In this post: Learn how to raise biliterate children with our 5-step roadmap. Discover tips and resources for teaching your kids to read and write in Spanish.
If you’re raising a bilingual child, developing their biliteracy is a vital part of becoming fluent in both languages. Through simple but powerful storytimes, building biliteracy can begin before your child starts reading on their own.
In this guide you’ll learn how to raise a biliterate child at home with simple strategies, so you can help lay the foundation for reading and writing in two languages.
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What is Biliteracy?
By definition, biliteracy is being able to read and write fluently in two languages.
Just as we learn to speak AND read and write in our dominant language, we should also prioritize developing those skills in our target, or minority, language.
The mission of many Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs across the United States is for all students to reach high level of academic achievement and biliteracy.
Can children learn to read in two languages at the same time?
Yes! It’s a myth that learning two languages at once can confuse children. Many bilingual families and DLI programs successfully teach reading and writing in both languages from an early age.
Why Biliteracy Matters for Bilingual Children
Biliteracy is fundamental to the process of educating in two languages. Here are just a few reasons why it’s so important to teach your child how to read in Spanish:
- Deeper understanding of language & culture: Biliteracy allows your child to understand both languages at a higher level. They’ll also be able to read more advanced literature and other media for a deeper appreciation of the language and culture.
- Enhanced communication: While speaking is important, written communication also continues to be increasingly important in today’s world. Being able to read and write in Spanish supports vocabulary development and allows for more effective communication.
- Academic recognition & career opportunities: The Seal of Biliteracy’ is an award given by many states in recognition of students who have achieved proficiency in two languages. Being fluent in two languages can open doors to competitive careers.
What age should children start learning to read in Spanish?
Every child learns to read at their own pace, but children can begin developing Spanish literacy skills as early as preschool through simple activities like reading stories, learning phonics, and playing vocabulary games.
5 Steps for Raising Biliterate Children
Before we get into the tips and resources for raising a biliterate child, be sure to download this FREE 5-Step Roadmap that covers the same content as this post.
To access it, simply login to our Spanish Freebie Library.
1. BOOK OWNERSHIP
Children are very visual and tactile. They will touch, feel and explore their surroundings, so take advantage of this by creating a print rich environment at home.
Book baskets, magazine racks and front-facing book displays are all excellent ways to store books. When children have the reading material readily accessible and at their eye level, they are far more likely to engage with it spontaneously.
It may feel a little silly, but crouch down to their level and view the room from their perspective. Where are your eyes drawn? Can they easily access age appropriate books?
“Books plant the first seed in the garden of education
Explore these related links to learn about our top recommendations for Spanish books for kids:
- Binibi Musical Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers. Adorable sing-along books in Spanish!
- Spanish Reading Wands with Habbi Habbi. They are bilingual and have words, phrases, and entire story books.
- Spanish Audio books. Great for on the go and bedtime.
2. Read Aloud daily
We are intrinsically wired for sharing stories. It is simply human nature to love hearing, sharing and reading stories.
Reading aloud has incredible power beyond literacy development. It bonds families and makes memories that are shared for a lifetime. No doubt you have inside jokes with your family that stem from a memorable story.
Reading aloud also supports vocabulary acquisition, while strengthening cognition, attention span, relationships and empathy.
Repeat, repeat, repeat!
Introduce new titles, but also honor their requests to read the same book over and over again. Repeated readings have benefits like building vocabulary acquisition and memorization, whilst nurturing family bonding and shared memories.
So next time they ask to read ‘La oruga muy hambrienta’ for the hundredth time that week, just say yes, and then follow with a new story!
3. phonological awareness
Learning the sounds of the letters should be the first priority. Our thematic Llamitas Spanish curriculum levels include native speaker audio for phonics and pronunciation work.
Phonemic awareness can also be developed by using songs and rhythmic phrases. We use short, authentic poetry recitations in our curriculum and sound and syllable listening activities.
Another great resource is ‘Canta las letras’ by 123 Andrés.
Related Post: Spanish Leveled Books
Tracing and letter recognition is the next layer to phonics work. Handwriting practice and fine motor skills are also developed through the Llamitas curricula activities.
Some families choose to teach the alphabet in the minority language first, or simultaneously with the dominant language.
Personally, we chose the latter. Sometimes mixing happens, but your child will eventually master both and differentiate as they get older.
Related Post: Should your Kids Be Learning Spanish and English Phonics at the Same Time?
4. from sounds to reading
Being able to discuss stories and understand context, while picking out key bits of information, are important comprehension skills.
There are a few ways you can develop this including getting into the habit of talking about stories and asking questions, as well as using different forms of input like auditory.
Talk about Stories
Discuss the books you read in a fun way!
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents”
Ask your child what they thought of the characters, the plot, the ending. Ask questions that encourage them to form opinions, such as: ‘What part of the story did you like most?’ ‘Which is your favorite character?’ ‘What do they think will happen next?’
Talking about stories will help develop your child’s communication skills and critical thinking.
It can also help you figure out the genre or type of books and characters they most enjoy, so you can surprise them with more in that series, or written by the same author.
Our Level 3 Curriculum develops comprehension skills through an anthology of Latin American folktales. Each story includes a series of comprehension and grammar activities to develop biliteracy.
Listen to Spanish Story Podcasts
Audio books are a great way to develop listening comprehension skills. We love the Yoto Player and app for listening to stories in both English and Spanish.
Spanish podcasts for kids like ‘Eat your Spanish’ (beginners) and ‘Hoy Quiero Contarles’ (advanced) are perfect for on the road!
5. Vocabulary Games
Learning vocabulary with hands-on games and movement is ideal for younger kids.
Flashcards often get a bad rap. But at Llamitas Spanish we harness the child’s love for games to teach the unit vocabulary with gorgeous watercolor flashcards.
Fun Ways to Use Flashcards
Here are a few games you can play with flashcards to develop biliteracy. For a complete round-up of ideas see this post on how to use Spanish flashcards for language learning.
Bingo: This is a fun and easy game that even younger children can play. We have a FREE Llamitas Spanish bingo download in our Freebie Library. We also highly recommend Lil’ LoterÃa from Lil Libros.
Matching and memory games: This is another fun game for little learners and is a fantastic way to build memory skills.
Flashcard fishing: Simply add a magnet to back of the flashcard and another to a string on a wooden stick. Then go fishing! As the child pulls up a flashcard from the imaginary ‘ocean’, you can repeat the words.
Snap: Make two or more copies of each flashcard and laminate them to enjoy a fun and simple game of snap. Again, this is great for little learners that cannot read yet.
Pictionary: For older children you can enjoy drawing pictures of the vocabulary and have someone guess what it is.
Hide and seek: My children love this game. Just hide the flashcards around the house and they have to search for them. They can only get the point if they bring it to you and say its name.
Scavenger Hunts: We love a good scavenger hunt! This can be trying to find objects around the home to match the vocabulary flashcards, or even venturing outdoors to find the items in nature.
Music and movement: Reciting lyrics and combining words with actions is a powerful combo for second language acquisition! Gross movement games like Simon says and charades also support your child in consolidating their learning while having fun in the process.
Our curriculum levels include plenty of fun games, movement activities and songs!
Start Building True Biliteracy with Llamitas Spanish
If you’re ready to get started teaching your child to read and write in Spanish, our structured, open-and-go Spanish curriculum has you covered every step of the way.
Llamitas Spanish curriculum levels are designed to provide you with academic, authentic lessons to support your child’s biliteracy and bilingual journey in the preschool and elementary years.
Preschool Spanish Morning Binder
The Preschool Morning Binder is the perfect starting place for preschoolers. Lessons are short and simple and focus on the Spanish alphabet, and blending CV syllables (like ma, me, mi, mo, mu).
Level 1 Curriculum
Level 1 Curriculum includes 12 thematic Spanish units that develop foundational early academic skills in phonics, math, literacy, music and fine and gross motor.
Perfect for beginners!
From ‘la granja’ (farm) to ‘el espacio’ (space), the units lay the foundations in Spanish phonics and reading.
Levels 2-4 continue to develop the child’s Spanish language arts and fluency at a higher and deeper level. Not sure where your child should begin? Take our placement quiz today and we’ll guide you!
Founder of the Llamitas Spanish® Curriculum and former Spanish teacher. Corrie holds two Master Degrees in Spanish and Education. She lives in San Diego, California with her husband and two bilingual children.