Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This totally bilingual website (a collaboration between Reading Rockets and the American Federation of Teachers) is packed with information for both ENL/ESL and regular classroom instructors about how to encourage reading. Although the focus is on Spanish speaking students, the information is specific and easily adaptable for all reading learners. Lots of information is available on the site concerning not only reading instructional techniques, but building partnerships with families of Hispanic students, placement and assessment, and important authors. Webcast information programs include accompanying reading and discussion questions. This site is a good resource to help meet the needs of increasing numbers of students born speaking other languages. Videos and webcasts reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, they may not be viewable.

tag(s): hispanic (28), parents (60), reading lists (80), reading strategies (98), spanish (105)

Here's a collection of outstanding books by Hispanic authors and/or about Hispanic themes for children and young people. Teachers and librarians may find this list helpful in selecting appropriate or attractive titles for their students. Click the title to see a description; some will have a classroom unit with reading levels and standards. Not only are the yearly winners listed here, but you can search by several categories such as Immigration, Civil Rights , Artists, Musicians, and Writers, various Latino countries, and several others. Clicking the category will produce a PDF you can take to the library or send home to parents.

tag(s): book lists (161), hispanic (28), reading lists (80), spanish (105)

This National Park Service page offers dozens of lesson plans based on American historic sites and events. While all are ostensibly for grades 5-12, these vary widely in their complexity, and teachers will need to determine the actual utility of these for their classrooms. There are enough options here, however, that those interested in American history should routinely check for curriculum connections.

tag(s): african american (110), american revolution (82), archeology (25), civil rights (194), civil war (134), hispanic (28), immigration (64), lincoln (60), migration (44), native americans (91), politics (112), spanish (105), war of 1812 (14), women (137), world war 1 (72), world war 2 (149)

This site from the National Park Service shows several historic sites associated with Hispanic culture in the U.S. It can also lead to an appropriate selection of lessons from the NPS Teaching with Historic Places series. These lessons are a nice way to integrate Hispanic themes and contemporary accounts into an American history unit.

tag(s): hispanic (28), national parks (27), resources (88), spanish (105)