In Spanish, words with C, S, & Z have the same sound. They are pretty confusing to write if you don't know the rules. The Spelling Rules in Spanish might be the solution to these questions. Rules with word examples will help reduce doubts when questioning the correct way of writing them. The purpose of this resource is to assist them. The practice task cards can be used in the literacy … [Read more...]

Like most bilingual teachers, I had to make my Spanish resources available when I wanted to focus on certain areas that were not covered in the district’s baseline. I remember thinking, " How come they have all those pamphlets in English and nothing in Spanish?” After all, Spanish-speaking students must pass the Standardized test, too, just like English speakers. Oh … [Read more...]

I have asked this question more than once throughout my 20 years of experience as a bilingual teacher. It's never easy to find the right answer; it's just a matter of trial and error. I just know we need to have a lot of patience and more than anything else, LOVE and COMPASSION. There is no other way. When I first started my career as a PreK Teacher, I had absolutely no classroom experience … [Read more...]

Now that we had just started the second semester of the school year 2016-17,  teachers need to focus on discipline and handling students that are troublemakers. We don't have to go too far if they've been in our school for a while, They have the tendency of getting a label, and everyone knows what they're made off. Sad but true. I always focus on the positive instead of the negative. Somewhere in … [Read more...]

Parents are a very important component of your day to day work relationship with your students, the Administration, and District you work for and nowadays, when some districts have given the parents so much power, I will advise you to be careful and cognizant of that power. Keep our friendly parents close and the unfriendly closer because those are the ones that can get you in real trouble. Even … [Read more...]

    When you spend a time organizing your classroom way before school starts, I can guarantee you it's going to be successful! From the time your students come into your classroom, routines you want to implement, behavior down the hall, boundaries, rules, consequences, if it's all figure out before school, you will accomplish your goal.     What are you … [Read more...]

Negative management creates a hostile ambiance that doesn't create a positive situation in the workplace. People usually feel very susceptible towards a leader that is view as a tyrant. Leadership is Key to Positive Schools" written by Starr Sackstein is a great article that talks about the basic requirements to be a good principal. Treat people the way you want to be treated: THE GOLDEN … [Read more...]

Marzano's Six Step Process Posters in Spanish When I first started teaching third grade bilingual students, I thought that in order for them to pass the state test, which in Texas is called the STAAR, they needed to acquire a lot of vocabulary. Why did I think this? First of all, they do not practice their language, Spanish, at home and if they do, it's not the proper Castilian Spanish that's … [Read more...]

Those first days of school are hectic and crazy! New students, new rules and new roster. We have a lot of paperwork and information to fill out and it needs to be done on those first days of school. Collecting information  about ways to  contact parents, students' transportation from and back home, learning their names, meeting parents at the door, it can get intense. The day is not long … [Read more...]

A little facelift to an old document. Teachers like the contents in black and white because it's easier for them to print. Still under construction will be on sale before the end of this month.   … [Read more...]