This post covers weeks 7-10 of the Speekee Accelerate programme. We did pretty well to keep momentum going what with Christmas and New Year, I think there was just one week where we didn’t do anything! It is definitely important to do a little bit as often as possible with this so as to maintain your child’s interest, even if that means simply watching the videos every day. Read More »Speekee® Accelerate Review: Weeks 7-10
We have just signed up for the Family Subscription with Rockalingua and I just had to write this blog post about it as it is a fantastic resource! Everything from the design and quality of the videos and songs to the worksheets is faultless – As a Home Educator and Spanish teacher I can’t believe I didn’t subscribe sooner!Read More »Review: Rockalingua
I like to read children’s books to my students that have one word or phrase that is repeated a lot, that way I can read the story in English and just translate one word or phrase into Spanish so that they are hearing it in it’s context, over, and over, and over again.
I Want My Hat Back
Arriba, Abajo y Alrededor = Up, Down and Around
by Katherine Ayres & Nadine Bernard Westcott is a wonderful book that was a great hit with all the children. It is simple to read with lovely bright illustrations. I used it to accompany a food unit I did during the Autumn.
With the older children, we read it together, taking turns as we passed it around the class. This was a great exercise for them to practice reading with vocabulary they recognised but in short sentences.
With the younger one as well as simply reading it, we played a game. Whenever I said each of the words in the title the children had to act out the meaning. So when I read (arriba) they stretched up as high as they could, get down on the floor as low as they can when I read (abajo) and spin around for (alrededor). This is great fun and really gets the children listening and understanding first prepositions while learning new vocabulary.Read More »Book review – Arriba, Abajo y Alrededor
Welcome to a vibrant celebration that brings joy, tradition, and cultural richness to Spanish-speaking countries every January 6th – Three Kings Day! Known as Día de los Reyes Magos in Latin America and Spain, this enchanting holiday commemorates the legendary journey of the Three Wise Men to honor the birth of baby Jesus. As we delve into the captivating tales, unique customs, and mouthwatering delicacies surrounding this festive occasion, prepare to embark on an extraordinary exploration of the rich traditions that make Three Kings Day truly unforgettable. So grab your crown and let’s dive into a world brimming with magic and merriment!
Read More »Exploring the Rich Traditions of Three Kings Day in Spanish-Speaking Countries
Weeks 1 & 2
These lessons introduce simple everyday phrases in Spanish such as “Donde esta…” (where is) and “No lo sé” (I don’t know). They are introduced in the videos without written meaning and repeated often.
We did the name & number worksheet activities that go with these lessons.Read More »Speekee® Accelerate Review: Weeks 1-6
I am reviewing the Speekee® Accelerate Programme that was launched in November 2015.
Speekee is an Online Spanish resource designed for children that are Home Educated. I subscribed to the Fastrack program designed for 4-7 year olds earlier this year and found it to be very useful in supporting our language learning journey at home. The Accelerate programme is designed for students age 8+.
This post was inspired by the bilingual children’s book I’m working on with a colleague. I’m researching South American animals and was remembering the amazing encounters I’ve had with so many many of these animals while I was there. Read More »10 Animals unique to South America
This is a great game to accompany a food unit. The children have to think of 10 fruits and vegetables. Once they have ten items s/he is required to draw that person using only the items on the list. Then they can label the body parts in Spanish.Read More »“Plant People” Game
I was researching how to become a certified translator here in the UK and was surprised to discover that there is no certification or accreditation requirement in this country. In fact, so long as you are registered with the HMCR you can legally provide translation services. You do not need a fixed address either which means that translation services can be offered as online services!
However, in order for my clients to feel confident with the translations services I provide it is important for me to become certified at the highest level. Read More »Do I need to become certified to provide translation services?
