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(Unit 4) Topic 2: Spanish in the Early Childhood Classroom

1 Clock Hour of Early Childhood Education

Appropriate Curriculum

​Topic 2 Page 7

What to Teach?

​There are a variety of Spanish curriculum options available for purchase. If applicable, research and talk to your director about the possibility of using one in your classroom. If a “pre-packaged” program is not suitable, you can still integrate Spanish into your classroom in less formal ways. Even though you may not be using a commercially published curriculum, you are responsible for teaching quality material. Make sure you are doing research and studying the information before presenting it to your students. ​

Let Student’s Interests Guide Learning
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Each classroom has a unique atmosphere and chemistry. Be mindful of the children that are in your classroom, including their interests, temperaments, and learning styles when planning instruction. If your students have a particular curiosity for a subject, you can teach them about it in Spanish as well.

​Forcing students to simply memorize and regurgitate information that they place no value in will only be an uphill battle. If you are not sure what a child’s interests are or if you believe they have changed throughout the year, take the time to do an interest inventory with them or send one home for their parents to fill out. There are tons of surveys available online for young children.  

Support for Families
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Parental engagement in language learning is a must! Before you begin to introduce Spanish curriculum in your classroom, be sure to communicate with parents that you are doing so. Not only do they deserve to know what their children are learning, they can also help students in practicing their Spanish. Unfortunately for teachers, language learning is best done through one-on-one or small group instruction. While you may not have the means to do so in your classroom, you can use parents as allies. Include Spanish vocabulary you would like families to study on your monthly or weekly newsletters. If you have any Spanish-speaking family members, invite them to speak with your class. Not only do students love guest speakers, this invitation is respectful to native speakers. You can also host a Spanish Curriculum Night at your school to introduce, explain and answer questions parents or guardians may have. 

(Unit 4) Topic 2: Spanish in the Early Childhood Classroom * Navigation Menu