Resources for Teachers and Writers when Using a Book

Little More About Mi Libro

El Pato Carlos finally arrived at Teacher’s Discovery and he is sure tomake a lot of teachers happy! Carlos is featured in a very easy-to-read book which offers lots of engaging activities to get students learning and enjoying Spanish. .

Check here testimonial from the super amazing Julie Speno of Mundo de Pepita:

“Ana Siquiera’s interpretation of the Duck song is super cute, perfect for novice learners and engaging for all ages. This would be a great addition to a theme on food and/or emotions, or as part of a FVR classroom library!” Julie Speno

Check here a quick BookTrailer

How did I get this idea?

One day, when I was teaching Spanish at St. Paul’s Clearwater Independent School. My third graders asked me if I could create a story based on the super viral video “The Duck Song.” We watched it together and I loved it. It was the perfect video to teach some super verbs in Spanish. 

So, I asked authorization from the songwriter- Bryantt Oden – and prepared some Powerpoint slides to outline the story. The kids loved it and in the end they could share the story in Spanish.

Then, I thought, “What if I could write a book about the same?”

And, with Bryantt Oden’s authorization, I wrote the book. Since I do love using Comprehensible Input to teach Spanish and use this input when asking questions to my students, I also included some tables that can be used to ask questions and guide instruction on certain topics, should the teacher want additional resources. 

I went to Teacher’s Discovery and I saw a place to submit proposals. I submitted my proposal with samples of illustrations done by an amazing illustrator from Argentina, Adriana Cinefuentes. 

To my surprise, an hour later I got an email from Steve Giroux stating he would be interested in speaking to me further about the project.

And now, one year later, my book has been published. 

Ideas/Resources for Teachers and Writers when talking about a book

Thinking about helping teachers, I have also created a Teacher’s Guide with 28 pages filled with ideas for activities, games, handouts, and even math problems. Teachers can pick and choose the activities.  They can buy a guide by going to TPT- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Teachers-Guide-to-be-Used-with-The-Duck-Song-or-Book-El-Pato-Quiere-Uvas-4720507

My students’ favorite part of the experience was drawing the story; see one of my student’s pictures below. So cute!!!

Here I’m also including some ideas you can use to make reading this story or other stories even more engaging and fun. 

Quiz Quiz Trade by Kagan

1. Students will get index cards.
2. They will write on one side a question (given by teacher), on the back the answer (teacher should check for accuracy).
3. Students will go around, raise their hands and find a  partner.
4. Each student will read his/her  question and see if the partner knows the answer. If he/she does not know, try helping them out or read the answer.
5. Students trade index cards and go find another partner
6. For low level or lower grades they can write half of the sentence in one side and half on the other. Such as el pato es… amarillo.

The Marker Game

1. After reading the book or a section of it, 
2. Put kids sit in 2 rows sitting facing each other (or divide in a way there are always 2 children facing each other)
3. Put a marker on the floor (or desk) in between each pair
4. You will read a statement, if the statement is true, the students should try to pick the marker. The group with the most markers get a point.
5. If the statement is false, they should not get the markers. If some students grab the marker during a false statement, the group loses point accordingly.

RUNNING DICTATION

1. The teacher will spread 6/10 sentences throughout the classroom.
2. Divide students into groups of 2.
3. One student will be the writer, one will dictate the sentences.
4. The one who dictates the sentences goes around the class. Come back to the writer and tell him/her (by memory) the whole sentence or part of it.
5. When one sentence is done, the student finds the second one and dictates it again.
6. In the middle of the game, switch writers and dictators.

Variation – DRAWING DICTATION

Draw sentences when the dictator says it. 

Then this drawing can be used for them to retell the story to each other or to a group.

DRAW A COMIC STRIP

Students will love to draw comic strips of the story with or without template. Check an example below.

ONLINE GAMES

Also, you can use Kahoot, Quizziz, Gymkit, Quizlet live, etc to play games with reading comprehension questions.  There are many other ideas included in my guide. 

If you buy one book – click here – for you or a set for FVR (Free Voluntary Reading) library, contact me, and we can set up a Skype session with your students.

I hope these ideas can make this book or your book presentation a super engaging one.

CONTACT ME AT asiqueira1307@gmail.com