Help support Ms. Gordon's Classroom

The key to building fluency and vocabulary in any language is to complement oral communication with reading. We are already reading, but we need more materials to allow for more student choice! After creating a story in class or discussing our lives, current events, or cultural topics, we do readings on those topics or new ones to cement the learning. Often I create multiple versions of a reading with increasing difficulty in language and structure to help the students acquire even more language and a mental picture of how the words fit together in Spanish. With an expanded library of books written for language students at their fingertips, my students will be able to choose books for silent reading that are compelling to them. Numerous studies show the gains in fluency through self-selected reading for pleasure. Because these novels are comprehensible, students become absorbed by the story and sometimes do not realize they are reading in another language! The benefits from silent reading are tremendous: increased proficiency in the language, a boost in confidence, and the potential for a lifelong love of reading. We also read during "Kindergarten Day (KD)": I read a children's book to the class as I ask questions in Spanish to help them further engage with the text through predicting what might happen and comparing the story with their own lives. I use a large pad of paper to highlight the "target structures"---words and phrases we are focusing on in a unit---which is why the large pads of paper and markers are included here. Some students sit on the floor on a large blanket I've brought in, and they can also bring in snacks. The bean bag chairs would serve to make both silent reading and KD a cozier, positive experience.

About my class

The key to building fluency and vocabulary in any language is to complement oral communication with reading. We are already reading, but we need more materials to allow for more student choice! After creating a story in class or discussing our lives, current events, or cultural topics, we do readings on those topics or new ones to cement the learning. Often I create multiple versions of a reading with increasing difficulty in language and structure to help the students acquire even more language and a mental picture of how the words fit together in Spanish. With an expanded library of books written for language students at their fingertips, my students will be able to choose books for silent reading that are compelling to them. Numerous studies show the gains in fluency through self-selected reading for pleasure. Because these novels are comprehensible, students become absorbed by the story and sometimes do not realize they are reading in another language! The benefits from silent reading are tremendous: increased proficiency in the language, a boost in confidence, and the potential for a lifelong love of reading. We also read during "Kindergarten Day (KD)": I read a children's book to the class as I ask questions in Spanish to help them further engage with the text through predicting what might happen and comparing the story with their own lives. I use a large pad of paper to highlight the "target structures"---words and phrases we are focusing on in a unit---which is why the large pads of paper and markers are included here. Some students sit on the floor on a large blanket I've brought in, and they can also bring in snacks. The bean bag chairs would serve to make both silent reading and KD a cozier, positive experience.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Ms. Gordon's Classroom Edit display name

Support her classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Support Ms. Gordon's classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

About my class

About my class

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Ms. Gordon's Classroom Edit display name

Support her classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Support Ms. Gordon's classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

About my class

About my class

Share this classroom

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.