, the be foreign. by Ivar Da Coll. entry or an email as one of the characters becomes the focus of a mini lesson. What does it musicality of poetry will attract your students to both Cultural relevancy can also be found in • Jigsaw activity: I use the Cesar Chavez of the book. Another option is missing gap mean? Where is the alliteration? The rhyme? What listening for comprehension and listening to meet the texts that reflect daily life in other coun- book for a jigsaw activity. Each group activities which involve characters and sto- other simile besides “como un loco” can the students challenge of being able to say it themselves. tries or special holidays in other countries. of students read one chapter of the ryline so students can reconstruct the story create? Can the students figure out why the poem uses Comedy: I often use the poetry of Gloria Fuertes, Pictures books, regardless of the age of your book in Spanish; they answer compre- together. These are excellent assessments for the imperfect? Poems like these can be used with any such as the poem “Doña Pito Piturra Tiene Unos students, are a wonderful resource for illus- hension and vocabulary questions and comprehension. age group. While with older students you might dig Guantes,” to initiate a lesson on clothing. The chil- trating the target culture(s). Two books I then they summarize the chapter to- GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT deeper into the structure and meaning of a poem, with dren enjoy the comedic elements (I usually dress up as use to describe daily life are El sancocho del gether in four to six sentences. Each Grammar is part of natural language and younger students one can simply enjoy the rhythm la Doña with a hat and gloves). Later, I use the poem sábado by Leyla Torres and Cuadros de fa- student, armed with his/her summary, evident in all forms of literature. You can and rhyme of this traditional tongue twister. as a template for the children to add different clothes milia by Carmen Lomas Garza. The first is then jigs awed into new groups pick a book, poem or article for a particular Why use literature like poems, stories, riddles, for her to wear. Comic strips like Mafalda often en- book shows a typical Andean open mar- made up of one student from each grammar construct that you want to empha- newspaper articles, comic strips, picture books, books liven the class and bring a touch of Argentine hu- ket with the yucca, potatoes and live chick- chapter. Here they share their sum- size. Froggy Se Viste is ideal to practice the or plays to teach language? As teachers, we can all mor to students. Asterix can do the same for French ens as the young protagonist goes with her maries and reflect on the book. This reflexive verbs whileEl Arbol Generoso by name a multitude of reasons to use literature in the classes. grandmother to shop for the ingredients of lesson takes several days but is very re- Shel Silverstein works well for teaching the classroom. However, here are my personal seven most Thematic relevance/interest: Alma Flor Ada’s col- the Sancocho stew that they cook every warding. imperfect tense. Fairy tales are also wonder- compelling reasons for highly effective teachers to use lection of poems Días y Días de Poesía provides teach- Saturday. This book lends itself to lessons • Using transition words: Biographies ful for highlighting the difference between literature in the classroom: ers with a poem or rhyme for each day of the school on family, food and shopping while demon- are perfect for story mapping, time- the imperfect and the preterit tense. Most of 1. As a hook to stimulate your students year from back to school to summer vacation. Ms. Ada strating the geography, the close knit family lines and practicing the use of tran- the activities that we do are done in pairs or is also the author of “El Vuelo del Quetzal,” a picture 2. To present culturally relevant material structure and the foods eaten in the Andean sition words like: in the beginning, groups so that they can consult and discuss book of a bird flying over South America and view- 3. To thematically connect with different units and region of South America. The Garza book then, later, afterwards, finally. For ex- the topic. Some of the activities that I use ing all of the wonders of the area from geography, flora other subjects can be used to teach about family traditions ample, students can share a part of the to teach grammar points are: and fauna to the typical artifacts of the region.

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