Bilingual Book Club Packet

There's a new packet in my shop today!

Last week, I shared a post on How to Start a Book Club for 8 to 12-Year-Olds. As soon as I hit publish, I knew I needed to add another resource to make book clubbing more fun. 

Bilingual Book Club Activity Pages

So... voilá! Here's a bilingual packet of book club printables. They are designed to make running a book club easy and enjoyable for kids. 

It comes with pages for: 

• writing down discussion questions, 
• reviewing books, 
• a member roster, and 
• tickets for choosing a different meeting leader each time you get together.

Other Summer Reading Printables

You can also pair it with my bilingual reading passport, depending on the book theme or the format of your book club. It says Día de los Niños on it because that's the occasion for which I made it. But EVERY DAY is Día de los Niños, remember? And the passport itself doesn't have any specific holiday mentioned. It's pretty versatile and can be used at any time of year for any reading activity.

Read more about how to use the bilingual reading passport.

You might also like the free bilingual reading logs that you can download in my TpT shop. This packet contains three different designs so you can track by:

1. # of minutes read,
2. # of pages read,
3. OR # of books read.

ALL of the logs are available in full color or black-and-white, and they are available in English and Spanish. You choose which one works best for your students.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

• 40 Ways to Keep Your Child Excited About Reading
  
  
• Prepping for Summer with MommyMaestra
  
  
• The Mega List of Spanish Comics for Kids
  
  
• Encouraging Reluctant Readers With Films

How to Start a Book Club for 8 to 12-Year-Olds

​​If you’re looking for a way to get your child reading, start a book club! It’s a great way to encourage kids to read for pleasure, and it can help them develop important skills like critical thinking and communication. Here are some tips on how to start a book club for 8 to 12-year-olds.

Choose a location

Your home could be an option for a book club location, or you might want to look into local community centers and libraries that offer space for peer groups to meet. These days, you could also do a virtual option. Or you can enlist help from your mom friends and rotate homes for each meeting. If you do choose to meet in person, be sure to check with the parents of potential members to ensure that their child is comfortable coming to your home.

Decide on a format

There are lots of different formats you can use for your book club, including: 

• read aloud discussion, 
• guided reading, 
• and independent reading. 

If the kids read independently at home, they can then come prepared to answer questions about the book. Or have each child bring a question they have about the story.

Get creative! You could have the kids make a craft related to the book at each meeting. Or pull out the LEGOs and have kids build something that relates back to the book: a scene, a person, or an object. Or you might choose books that are also available as movies and then watch the film at each meeting. 

Keep trying new formats as you go along and see what works best for your group. You may find that some formats work better for certain types of books.

Choose books wisely

While it's important to pick books that everyone will enjoy and that encourage critical thinking skills, it's also important that they are at the right reading level. 

Additionally, try to look for books with a good mixture of male and female characters, as well as characters from different backgrounds and cultures. Diverse books are always a good choice. You can find a lot of them here on MommyMaestra.

Encourage discussion

Discussing the books is an essential part of a book club, so be sure to pick titles that will spark interesting discussions! You can even have your own "mystery box" that contains possible book choices, and let the kids choose from there.

If you don't want to read the books yourself, then you can: 

1. have your child lead the group and come up with questions to ask, or
2. look online for discussion questions. 

Author websites and publisher websites often have lesson plans or discussion questions that can be downloaded. But TpT is also a good place to look.

Put rewards in place

Whether it's a small prize or public praise, make sure the kids have some sort of reward in place to encourage their participation. Don't be afraid to add your own personal touch to this!

Here are a few reward ideas for kids ages 8 to 12.

Start small

Remember, you don't have to start with a huge group. A smaller group of dedicated readers is better than a large group that doesn't participate. You can always build up from there. Quality over quantity! (It's also a lot easier to manage and more budget friendly, depending on your reward plans.)

Be flexible

Try to be flexible with your book club plans. If a child can’t make it to a meeting, don’t force them to come. And if someone wants to bring a friend, that’s great! The more the merrier.

Use printable activity sheets

If you do a quick search for "book club printables" there are a lot of great options that come up. Think about using reading logs, book reports, bookmarks, reading craftivities, etc. Or challenge your children to design their own book club signs, member roster, book list, etc.

Later this week, I'll share some bilingual book club printables I designed and link to them here.

How to modify the book club for specific themes

If you want to focus on a specific theme for your book clubs, like science fiction or mystery, you can use these steps as a guide. Just make sure to choose books that fit the theme, and encourage discussion around that topic. You might even want to create some themed activities to go along with the reading.

Example: Summer Book Club

A good example of modifying a book club would be a summer book club. You can include classics like Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days or contemporary titles like Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Example: Hispanic Heritage Month Book Club for kids

If you're looking for a way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with kids, a book club is a perfect option. You can use books like Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan or The Mystery of the Mischievous Marker: A Mickey Rangel Mystery by René Saldaña Jr. or Bravo!: Poems About Amazing Hispanics by Margarita Engle if you are looking for books by Latino authors.

Example: Women's History Month for kids

If you're looking for a way to celebrate Women's History Month with kids, a book club is a perfect option. You could focus on books featuring strong female protagonists like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo.

Check out my post on 15 Children's Biographies Celebrating Women.

Where is the best place to buy books for book clubs?

First, always try your local library. Especially if the book club members live in different areas. But if your book club consists of neighborhood kids, chances are your library won't have enough copies for everyone. So, the best place to buy books for book clubs is typically a local bookstore or online retailer. Many bookstores will offer discounts for book club purchases, and you can often find good deals on used books as well. 

If you're looking for specific titles, it's usually best to check online retailers like Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.

How should an adult be involved in the book club?

Your level of involvement as an adult has in your children's book club will ultimately depend on the group's preferences. Some clubs may prefer that adults take a more hands-off approach, while others may appreciate having an adult chaperone or facilitator. Ultimately, it's up to the group to decide what level of involvement is best for them. You may lead discussions or just provide snacks and help with set up! 

Starting a book club can be a great way to encourage kids to read and discuss books critically. By choosing wisely, you can create a book club that is interesting for kids and encourages discussion. Be sure to have rewards in place to motivate the kids, and try to be flexible with your plans. If you want to focus on a specific theme or holiday, you can easily modify the book club to fit your needs.

Have you ever started a book club for kids? How did it work out?

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Book Review: Book Fiesta!
  
  
• Read for America: 3 Books that Inspire
  
  
• 40 Ways to Keep Your Child Excited About Reading
  
  
• Bilingual Reading Logs

image source: Canstock Photo - Ferli

40 Ways to Keep Your Child Excited About Reading

Happy May! 

For some, the end of the school year is in sight. For others, school will continue through the hot summer months. Either way, your child's reading development should be one of the things you stay on top of this summer.

This month, we'll be focusing on summer reading: tips, books, strategies, and more.

One challenge that parents face during the summer is keeping their kids excited about reading. So we've put together a short list of ways to make reading fun.

Did we miss one? Let us know!

© Can Stock Photo / evgenyatamanenko

40+ Ways to Get Your Kids Excited About Reading

1. Read with your child.
2. Make it special and set up a comfortable reading nook just for your child.
3. Visit the bookstore or library on a weekly basis.
4. Translate a story!
5. Read the book...then watch the movie... or vice versa! Discuss which one you liked better and why.
6. Involve friends. Invite your child's friends over for a book swap party.
7. Create your own book club and meet weekly to discuss new books.
8. Make puppets and then have your child(ren) put on a puppet show of the story for friends and family.
9. Dress up in costumes and re-enact the story! (Who doesn't love a good play?)
10. Write up a book report.
    
11. Read to a pet!
12. Help your child create a video book review!
13. Add variety. Read books, magazines, eBooks, cookbooks, fiction, non-fiction, biographies, comic books, graphic novels, classics, action & adventure...
14. Ask your child to write and illustrate his/her own story.
15. Read outside.
16. Read in the car.
17. Download an eBook app, such as Epic, Storia, or Readyland.
18. Go to the park to read!
19. Make up different endings.
20. Buy picture books without words and make up your own story.
    
    

    

    © Can Stock Photo / Choreograph
    
    

21. Read to a stuffed toy.
22. Use story boards.
23. Make meals mentioned in the story.
24. Create a felt story board.
25. Join a summer reading program.
26. Listen to audiobooks.
27. Create a reward chart.
28. Use reading logs to record their progress.
29. Use story cubes.
30. Use incentives (these can be physical items or simple privileges).
31. Read aloud. Pick a book you both love and take turns reading to each other.
32. Dress it up! Gift wrap a book you've carefully selected and give it to your child as a gift.
33. Make sure your child is reading books on her level. Books that are too difficult or advanced make reading a lot less fun.
34. Buy a fun book light at the dollar store. 
35. Bribery! (Lol!!)
36. Give your child his own library card.
37. Stay up late reading!
38. Read to a friend.
39. Read to Abuela or Abuelo (Grandma or Grandpa).
40. Let your child choose the book.
41. Find books on topics your child is interested in.
42. Vary your child's reading routine.

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Prepping for Summer with MommyMaestra
  
  
• 13 Free English & Multilingual Online Books for Children
  
  
• Read Around the World: Kutu, The Tiny Inca Princess
  
  
• Summer Reads: The Boy Who Touched the Stars
  
  
• Summer Reads: Luca's Bridge, El puente de Luca
  
  
• Read Around the World: Golden Tales

Media Literacy for Kids

The following post is in collaboration with The Juice Learning Company. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One thing the last four years have taught me is that as my kids get older, they need to be well informed about the world, as well as the events and people who are shaping our country. I feel an urgent need to make sure that they are able to distinguish between fact and fiction on the internet. And that they especially value the facts as they make decisions for themselves and their families. 

My oldest is a junior and my second is a freshman, so the pressure is on to get this done. That's why I've been actively searching for courses and tools to help.

So learning about The Juice Learning Company has been absolutely wonderful. If you've never heard of it, read on!

Quick Overview

Program: The Juice Learning Company
Religious Perspective: Secular
Format: (Self-Paced) online website
Ages: 
Price: $6.99/mo or $50.99/yr (homeschool version)

Teaching Current Events

Many high schools (and even middle schools) are beginning to assign current events reviews or projects. My oldest does it pretty regularly at her private high school. This is the first year I'm going to be implementing the same with my middle kid who is a homeschooled freshman. Why? Because it really helps my kids understand the important impact that people and events have on their lives and those of other people.

A Media Literacy Tool

The Juice is like a subscription-based news service... but more! Every week day (M-F), your child will receive an email telling them that their Juice for the day is ready. It is available in four different reading levels for students in 5th through 12th grade.

Their homepage has four different areas for them to click on. The first is the NEWS section with articles that are carefully curated by journalists and educators. These articles present JUST THE FACTS - no editorializing/commenting. Each one is approximately 200 words total. 

One of The Juice's biggest claims is that they are not biased one way or the other. Students are only presented with the facts and then are encouraged to dig deeper and develop their critical thinking skills.

The second section is labeled EXPLORE. This area lets students dive more deeply into any given topic via short informational posts or videos. Today as I write this, for example, some of the topics available to be read are: 

• The Suez Canal
• The Filibuster
• Iceland's Volcanoes
  
• Women and Sports 
• DC Statehood

When you click on one of the topics, a small pop-up window appears with more (scrollable) information for your student to explore.

I also like that each article has a read-aloud option for differentiated learning. This is also especially helpful for students with learning differences or who learn best while listening and reading.

The area on videos is hip and fun and perfect for young students. In fact, I sort of think they are created by high school or college students - but I don't know that. It just sounds and feels like a younger vibe presenting the information. And I think that makes it more engaging for my 9th grader. 

The third section is for QUIZ RESULTS. Every single story has interactive quizzing to measure reading comprehension. As a parent/educator, I can follow my kid's progress in my own dashboard which shows me his results and average score.

The final section is reserved for ANNOUNCEMENTS. Teachers who subscribe have the option to post announcements to their class. (This option is not available for homeschoolers.)

One more thing that I think is important is that educators and parents also have access to The Juice Blog where they post about important topics related to media literacy. These posts are super helpful and some contain tips for discussing issues with your kids. Take a look at their blog.

Option for homeschoolers

The Juice is available to homeschoolers in four different reading levels and each child can receive a different level. This edition of The Juice comes with five child accounts and is priced affordably for families.

Things that I like

I love that I don't have to worry about what my kid may be reading or anything that may distract him from the topic at hand. 

I also like that every day, The Juice includes at least one inspirational story about a remarkable person who is beating the odds or doing something incredible to leave the world a better place. 

Also, from my parent portal, I can see all of the same content that he does PLUS I can see:

• if he opened his email, 
• completed a quiz (and the score), 
• and if he watched a video or read the Extra Juice. 

It also gives me a cumulative grade average at the top in case I'm counting this as a separate class or want to incorporate the grades into his class grade or GPA. This final tool right here is gold for those of us homeschooling high schoolers and makes it easier for us to calculate their grades.

Sign up with a discount!

If this sounds like the type of tool you've been looking for and want to incorporate in your middle schooler or high schooler's curriculum, subscribe today! 

As a MommyMaestra reader, you can save 25% off the subscription price using my special discount code: JuiceMYMA.

Or if you prefer to try it out first, you can do so for a week at no charge. Click the link above for the free trial. 

Want to find this review again in the future? Pin it!

National Geographic Learning & Cengage

Heads up, homeschoolers! I wanted to make sure that you know about the Spanish/Dual-Language materials available from National Geographic Learning.

Their materials cover:

• Literacy
• Reading
• Social Studies
• Science
• and Language Development

You can take a look at their online catalog here.

Día de los Niños Activity Packet

April 30th is Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros. If you are looking for a few fun activities or materials to use in your classroom, check out my new Día de los Niños Activity Pack!

Día de los Niños Printable Activity Sheets

Inside this download, you'll find eight reading resources to celebrate Día with your students, including:

• A poster to hang in your classroom describing what Día is all about,
  
  
• Día bookmarks for your kids to color, cut, paste, and laminate (optional),
  
  
• What book am I? headbands (or Who am I? for alternate play featuring a character in a book you've read over the year),
  
  
• Spine List activity - just a fun way to record the titles of books,
  
  
• Book Bucks! in increments of $1, $5, or $10 for you to distribute as you see fit,
  
  
• Roll-a-Story game and game sheet (super fun!),
  
  
• a Book Report worksheet,
  
  
• and a fill-in-the-blank activity in which your students talk about what makes them unique

And as always, they are available in English and Spanish - you choose which language works best for you!

You can find it now in my TpT store.

You might also be interested in my Día reading passport! Actually, you can use this reading passport any time of the year and pair it with a reading challenge. 

And along the lines of literacy, be sure to follow MommyMaestra closely next month as I focus on helping you to prepare for summer reading. I have tons of book recommendations coming, as well as other resources and opportunities. 😉

Other Posts About Día You May Enjoy:

• Ways To Celebrate Día de los Niños, Día de los Libros/Children's Day, Book Day
  
  
• Día Craft: DIY Book Tutorial
  
  
• Día Craft: DIY Book-Inspired Sports ID Tag
  
  
• Día Craft: Music-Themed Magazine Holder
  
  
• Día Craft: Make Your Own Family Keepsake Book
  
  
• Reading Challenge & Passport
  
  
• New Books to Celebrate Día
  

Happy reading!

Read Around the World: Marti's Song for Freedom

One of my favorite series to participate in is the Read Around the World series by Multicultural Kid Blogs. I love following along and learning about amazing books recommended by bloggers scattered across the globe. It is a way for me to introduce my children to other countries and travel the world without leaving our living room.

The books represent countries far and wide. From Egypt to Indian to Sudan to Japan, these books are such a delight to read and so different, reflecting the diversity of cultures worldwide.

My selection for this year is shown above. I really loved this book and am happy to recommend it to everyone. I hope you enjoy it!

This post contains affiliate links.

• Book title: Marti's Song for Freedom 
• Author: Emma Otheguy
• Language: English and Spanish (Bilingual)
• Country/Culture: Cuba

This is the most recently released picture book featuring a Latino poet, and it is a beautiful tribute to the Cuban poet and activist, José Martí. Beautifully written, it is the story of Martí's life, how and why he left Cuba and his subsequent fight for Cuba's independence. With gorgeous illustrations by Beatriz Vidal, the book also includes excerpts from Marti's most famous work, Versos sencillos.
Ages 7-12

If you'd like to follow along, too, visit MulticulturalKidBlogs.com or the hashtag #ReadtheWorldMKB on your preferred social media channel.

The Magic Tree House Classroom Challenge

This year, the Magic Tree House will be celebrating its 25th anniversary. Hard to believe, isn't it?!? The popular series is just as fun to read today as it was back then. To celebrate, MTH invites students and teachers around the world to participate in their Magic Tree House Read Around the World Classroom Challenge!

If you are raising global citizens, you probably are already familiar with this series, which has books with settings all across the world. So participating in the challenge is easy. According to the website:

• Magic Tree House adventures take place all over the world. Together, set a goal for how many titles you would like to read about each continent. The books can be read alone, in pairs or groups, with older reading buddies, or read aloud by you. As you help students select books, keep in mind that there are now three distinct lines in the series that are explained on the back of this page.
• Download the starter materials. Hang up the poster to record your students’ progress and place the accompanying seals on each continent on the map as reading goals are met. Hand out the enclosed Progress Tracker Cards to each student, which you can use to track their individual progress.
• Once you’ve reached your goal, take a photograph of the poster and upload it here along with an official submission.
• You will receive a confirmation that you and your students are official Magic Tree House World Travelers and a certificate of achievement will be e-mailed to you.

Three random classrooms will be selected to receive:

• A Skype classroom visit with Magic Tree House author Mary Pope Osborne
• A class pizza party to celebrate their achievement
• A full set of Magic Tree House books

To sign up and download the materials, visit the Magic Tree House Teacher's Club website.

Browse through the Magic Tree House titles in English (like these)...
(aff links)

.,.and in Spanish (like these)!
(aff links)

And don't forget that I do have an activity kit to accompany your reading of the first three books in the Magic Tree House series. It's available in English and Spanish. Click here to read more about it and to download a free sample.

Reading Comprehension Passages on Famous Afro-Latinos

Did you know that February is Black History Month? Are you looking for materials to share with your students? If so, consider my packet of Reading Comprehension Passages: Afro-Latinos. This packet introduces children to seven Afro-Latinos, including:

• Celia Cruz
• Sammy Davis, Jr.
• Soledad O'Brien
• Roberto Clemente
• Martina Arroyo
• Pelé
• Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez

The one-page reading passages are designed for advanced readers in grades 3rd - 6th grades. And there are reading comprehension-boosting worksheets that require students to carefully read the text to find the answers. Answer keys are included for busy teachers.

This no-prep packet can be completed in one week or assigned as homework. Students can read the passages, highlight important vocabulary, and make notes.

You can find it here in my TpT store!

Alphabet Lotería - Lotería abecedario

Do you have little ones that are learning their ABCs? If so, check out my Alphabet Lotería/Lotería abecedario!

For a year or so, I've been working on this new printable. I wanted to create a children's version of the popular game using images with significant meaning in Hispanic culture. And I wanted them to work in both English and Spanish. This was really hard! But I'm really pleased with the final product.

As you probably know, Lotería is a traditional Mexican game of chance similar to bingo. Players each get at least one tabla (game board). But instead of using ping-pong balls marked with numbers, the lotería cantor (singer) selects a card and calls out its name or describes it with a riddle.

This Lotería can be played in multiple ways to enhance alphabet learners and includes:

• A brief history of Lotería
• Ways to play
• Ways to win
• 12 tablas (game boards) - 6 in English, and 6 in Spanish

You can download it here on MommyMaestra, or visit my TpT store and download it here.

App Review: Bob Books Reading Magic Sight Words & Giveaway

One of the best gifts you can give your child is the gift of reading. Without literacy, children are doomed to fail in school, struggle to find a job, miss valuable opportunities, and risk being taken advantage of their entire lives. Every child deserves to know how to read and write proficiently.

So I'm happy to share with you a new app from one of the leaders in teaching children to read. It's a great tool to help your child develop their literacy skills in a fun and easy way. 

Name: Bob Books Reading Magic Sight Words
Subject(s): Reading
Brief Description: An interactive, reading app that teaches children how to recognize and read sight words.
Price: $3.99
Language: English
Ages: 3 - 5 years
Device: iOS

Magic Sight Words is the newest release in the Bob Books reading app series. It focuses on further developing your child's reading skills as it features those sometimes tricky sight words. Your child will read each story using one of four different games: drag letters to spell, trace each word, spin letter dials to spell, and read and drag sight words to complete the sentence. They can change the game at any time to learn 30 of the most common Kindergarten sight words, such as saw, to, who and more. All of the stories feature the familiar Bob Book characters.

By the time your child completes this app, he or she should be able to read and sound out simple words, as well as spell these 30 sight words. As she successfully completes each new word, she'll be rewarded with engaging animations. I love these type of reward systems, which as so encouraging without penalizing mistakes. The animations bring the stories to life,  encouraging your child to read further.

Overall, this app is a great supplement to any reading curriculum by strengthening your child's sight-reading skills. The only thing that would make it better would be if it were available for Android, too, as I know that MANY of you prefer that type of device.

The Giveaway

Bob Books has generously offered this app to one MommyMaestra reader. If you have a child learning to read, this is a fun and valuable tool! Just use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win.

¡Buena suerte!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Star Wars Workbooks for First Grade

If you've followed me for some time now, then you know we are Star Wars fans. We are probably counting down the days to the movie more than we are counting down the days to Christmas. And, yes, we've already bought tickets. So today's giveaway should come as no surprise.

Last year, I was so thrilled to see these Star Wars Workbooks published. But I was was so disappointed when I saw that they only went up to the 2nd grade. (My son was starting 3rd grade!)

However, just because we couldn't use them doesn't mean that someone else can't!

If you have a house full of little Star Wars lovers, then perhaps these workbooks are for you?

These two books focus on Math and Reading. The books come from the creators of the Brain Quest series - one of my favorites. I've used Brain Quest workbooks every year with my kids because they are a fun and engaging way to teach children important concepts.

In math, your child will learn important concepts such as their numbers up to 120 by counting Ewoks and other characters, addition & subtraction with Jedi Addition, and word problems by reading about Tatooine.

In reading, your child will learn to read and write and phonics concepts, such as short and long "a" and ""sh," or basic grammar skills such as identifying nouns, verbs, and adjectives. The reading passages are cute and include fill-in-the-blank sentences to develop comprehension. It includes spelling and vocabulary lists, too.

Both books are aligned with Common Core State Standards (which is a negative in my book, but maybe not for you).

If you have a 1st or 2nd grader, these books are an excellent, fun way to practice those basic skills. If you have a kindergartner or preschooler, then you should get these books and just save them until your child is ready to use them. OR you can go buy the books for pre-k and kindergarten here (aff link).

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

• Celebrate May the 4th with Star Wars Books for Kids
  
  
• 5 Star Wars Gifts For Kids
  
  
• Star S'mores: A Lesson in Self Control
  
  
• Free May the Fourth Download
  
  
• Encouraging Reluctant Readers With Films

SightWords.com: A Free Online Reading Curriculum

Do you have or know a child who is learning to read in English? If so, do you know about the online program Sight Words?

It is a free educational resource for teaching children to read and the site has just introduced a great new curriculum, sponsored by the Georgia Preschool Association, for teaching Phonemic Awareness (also called Pre-Phonics) to children. Their site is packed with games, activities, and tools to help parents and educators prepare children for learning to read.

Their free and printable materials are designed to promote learning in the classroom and also at home. The site's features include:

• A Curriculum covering the full range of Phonological and Phonemic Awareness
• Classroom-tested Lessons based on the latest research, complete with “how-to” videos
• Printable picture cards, word lists, and game boards
• Teaching Tips for tailoring games to the specific needs of your students

Each sight words session is approximately 30 minutes and is divided into two components:

• Sight Words Lesson – Use our teaching techniques to introduce new words and to review words from previous lessons (10 minutes).
• Sight Words Games – Use our games to provide reinforcement of the lesson and some review of already mastered sight words to help your child develop speed and fluency (20 minutes).

What I love about this site is that the curriculum includes instructional videos for parents/educators to help them understand the concepts and how to play the games. Take a look:

Parents! Take advantage of these free resources whenever you can. They are there to help you!

10 Latinas in History Now Available in Spanish

Some of my more popular products during Hispanic Heritage Month are my reading commprehension packets that introduce students to real Latinos who have had an impact on world history.

I'm happy to share that my latest packet, 10 Latinas in History, is now available in Spanish!

If you're like me, you probably like to see a sample. So I have put together just a taste with English and Spanish of what you'll find in this packet. Both the English and Spanish versions have one-page reading passages on 10 Latinas. They also have a quote from each woman and some fast facts that include when and where she was born and her birth name.

Both packs also come with reading comprehension worksheets, dictionary work, and other assessment pages. An answer key is included.

DOWNLOAD YOUR SAMPLE FILE HERE

If you'd like to purchase the entire pack, you can find it in my TpT store: English version and Spanish version.

Enjoy!

Bilingual Minibook on the History of Lucha Libre

If you haven't visited my TpT store lately, please do! I've added a lot of new materials lately, including this new bilingual minibook on lucha libre. Those of you who have used my minibooks before know that they are best suited for younger students, as they are a mix of fun coloring pages coupled with brief descriptions in both English and Spanish.

Older students may prefer my one-page reading passages. Currently, these are available in English only. (I hope to have their Spanish editions done by the end of the year!) These files also come with a reading comprehension quiz and answer key. I currently have five available:

• A Brief History of Lucha Libre
• The History of Day of the Dead
• A Brief History of the San Patricios
• The History of Cascarones
• The REAL History of Cinco de Mayo

Enjoy!

Reading Rainbow Releases New DVD and eBook App

Welcome back to MommyMaestra's Back-to-School Fiesta! Today I'm featuring my favorite show when I was a child. It was - hands down - Reading Rainbow. The show ran for 26 years on PBS, and while I stopped watching when I hit high school (mostly) it was still one of those treasured memories from my childhood. To this day, I can sing the theme song by heart. (Raise your hand if you can, too.)

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For the past five years or more, I've been lamenting the fact that my own kids couldn't see the show and have the same experience. I've closely followed (and contributed to) the Reading Rainbow Kickstarter campaign and danced a little happy dance as I watched all the support role in until the show had raised over $5 million dollars to bring LeVar and the show back.

This past June, Reading Rainbow released their first new DVD called "Animal Café" and it is awesome! I got my hands on one and it is going to stay in my family video library forever. The four episodes from the original show feature these books:

• “Animal Cafe,” read by Martin Short, 
• “The Tortoise and the Hare,” read by Gilda Radner, 
• “Ludlow Laughs,” read by Phyllis Diller, 
• and “Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message,” read by Nicholson Earl Billey.

Did you see that? Gilda Radner!! I loved that woman.

Anyway, my kids loved this video almost as much as I did. And we're clamoring for more.

 

But the reading doesn't end there because Reading Rainbow has also released a new online service for kids called SKYBRARY. It is a virtual library for kids that is available for mobile devices AND computers with internet connection!

When I registered, I was prompted to set up my account and add my children. After that, when we login, my children just have to select the hot air balloon with their name and off they go!

This virtual library allows your children to pilot their own personal hot air balloons among SKYBRARY'S 7 uniquely-themed islands, each featuring a wide array of quality literature and video content. These engaging worlds of animals, music, adventure, science, heroes, friends and family feature more than 500 books from esteemed authors and acclaimed publishers.

Your kids can choose the option of  “read by myself” or “read to me,” and many of the books contain interactive elements that enhance enjoyment while preserving the reading experience. My kids just click on the island they want to visit and then they select a video or a book. They add the books to their virtual backpack before reading them, and when they are done, they put the books in the "book return" to free up space in their backpack and let them check out new books.

In addition to books, there are more than 150 newly produced and classic video field trips with host LeVar Burton that show children they can “Go Anywhere, Be Anything” as they are taken behind the scenes to places such as the White House, the Los Angeles Ballet, the Grand Canyon, and Cirque du Soleil.

SKYBRARY is available at www.readingrainbow.com and offers a 14-day free trial with unlimited access to the complete digital library of books and videos. After the trial period ends, subscription plans are available.

So if you'd like to offer your kids this wonderful book, join up! Remember, they just have to...

Take a look

It's in a book

The Reading Rainbow!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this DVD & website trial for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own!