I Can Read in Spanish! But I've Only Been Here For a Month!

You would never know my middle school Spanish classroom is in Oklahoma because once you step in the doors, you need a passport to feel at home. Spanish-speaking countries and culture can come to life even in the middle of a 100-year old, Oklahoma Title I school.

Reading is difficult in any language for some of my students, but they recognize and value childrens books. Getting them to love reading in a second language is tough, but if they know a book because they've seen it in English, they're far more likely to give it a shot in Spanish.

My method of teaching is called TPRS: Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling. Being Middle-Schoolers and first-time second language learners, their comprehension level in the target language is similar to a Preschooler's. My students need 35 different childrens' books in Spanish--everything from "Cat in the Hat" to "Twilight"--to show them that literacy is possible (and easy!) in all languages! Children's books are the easiest way to reach a student and make them feel far smarter than they might actually be. In my classroom today we read "La Oruga Muy Hambrienta", or "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". Although the students have only been in my class for a few weeks and certainly do not know all of the vocabulary needed to read the book and understand it word-for-word, they were able to get the gist just by calling on their prior knowledge of the story. They took about an hour to read the book with me today. Each question I asked in Spanish was answered by at least 5 students--all throwing in different input on the colors on the page, the number of objects, and even what the weather was like. Although none of this had to do with the actual words on the page, they felt SUCCESS because as the bell rang, we finished reading a story entirely in Spanish.

You will make it possible for my students to think creatively in another language. Your generosity will allow them to experience other cultures, another language, and learning in a more interactive, creative way. My students will see the value in reading--creating a positive impact on their literacy and encouraging them to pursue tasks that seem daunting (such as reading a book in a foreign language). Your help will build my library, allowing my students to read more often in the classroom. Middle school students will find it cool to learn--to be the one with the answers--because learning is comfortable when you associate new topics (Spanish) with old knowledge (Dr. Seuss and other childhood bedtime books). My kids will be readers—a title that many students lack. Reading allows sparks of imagination back into their lives—this time, in a foreign language.