[Zoom39]

For educators, families who home school or for those who have a knack for teaching.

I'm in a small group with other moms who want to teach our children Spanish. Currently, I'm writing lesson plans for kids that are age 5 and under and would like some advice about teaching materials to use for that age group.

1) Has anyone out there taught their child a second language? If so, can you describe your successes and challenges?

2) Materials you can recommend? I'm not trained as a teacher, although I'm trying my best to "act" like one. I'm assuming that English teaching manuals can be easily translated to Spanish in terms of material???

3) How long should lesson plans be for each session? We currently meet for an hour and have working lessons that range from 15 - 30 minutes.

4) How many days should we meet? We meet once a week. Should we meet more?

5) Teaching at different age ranges: Should the kids be divided into groups so that, for instance the 2 and 3 yr olds meet and the 4 and 5 years olds meet separately?


Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

[CorgiMom]

Were you able to get a group together? If so, I may be interested when we move to the area this fall. Thanks!

[4Boys]

Hi! I was wondering how your group was going? I would love to get my son involved if you have any room? I'm also looking for mom connections on home schooling, so would love to talk if you've got some time. Please let me know! Thanks.....

Zoom39, on 25 January 2010 - 03:22 AM, said:

For educators, families who home school or for those who have a knack for teaching.

I'm in a small group with other moms who want to teach our children Spanish. Currently, I'm writing lesson plans for kids that are age 5 and under and would like some advice about teaching materials to use for that age group.

1) Has anyone out there taught their child a second language? If so, can you describe your successes and challenges?

2) Materials you can recommend? I'm not trained as a teacher, although I'm trying my best to "act" like one. I'm assuming that English teaching manuals can be easily translated to Spanish in terms of material???

3) How long should lesson plans be for each session? We currently meet for an hour and have working lessons that range from 15 - 30 minutes.

4) How many days should we meet? We meet once a week. Should we meet more?

5) Teaching at different age ranges: Should the kids be divided into groups so that, for instance the 2 and 3 yr olds meet and the 4 and 5 years olds meet separately?


Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

[Jonesborough Mom]

Are you still needing advice/suggestions on this? I am a fluent speaker and have been speaking English and Spanish to my children since the day they were born.

[SouthernFriedTravelScribe1]

I taught a home school class Spanish one year up at the Tri-Cities baptist church off of I26 and Eastern Star Rd for part of a year.

15- 20 minutes is good for each lesson. 30 minutes can also be good if you have varied things going on. More than a 30 minute lesson would be hard on you and the kids.

I taught kids that ranged in age too. It depends on whether to teach them together or to split them up. Both ways can be good. If all the kids are getting it and are staying interested, keep it the way you currently have things.

There is a Educational store off or Roan St, I believe, near where Zaks used to be where I got some of my stuff. I went on eBay and got other stuff. You can find soft cover books with familiar stories but in Spanish like the Berenstein Bears and Good Night Moon and other stories. If you have both the English and Spansih versions, the Spanish might stick longer.

Flash cards also can work. Start simple with the alphabet, numbers, colors and the days of the week along with how to say 'hi,' 'bye,' and other useful words.

There are probably CD's of music and stories you can get. I have cassette tapes but can give you the name of who made them. You can also check out the homeschooling organizations here in Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol.

I'd try to teach the basics and then the type of Spanish that you'd use in everyday situations. Get them to say and spell the words out loud. Have them spell using their fingers in the air, saying the word, what it means and then spelling it back in the air again. The kids learn and retain more this way. Break it down into simple bite-sized tidbits.

If you're going to translate English materials into Spanish you really need to know what you're doing. That's harder, but if you can do it well it will give you great resources. Visual aids are also very helpful. So are little skits and stories.

One day a week for an hour is fine, but 2-3 times a week is good also. I wouldn't go more than an hour unless you have breaks.

Don't worry about trying to act like a teacher... if you're a mom then you're also a teacher. Teach them they way you would as a mom and you'll be fine.

I came close to getting a teaching degree in Secondary Education, I've subbed and worked as an ESL aide and then was a Spanish linguist in the Navy. i try to use my Spanish when we eat out at the Hispanic restaurants, but I'm very rusty. Try to get the kids to speak and use their Spanish whenever you can. Immersion is the best way to teach them, but I'm a believer of easing them into it. do what is comfortable for you. Whatever they learn from you will only help them later.

I think all kids should learn at least one other language besides English. In Europe they learn their own language, English and then one or two other languages on top of that. Knowing more than one language will make them more marketable when they're older and looking for a job. What you teach today lays the groundwork for this later on.

Let us know how it's going.

[Zoom39]

4Boys, on 26 March 2010 - 05:37 PM, said:

Hi! I was wondering how your group was going? I would love to get my son involved if you have any room? I'm also looking for mom connections on home schooling, so would love to talk if you've got some time. Please let me know! Thanks.....

I believe that my next step will be to find a home-schooling group that teaches a second language. I'll keep you posted.