5 Gifts to Empower Young Latinas

When I look for gifts for my kids, I try to find gifts that have meaning and value. So I wanted to put together a short list of some remarkable products that will empower young Latinas that you may be raising.

This post contains affiliate links.

Taking Flight With Captain Mama / Despegando Con Capitán Mamá
by Graciela Tiscareño-Sato

This is the third book in the award-winning, bilingual, Captain Mama aviation series. I've written about the Captain Mama series before, so check out the reviews. In this story, Marco narrates as he and his classmates take flight on the KC-135R aerial refueling tanker during a class field trip. The students and teachers receive a pre-mission briefing and watch what each crewmember does to get the flying gas station ready to fly. In the air, they see the aircrew in action refueling some of the coolest jets in the U.S. Air Force and witness what happens when an emergency suddenly arises in flight! The book includes an original, bilingual origami jet project, bilingual glossaries and bilingual educational resources.

Latinas Breaking Barriers Flashcards
from Chicanx Scholars

50+ educational cards introducing the reader to strong Latina women who have defied the odds and overcome barriers of gender, race, class, and culture to become recognized leaders and role models all around the world in their respective fields.

Filled with colorful images and historical fun facts our youth are provided with the perfect opportunity to embrace their heritage, engage in meaningful dialogue about our past, and learn about the sacrifices prior generations have made.

HerStory Board Game
from Underdog Games

The premise of this game is that you’re an acclaimed author, writing a book to tell the stories of remarkable women in history. Discover iconic historical women as you do research, draft chapters, and complete the highest scoring book to win!120 HISTORIC WOMEN FEATURED: From Joan of Arc to Malala, HerStory includes historical legends and modern favorites. I have this game and it is amazing in both design and quality.

Create like Frida Self-Portrait Mirror Painting Kit
from KidsCrafts.org

Kids Crafts has a line of craft kits that feature remarkable trailblazing women in history, such as this one highlighting Frida Kahlo. Other kits include journaling, weaving, needle arts, and more to represent women such as Maya Angelou, Maria Montessori, and others.

Latin Americans in History: 15 Inspiring Latinas and Latinos You Should Know

by Monica Olivera (me!)

Discover the incredible contributions that people of Latin American heritage have made to world history! From politicians and physicists to poets and painters, these biographies for kids explore 15 incredible Latin American people who used their creativity, intelligence, and strong beliefs to improve the world around them.

• Detailed biographies—Dive deep with stories that cover each person’s entire life, including their childhood, their accomplishments, and the challenges that they faced.
• Learning and growing—These impressive people will inspire kids to discover their own talents and use them to achieve their dreams and support their community.
• Beyond the book—Want to learn more? Each biography includes activity ideas and suggestions for further reading so kids can keep exploring.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

• 15 Children's Biographies Celebrating Women
  
  
• Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz - Lesson Plans, Videos, and Books for Kids
  
  
• Dolores Huerta Lesson Plans, Activities, Coloring Sheets and More

• Frida Kahlo Lesson Plans, Activities, Coloring Sheets and More

Spanish for You! Special Holiday Offer

Special Holiday Offer for You!

Just for Mommy Maestra readers! Get a FREE Spanish for You! 10-Day Christmas Lesson with the purchase of a Spanish for You! Homeschool Themed Course Package that lasts the school year! No experience needed. (Best with ages 8+ but younger kids can join in on many things!)

The Homeschool Themed Course ($49.95) gives you an entire school year of Spanish learning ready to go! Super easy to implement in your homeschool with multiple ages that you can do at your own pace with step-by-step lessons. Also, completely reusable and comes with a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee!

The 10-Day Christmas Lesson lets your kids build understanding, speaking, reading, and writing skills with a Christmas theme. So easy and fun with lots of games and all step-by-step. And, like all Spanish for You! materials, you can always go at your own pace.

Listen to Debbie tell you about what comes inside a Homeschool Themed Course Package:

Your kids will learn to use vocabulary, properly conjugated verbs and grammar concepts to understand, speak, read, and write in everyday life.  And, they will have fun doing it! 

You Always Have Support from Spanish for You!

If you ever have questions while using Spanish for You! materials, you can always email Debbie Annett directly at support@spanish-for-you.net. She has written and taught every lesson and has worked with homeschool parents and co-ops for over 20 years! 

Order Spanish for You! for Yourself or to Gift to Someone!

To get your Spanish for You! 10-Day Christmas Lesson with the purchase of a Spanish for You! Homeschool Themed Course Package that lasts the school year, use code: freechristmas  Be sure to put both items in your cart. Valid through 12/31/22.

Any questions prior to purchasing, feel free to email Debbie at support@spanish-for-you.net.

The Giveaway

Enter below to win a $50 gift code to use on any Spanish for You! order! Two winners will be chosen. You must live in the U.S. to enter. Even if you’re not looking for Spanish materials, you could enter so you can gift the code to someone special if you win. Enter through December 13th. Two winners will be chosen randomly on December 14th.

¡Buena suerte!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audible Gift Memberships

When I'm looking for bilingual gifts to give this holiday season, I ask the members of my Hispanic & Bilingual Homeschoolers Facebook group for advice. This year, I asked them what they thought about Audible and their response was SOO positive! Why? Because Audible has a section called Audible Latino that features thousands of books in Spanish or by Latino authors. So giving Audible Gift Memberships sounds like a great option for families and friends. 

This post contains affiliate links.

Spanish and Bilingual Audiobooks

Audible's Spanish-language book section includes tons of children's books. And they aren't just lousy Spanish translations of English books. Many of them are originally written in Spanish. 



For example, some of the titles that jumped out at me are:

• Esperanza renace by Pam Muñoz Ryan
• Cuentos para entender el mundo by Eloy Moreno
• Devolver al Remitente by Julia Alvarez
• La Edad de Oro by José Martí
• Cuentos de la Selva by Horacio Quiroga
• El Quijote Contado A Los Niños by Rosa Navarro Durán

Native Spanish Speakers as Narrators

It's always great when the narrators are native Spanish speakers. You might enjoy this interview with Puerto Rican actor, Carlos Ponce, who is the narrator for the Harry Potter series in Spanish. The Spanish audiobook series is exceptionally well done.

A Valuable Tool for Bilingual Homeschoolers

Several of the homeschooling members of our Facebook group enjoy Audible and find it to be an invaluable tool in their bilingual homeschooling. For example, these audiobooks can be listened to during car rides, in waiting rooms, before bed, or as part of daily lessons. 

Not only does it help tune a child's ear to Spanish language, but it's a great way to teach Spanish or introduce new vocabulary. And it is a way to supplement or ensure regular exposure the language.

Audible Gift Membership Options

The excellent part is that gift memberships are available in 1, 3, 6 and 12-month membership options. This is great if you are on a budget but still want to give your family and friends something meaningful. And then they can decide if they love it and want to continue their membership throughout the year. 

AND Amazon will send your gift recipient an email on the day you choose along with redemption instructions, or allow you to print and give it directly based on the option you select.

If you're ready to purchase gift memberships for your loved ones, then head over to Amazon to select the Audible Gift Membership option that best works for you!

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

• The Value of Audiobooks
  
  
• (Audio)Book Review: Juana & Lucas
  
  
• Aunt Katie's Place: Bilingual Audiobooks for Language Learners
  
  
• Inspiring Latinos Series: The Amador Family

Holiday Gifting: Shapes Puzzle

 

If you're like me, then you spend a lot of time trying to find gifts that are educational in some way, shape, or form for your kids to open during the holidays. Today's gift recommendation is for those of you with preschoolers!

This post uses affiliate links. 

Shape Puzzles

One of my favorite finds that I gave my preschooler last year is this set of LIKEE pattern blocks. When I was growing up, I was obsessed with tangrams. I loved the challenge of these puzzles. But they were definitely a little TOO challenging for my preschooler. Fortunately, I found these and they are perfect!

This set comes with 36 wooden pieces painted in bright, non-toxic colors. Overall, they are larger than most pattern blocks so that makes it easier for little hands to manipulate them. 

The set also has 60 pattern cards of easily recognizable patterns for your child to create. The items include animals, transportation, household items, and more. They range in complexity from simple (like the boat shown above) to challenging (like the excavator). One side of the card shows the completed design and the name of the object. The other side shows you the pieces needed. Your child must figure out how they fit together and if there are layers.

This game is great for developing critical thinking skills, fine motor skills, and analyzation. It also helps you teach colors, shapes, counting, and vocabulary (round, half, combine, layer, etc.)

This set is best suited for children ages 4 to 7, but my then 3-year-old was able to use them easily last year and even my teen enjoys doing them with my youngest. (Okay, in all honesty, I enjoy them, too!)

If this shape puzzle sounds like something you've been looking for, you can find it here on Amazon:

Holiday Gifting: Picture Book of World Celebrations

 

This is one of the books on my list to buy this year! 

Celebrations Around the World

Let's Celebrate! Special Days Around the World features 13 holidays found in different cultures. What a fabulous resource for those of us raising global citizens. 

You'll read about holidays like Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) in Japan, Matariki in New Zealand, Diwali in India, New Yam Festival in Nigeria, and many more. It even includes Día de los Muertos! :)

The book includes a timeline so that you can see on what day of the year each holiday is celebrated. There's also a section of fun facts for each holiday that includes words in different languages as they relate to each celebration.

And the illustrations are fantastic. This is a vibrant picture book with just enough information so as not to overwhelm young readers. Instead they are left engaged and wanting to learn more.

Online Theatrical Story Time

And if you'd like to extend the learning, the Fort Worth Kimbell Art Museum is hosting a BILINGUAL theatrical story time for FREE and ONLINE, tomorrow, Tuesday, December 7th at 11 am CT. You read that right - it's in English AND SPANISH.

The name of the event is Pictures and Pages/Fotos y Libros. You can either RSVP to their FB event page or subscribe to their YouTube channel to get notified so that you don't forget.

Get It!

Be sure to visit your local library to ask for this title. 

And if you'd like to purchase this book, you can find it on Amazon or Bookshop:

Holiday Gifting: Aula Creativa 5

The following is a sponsored post with Nacho Books. All thoughts and opinions are the writer's own.

This review is one of a series of educational books in Spanish available from the new Nacho Books website. Find additional reviews in this series here. 

Aula Creativa 5 “Serie Educatión Artística” by Susaeta

Aula Creativa 5 by Susaeta is part of a series of books designed to support your child’s artistic thinking and skills. This series is all in Spanish and is geared toward advanced Spanish speakers in Pre-K through upper elementary/middle school. You can find the whole series books 1-9 at Nacho Books. 

Aula Creativa 5 introduces a variety of artistic skills, including drawing, mark making, color theory, simple instrument making, origami and more. Each activity is followed by it’s theme, goals, interdisciplinary theme, and further exploration. There are also spaces for recording the students’ prior knowledge and assessment of what they’ve learned through the activity. 

The lessons include jumping off points for studying artists within the western canon, art movements and interdisciplinary themes through a brief paragraph and an internet link for further investigation. For example, an image that asks for elements of an ocean scene be drawn and colored in is followed by a paragraph on what role the oceans and marine life play in Earth’s ecosystem and oxygen production.  The interdisciplinary nature of this book allows for an expansive view of art and how it connects to many areas of life. 

The introduction of the pedagogical approach and book’s structure for parent teachers is thorough and speaks to why and how visual and music education are important in learning and life. This is a great starting point or supplemental book for your child’s visual arts education, and music education to a lesser degree. The structure is good for parents who would like to see how to integrate art in an interdisciplinary way. 

If this sounds like it would support your child’s artistic growth head over to Nacho Books for this series and others on drawing, cutting, and creative writing. 

If you're looking for more art resources, check out these on MommyMaestra:

• Teaching Art to Preschool and Early Elementary Age Children - a complete art lesson for free here on MommyMaestra
• Art for Kids Hub - free online drawing videos for kids of all ages
• 20 Multicultural Children’s Books about Female Artists
• Home Art Instruction with Heron Books - a curriculum review for tweens and teens
• Art for Tweens & Teens: Inky Art School - a free self-paced, 10-day art class online by Scottish artists Johanna Basford

-----

Monika Aldarondo is a former arts educator, and current photographer and creative shape-shifter with Puerto Rican roots. She posts about her bilingual home/un-schooling journey on Instagram @librolovinmama. Her photography and creative projects can be found at laancla.com.

5 Star Wars Gifts For Kids

Since its release in 1977, Star Wars has almost always been a mainstay franchise in toy aisles everywhere. Kids all over the world love Star Wars and all of the amazing toys offered depicting some of the galaxy's most beloved characters.

However, there are a lot of options when it comes to Star Wars merchandise, and at tops, the choices available might seem overwhelming. Fear not, however, as the following list will help you find the perfect Star Wars toy for the child in your life.

This post contains affiliate links.

Play-Doh Star Wars BB-8 And R2-D2

Play-Doh is a classic, all-time favorite toy, so it’s no wonder it has gotten the Star Wars treatment as well. This year, Amazon released it’s exclusive R2-D2 and BB-8 Play-Doh set. Kids can have loads of fun making all sorts of stuff out of the colorful clay-like toy.

With the included figures, kids can stamp and mark up their creations with the help of two of the most iconic droids in the Star Wars franchise. Plus, kids can use Play-Doh to create all sorts of scenes and props for the characters to interact with. When it comes to creative fun, Play-Doh is a great way to go for kids.

Star Wars Galaxy Of Adventures Figures

The Galaxy of Adventures figures are chunky, durable action figures featuring some of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars franchise. These figures are poseable and come with accessories making them great for kids who are getting into action figures but don’t need the small parts.

There are a plethora of characters to choose from and even some vehicles on the way. These figures are bright and fun and make for perfect gifts for the younger Star Wars fan in your life.

LEGO Star Wars Boba Fett’s Starship Building Set

With the release of The Book of Boba Fett fast approaching, fans everywhere are chomping at the bit to get more Boba Fett action. With this set by LEGO, fans can build and play with one of the most popular spaceships in science fiction.

With the included mini figures and detailed model, kids can have all sorts of adventures with one of popular cultures most loved characters. This set is perfect for the Lego fans and Star Wars fans alike!

Star Wars Galactic Snackin’ Grogu Toy

Since its release in 2019, The Mandalorian has dominated pop-culture, with a large part of that being due to the loveable character of Grogu (A.K.A. Baby Yoda). With this toy, kids can play with Grogu and take him on all sorts of playtime adventures.

This toy also includes some great features, such as food for Grogu to eat. With all sorts of sounds and movements, this toy is incredibly fun for everyone!

For years, Star Wars has dominated toy aisles with millions of kids clamoring for Star Wars themed gifts. With the current slate of offerings, there is something for everyone. However, that comes at the cost of being near-overwhelmed with options. With the entries on this list, you can find the perfect gift for the Star Wars fan in your life.

Star Wars Night Light

Lessen going to bed battles with this fantastic Star Wars Night Light! Made with novel 3D technology, these night lights let you change 16 colors and 4 patterns. It comes with a remote that allows control of brightness, and different color changing options like fading and strobe. You can also change these settings using touch control.

This set comes with three different image plates (Death Star, Millennium falcon, R2-D2) - your child can just switch them out to fit their mood!

Children's Apron and Book Set & More

 

Friends! I'm making the last run of the year on Monday morning to the post office. If you'd like to order any of the products from my shop, now's the time!

The first is my apron/book set. It comes with a hardback copy of the picture book Growing Up with Tamales by Gwendolyn Zepeda and an embroidered apron of your text/color choice. The aprons are one size and available in the following color/text combos:

Chiquita...pero picosa! 

• green
• maroon
• orange
• purple 

OR Chiquito...pero picoso! 

• red
• maroon

You can also purchase the aprons and books separately.

I also have some Feliz Navidad bodysuits left for babies and toddlers. 

And I also have a few Feliz Navidad sweatshirts available for toddlers up through 5T.

Feliz Navidad a todos!

Holiday Gifting: Owl Aboard Family Puzzle

You know what I absolutely love? Games or activities that make it easy for families to do together regardless of age. I know it's easy to play games with your 8-year-olds, maybe even those who are 7 or 6, but it's a little more challenging when they are 3. 

So when I saw this amazing family puzzle that comes with 20 big pieces for little kids and 40 pieces for big kids (and adults!), I knew I was going to recommend it. It's challenging enough for two people of vastly different ages and experiences to enjoy. 

Putting together a puzzle has so many benefits! In case you didn't know, it can...

• improve short-term memory,
• lower stress,
• develop concentration,
• teach patience and self control,
• develop fine-motor skills,
• reinforces connections between brain cells, and
• so much more!

My mother loved to put together puzzles. When she was alive, she would buy my children puzzles for Christmas most years. We still have some of them. 

My grandmother also enjoys putting together puzzles in her assisted living home. She's been fighting dementia for a several years now, but likes doing puzzles, crosswords, and word searches. They say it is great for her mental health. 

And all my kids love working puzzles. We haven't done many in the last two years since my youngest child, who's now three, became mobile and into everything. We were afraid of losing pieces. He's just recently discovered puzzles, though. The age-appropriate kind, of course. And he loves them, too. 

Which is why I think this puzzle is just brilliant! Big pieces for him to manipulate, and small ones for the rest of us. I'm so looking forward to the moment when my kids open this and realize it's for all of them. 

If this is something that you'd love for your family, you can find it here on Amazon:

Holiday Gifting: HandyPod Mobile Mini Tripod

 

One more MommyMaestra gift idea for tweens and teens. I know that a lot of kids are doing virtual school this year. And homeschoolers often have their kids do one or more classes online. Many of these kids are zooming on their phones or on mom's phone. So my recommendation is a phone tripod. 

This post uses affiliate links. 

Phone Tripod

We have zoom installed on our Chromebook, but for some reason, it keeps dropping the connection. So my kids often have to use a phone to do the zoom, and they keep their computers open to do the work. To help, I went out and bought a HandyPod Mobile Mini Tripod (aff).  

It can pretty much hold any type of phone. And the rotating ball head lets you position the phone at different angles including 90 degree tilt for portrait shooting. The short tripod lets you easily set up your phone on any flat surface, and even gives you a nice handhold in case you have to move around. 

Other great uses... 

You can take family photos using your phone's camera timer. Or, if you have a stop-motion lover, like I do, you can easily position the camera once, and then make all the adjustments to your subject (in our case, LEGO) as you need to without having to get back in position to snap photos using your phone.

I really love the freedom that having a phone tripod gives our family. And if you think this is something that will help your family, too, consider it! I bought mine at my local Best Buy, but you can also find it online here...

Stocking Stuffers: Spanish & Bilingual CDs

Today's stocking stuffer ideas center around giving the gift of language. I had someone request that I share some recommendations for great Spanish CDs for kids. Well, here are my top 5 picks! Some are Spanish-only, and a few are bilingual. 

This post may contain affiliate links. 

¡Buenos Días!
from Whistlefritz

¡BUENOS DÍAS! is a tour de force celebration of the vibrant music, language, and culture of the Spanish-speaking world. The music transports kids on a magical ride from Spain in Sonidos del flamenco (Sounds of Flamenco) to Mexico's Cascarones (the lively eggshell tradition) to the Andes (Manzanita de Perú and Arbolito de Perú), finally culminating in a trip across the entire Spanish-speaking world in Se Habla Español (We Speak Spanish). Irresistible salsa, merengue, flamenco, reggae, and Andean rhythms encourage kids to sing along as they learn traditional Latin American foods in El Tamal No Está Mal (The Tamale Isn't Bad), animals in ¿Cómo Se Llama La Llama? (What's the Llama's Name?), and musical instruments in Hagamos Música (Let's Make Music). And, in this challenging time for kids and parents, the sensational soprano voice of award-winning Cuban-American singer, Ileana Pérez, soothes the spirit with her exquisite renditions of the beloved Spanish lullaby Duérmete Mi Niño and Niña (Sleep My Little One), and the hauntingly beautiful original lullaby Cuando Llegue La Noche (When the Night Comes). Lyrics, translations, and a vocabulary guide are available for free download as an easy reference guide for parents and teachers. Get ready to say Buenos días to a world of Spanish-learning fun!

Ritmo y Rima

from Mister G and José V

A few years ago, I recommended Mister G's album Mundo Verde as a great gift idea for bilingual kids. While researching for this post, I discovered that he has a NEW bilingual (but mostly Spanish) album out. Created with fellow artist, José V, Ritmo and Rima had a rocky start since the pandemic hit before they could begin. But the pandemic actually caused the album to grow instead! Before long, they had reached out to musician friends from all over the Americas who were also isolated at home. The album became an international project with players from Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Peru, and the Dominican Republic adding their distinct styles.

The album, Ritmo y Rima (Rhythm & Rhyme), celebrates the vibrant sounds and textures of the Latin world. The samba inspired title track conjures the joyful atmosphere of carnival, “Señorita Mariposa” celebrates the extraordinary migration of the monarch butterfly, while the closing song “Tú y Tú y Yo” is a heartfelt anthem calling for unity across borders and solidarity with those who traverse them.

In a sense, the album has two voices: children will be drawn to the captivating songs that explore topics like colors, animals, and a connection to the natural world. Adults will appreciate the wide range of musical styles, the educational component of the songs, and the themes of unity and hope that are woven throughout the album.

¡En la radio!

from Nathalia

Centered around the theme of connection, En la Radio consists of 10 original songs written in English and Spanish while inviting ‘radio listeners’ to explore a variety of music styles from the U.S. and Latin America. This CD switches back and forth from Spanish to English in the songs and is the perfect gift for children fluent in both languages. 

Hola, Amigo: Songs of Friendship

from 123 Andrés

Hola, Amigo started out as a song in 123 Andrés’ debut album, and became a fan favorite. Today, the message of Hola, Amigo is more important than ever. This summer, 123 Andrés is releasing a surprise digital album – Hola, Amigo: Songs of Friendship, with remastered versions of Hola, Amigo in Spanish and English, and eight more songs that explore the theme of friendship, in two languages.

¡Muévete! Songs for a Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body

from José-Luis Orozco

José-Luis created this album with your child's fitness in mind. With each and every song, children are encouraged to get up and move. They clap, stomp, dance their way through each melody. There are nine songs sung twice; once in English and once in Spanish. You'll recognize a couple of traditional ones such as Los Pollitos.

Holiday Gifting: Time to Dream Books

 

As the parent of a 3yo, I miss out on a LOT of sleep. Why? Because my youngest often doesn't want to go to sleep in his own bed. He says he's scared and wants to sleep right between mom and dad...which ends up with me on the edge of the bed, sweating from the little furnace that keeps trying to snuggle up against me. 

So when, I received an email asking me to consider two new companion books that are sure to help children conquer sleep fears and turn bedtime into their favorite time, I readily agreed. 

This is a sponsored book post that uses affiliate links. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Dream Grabber and Dream Jumper were written by John R. Green, a multiple Emmy and Peabody Award-winning television news and documentary writer and producer. The books are centered around creating a comforting bedtime ritual to help children overcome their fears of going to sleep. 

Dream Grabber is the first book in the series. In it, little A.J. is afraid of going to sleep because of the nightmares he sometimes has. So his Dada tells him about a secret gift he has to get rid of nightmares. The book encourages kids to use their imagination and focus on positive thoughts when they are alone in bed, and reinforces the idea that bedtime can be fun and they can look forward to their dreams. 

Dream Jumper is the second book. And in this story, young Francesca is frightened of being alone in her dreams. So once again, Dada comes to the rescue by telling her about his secret ability to jump into dreams. The book teaches the same concepts of imagination and positivity. 

Although the books encourage more fathers to engage with their kids in nurturing bedtime routines often associated with mothers, moms can still use the same techniques themselves. And I love that you can either read the book directly to your children, or simply use the story line to establish a routine by acting it out yourself. My son loves it when I tell him stories at night, so this works perfectly for us.

I love it when parents create products or services based on their own experiences with their children. Both books are based on bedtime rituals John created to help his own twins face their fears upon falling asleep. The goal with this release is not for John to become a well-known children’s book writer but rather to help other families, including non-traditional families like his, make bedtime less stressful.

The books have been endorsed by Kim Bergman, PhD, a Licensed Psychologist who says, "Dream Grabber is a charming and delightful bedtime story, beautifully validating a universal childhood fear rather than dismissing it." Each book encourages nurturing bedtime routines and helps children understand that dreamland should be an enjoyable and secure place to be.

But what I was also delighted to learn is that John is fully bilingual and used to teach Spanish and produce a Spanish language television show earlier in his TV career. He is raising his kids to be bilingual. And in the future, John would like to publish Spanish versions of the books. 

I hope he does.

In the meantime, you can buy English versions of his books here:

Holiday Gifting: Nacho Books

 

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with Nacho Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. 

I hope you all had a lovely holiday last week. It was very different for us. I celebrated at home with just my husband and kids. We missed getting together with extended family, but their safety means more to us this year. 

Today, I'm kicking off another week of holiday gift recommendations! And I'm starting with one of my favorite resources for families who are homeschooling bilingually or in Spanish.

Nacho Books

I've shared these amazing books before on MommyMaestra, so I'm sure you've probably seen them. For families raising bilingual children and who are looking for resources to help their kids learn to read in Spanish, check out NACHO workbooks. They are entirely in Spanish and are recommended for those students who are familiar with Spanish or parents who speak Spanish and want to teach their students/children. The method has been used for more than 60 years and has helped millions of people learn how to read and write in Spanish. Nacho Books offers those books and its variations in Math, Reading Comprehension, Drawing, and more! (Seriously, did you know that they had books in subjects other than reading?!? I didn't!)

These books are great for students PK-2nd grade.

Get a discount!

Nacho Books are offering a discount code for Spanish teachers and/or homeschool moms that subscribe to their website. The discount code is: SPANISHTEACHER  

It'll give you 25% off of your entire order.

Upcoming Giveaway

Also, be sure to check back here for a holiday giveaway in December with Mommy Maestra that includes titles that are not shown in their website yet! SO exciting! I can't wait to share them with you!

Holiday Gifting: Canticos

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with Canticos. All thoughts and opinions are mine. 

This week, I've shared gift ideas for kids in elementary, middle school, and high school. Today, I'm focusing on preschool. And, of course, you know who my go-to for bilingual gifts for this age range is: Canticos!

Seriously, y'all, for toddlers and preschoolers, you absolutely cannot beat all the amazing bilingual books, toys, and other resources that are available from Canticos. I'm looking forward to buying some books and puzzles for my 3yo. Why? Because I absolutely love how all of them are geared to helping prepare our nenes for preschool and beyond by teaching those important concepts they need to grow and develop. 

Especially now, when so many parents suddenly find themselves teaching preschool at home and are searching for those resources that will help them in their family's bilingual journey.

Read on to learn about all the fabulous collections that Canticos has created for families!

**All orders placed this month will ship December 1st. And be sure to follow them on social media because they are offering discounts on all of these products and the app subscription throughout this month and next!

Bilingual Firsts Collection 

Ages: 2+
$12.99 - $13.99 (individual books) $44.99 (entire collection)

I love that you can buy these books individually or as the whole collection. The Bilingual Firsts Collection is designed to give children foundational math, literacy, and social emotional skills as they start their bilingual journey. Each book covers a new concept, with beautiful original illustrations and adorable bilingual characters to help along the way. The concepts include: First 100 Words, Letters A-Z, Numbers 1 to 100, Shapes & Patterns, Opposites, and Feelings. These are all important concepts that your child should learn in preschool as they prepare for kindergarten. And the last three books listed above include interactive flaps to further engage your child's curiosity.

Bilingual Puzzles

Ages: 2+ 

$9.99 (puzzle pairs)  $24.99 (jumbo puzzles) 

• Bilingual Puzzle Pairs: Numbers / Rompecabezas de Pares Bilingüe: Números
  
• Bilingual Puzzle Pairs: Opposites / Rompecabezas de Pares Bilingüe: Opuestos

Play and learn in English and Spanish with these fun puzzles, each one featuring 10 pairs! Your child will learn their numbers and opposites in two languages, setting them up for their bilingual learning journey.

• Canticos Bilingual Jumbo Puzzle: Musical Parade / Rompecabezas Gigante Bilingüe: Desfile Musical
  

Your child will love discovering a new friend with each instrument along the way. Finish the 18-piece puzzle to see the whole Canticos crew in this musical celebration!

• Canticos Bilingual Jumbo Puzzle: Letters A-Z / Rompecabezas Gigante Bilingüe Letras A - Z

Assemble the 30-piece puzzle one way and sing the song in English, then flip the pieces over and do the same thing in Spanish with a few extra letters (Ch, Ll & Ñ)! Your child will learn their letters in English and Spanish, setting them up for their bilingual learning journey.

Alphabet recognition is the most reliable predictor of reading ability! The more letters children can recognize at an early age, the higher their potential for academic success.

Bilingual Stroller Cards

Ages: 2+ 

$11.99 (35 cards)

• Bilingual Stroller Cards: Colors & Shapes / Flash Cards Bilingües: Colores y Formas
• Bilingual Stroller Cards: First Words / Flash Cards Bilingües: Mis Primeras Palabras

Are you getting exercise by running or taking walks around your neighborhood or local park with your child in a stroller? Why not take advantage of those moments and provide them with a learning opportunity to keep them busy? These stroller cards would be great for car seats, walkers, and even high chairs, too!

Build your child's vocabulary anywhere with these portable stroller cards that are fun to look at and easy to take on-the-go. Your child will learn their first words, as well as their colors and shapes in English and Spanish, setting them up for success in their bilingual learning journey...

Speaking a second language helps kids develop a better attention span, improves their ability to multitask, and increases educational performance as they grow.

Bilingual Preschool App

You may remember me sharing the Canticos' Bilingual Preschool App last month. I wrote up a complete review here. If you are looking for educational apps that will develop your child's bilingualism, this is it! The app is a clever compilation of a lot of the amazing videos Canticos has created over the years, plus additional activities to nurture learning and reinforce preschool concepts. And it is 100% ad free! Click the link above to read a complete review. 

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Los Pollitos Bilingual App
  
  
• Canticos Videos
  
  
• Canticos Bilingual Preschool App
  
  
• Skeletitos: Make Every Moment Count
  
  
• Preschool at Home: A Guide for Caregivers

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Canticos. I only work with companies that I feel are a good fit for MommyMaestra readers. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Holiday Gifting: FluidStance's Slope

 

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with FluidStance. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today's Holiday Gift recommendation is for those of you with older children who are learning at home. One of the issues that my 14yo has struggled with has been having enough desk space when it comes to online classes. Especially, if he needs to take notes or work out math problems. 

Since they were old enough to start solving complex math equations, my kids have always tried to use a small dry-erase board for math work. But if you homeschool, you know how that sometimes goes because that dry-erase board gets used for a lot of stuff and sometimes it just disappears right when your kid needs it. So then we resort to good old pen and paper, which I usually feel guilty about because all we do is throw it out when they're done. 

So a while ago, I was contacted by FluidStance and I was intrigued to learn more about the Slope. So they sent me one, and - wow! - I love it for my kids!

The Slope is a personal desktop whiteboard. It's PERFECT for students who are using desktops at home. It's made of 100% heavy-duty steel (perfect for magnets, but don't use magnets near your computer!) and is powder-coated using a low-emissions method. The gentle angle (slope!) is great for taking notes using any dry-erase marker and it even has a groove at the top to hold your writing utensil. It also has a phone dock with a hole that allows your charger to plug into your phone, so you can charge it while you're working, OR so your kid can watch a video/zoom class on their phone while typing notes/writing assignments on the desktop. And it won't scratch your desktop because it has felt bumpers on each end to protect the surface underneath it.  

Here's a shot of my 14yo using it for solving Algebra 1 math equations:
(P.S. - Shout out to Teaching Textbooks, our favorite online math program!)

My 16yo wants her own to work out her Analysis math equations on it up in her room. 

Seriously, it is a math and science student's best friend. And I will admit that I've been secretly craving it for myself because I often jot down numbers and notes while working. 

It costs $59, which is a little pricey, but totally worth it because it will last forever! 

So if you're looking for something unique to give your older children this coming holiday season, consider the Slope! Find it here on FluidStance's website.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received a Slope for review purposes. However, I only agree to promote items that I know will be of interest or use to other parents. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Holiday Gifting: Barefoot Books Mindful Activity Pack

 

Finding ways to relieve anxiety is high on many people's list this year. But we don't often talk about it when it comes to children. 

This is dear to my heart because my oldest has struggled so much this year with anxiety. And once it starts in one area, it seems to just keep spreading to other areas of their lives. I have often wished over the last 8 months that I had somehow taught her the tools to deal with anxiety when she was little. 

That's why I love this mindfulness activity deck from Barefoot Books. 

Mindful Kids: 50 Mindfulness Activities for Kindness, Focus, and Calm is designed for children as young as 4 years old and there's no limit over that! 

This boxed card deck includes 50 creative mindfulness games, visualizations and exercises divided into 5 categories to help children feel grounded, find calm, improve focus, practice loving-kindness and relax. Whimsical full-color illustrations on both sides of the cards break down each practice into easy-to-follow steps. Tips on individual cards plus an 8-page instructional booklet show modifications that make these activities inclusive for children of all abilities.

I love that these are available in English...

...and Spanish!

I strongly recommend buying these as an essential teaching tool for your children! I wish I'd had them when my older kids were younger, and I'm planning on buying them for my youngest...who will "share" them with his older siblings. ;) 

If you're interested in getting your own, you can purchase them directly from Barefoot Books or click on the links below to get them from Amazon. 

Holiday Gifting: Reading Eggs

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with Reading Eggs. All thoughts and opinions are mine. 

Do you know about Reading Eggs? It's been around for quite a while now, and I have often seen it mentioned in homeschool circles. So when Reading Eggs reached out, I finally had a chance to check it out more closely and see if it is a good fit for MommyMaestra readers. It absolutely is. 

What is Reading Eggs?

Reading Eggs is an online program designed to support your child as they learn to read. Created for children ages 2 - 13, the site is full of online reading games (there are SO MANY GAMES!) and activities that children love and which helps develop their literacy skills through lots and lots of practice - without it feeling like work. 

Ten million children around the world use this program. Yes, I wrote that correctly! And the reason is that the program is really fun for kids and is effective. It is based on scientific research and centered around the five essential keys to reading success:

1. phonemic awareness,
2. phonics,
3. vocabulary,
4. reading comprehension, and
5. fluency.

If you are a homeschooler, it is critical that you understand these concepts. Click here to learn about them and how to apply them in your child's reading development.

As you can see from the image above, the site offers five different levels of learning. When they begin, your child takes a placement test that matches them with the right level. And, yes, that's a math section at the end. For those of you whose children are struggling with memorizing math facts or who has negative associations with math, this section will help!

As they progress through the program, kids can earn golden eggs (hello? Reading EGGS!) as awards and then use them to buy special reward games or items for their avatar or their house. And they can also earn certificates of achievement.

Things I love best about the program

There are two things about the program that really stand out for me. First, the program has more than 2000 online books and EVERY ONE of them ends with a comprehension quiz. And second, parents can access detailed progress reports on their child. If you have more than one child using the program, no problem. Your dashboard keeps track of everyone's progress and you even get emailed in‑depth reports every time your kid completes a map. 

I also love that the program is self-paced and your child can repeat any activity/game as many times as they want to reinforce the concepts being learned. This is really important for struggling readers.

And finally, Reading Eggs is a kidSAFE certified website. This is SO IMPORTANT TO ME as a parent. I don't have to worry about ads all over the place to distract and tempt my kids. And knowing that it is a safe place for kids to play is gold. With so many other sites I have to worry about who my kid is interacting with or who has access to their information. That's gotten harder as my 14yo has grown. But I have a 3yo now that I have to start worrying about. I'm looking forward to trying this program with him without fear of what he sees and who he meets.

November deals

Right now, Reading Eggs has several holiday promos going on FOR NOVEMBER:

• First, they are offering FREE week‑by‑week program guides for homeschoolers for Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2. Each guide provides a 36‑week teaching and learning sequence for Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, making it easy for parents to cover and track essential learning outcomes. You can download the guides here.
  
  
• Second, Reading Eggs is also offering a 30-day free trial for parents and their little learners to try the online homeschool program. It only takes a few minutes to set up, and you'll get instant access to hundreds of online lessons, activities, kids' books, and printable worksheets – perfect for your family's homeschooling needs.
  
  
• Additionally, from November 1 through Thanksgiving, Reading Eggs is offering free shipping on any products including their workbooks, flashcards and mega book packs.
  
  
• For Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Reading Eggs is offering 62% off a family subscription for up to four children. (WOW!) The sale will start on Thanksgiving and go through Cyber Monday.
  
  

Learn more!

If you want to learn more, visit their site. 

They also have a YouTube channel that features testimonials from other parents and getting started tutorials.