1. Check out books and tapes at your local public library. Some branches even have a Spanish story hour for children.

2. Designate a time for daily family reading and/or silent reading. Encourage your child to read something in Spanish as well as English.

3. Invite a classmate/schoolmate over to have a special “Spanish Evening” or “Spanish Night Over”.

4. Invest in books that are written in Spanish (many are available with audio tapes or CD’s).

5. Let your child call a student from our school to speak Spanish on the phone.

6. Give your child the necessary supplies to write letters to Spanish speaking family and/or friends from school.

7.Ask your child to use Spanish writing skills to write to the Embassies or Offices of Tourism of Spanish speaking countries. Request information, pamphlets, posters, postcards, and booklets about the country. Use the information to make your own travel guide, mural, poster, etc.

8. Visit a local Hispanic Market.

9. In West St. Paul there are many Mexican-American owned and operated restaurants. Take the night off and try some Mexican food. Cheer your child on as s/he helps you order your meal in Spanish.

10. Try a local Spanish restaurant.

11. Talk about the reasons you want your child to learn another language.

12. Ask your child why s/he thinks it is important to know additional languages.

13. Discuss how a person becomes a proficient speaker of any language. (i.e. practice, making mistakes, listening to others use the language, talking, talking, talking!).

14. Tell your child stories of what it was like when s/he first started speaking English. (Did s/he speak in complete sentences? Did s/he know all the words in the English language? Did s/he quit because of that or did your child stop and think and then describe what was needed even if s/he did not know the exact word?).

15. Review the songs and poems that your child sings or recites at school. Your child can sing or recite the song or poem by memory or you can ask your child to teach you the song or poem.
16. Encourage your son or daughter to write letters, stories, make books, and label the pictures s/he draws.

17. Invest in a Spanish picture dictionary for your child.

18. Become a Host family for the Amity Scholar program, or be an “Aunt and/or Uncle” family to an Amity.

19. Invite an Amity for dinner, a party, or include an Amity in a family outing.

20. Ask an Amity to baby sit for your child/children.

21. Take one of the family companion classes that are offered through the school and community education.

22. Participate in adult summer language camp. Sign your child up in Spanish Camp Summer Classes. Call the District’s Summer School Office at (952) 928-6325 for information.

23. Purchase children’s videos and music in Spanish.

24. Provide your child with the necessary materials to create a calendar in Spanish.

25. Attend the various cultural events that take place throughout the year. (Festival of nations, Cinco de Mayo Parade, Méxican Independence Day, Día de los Muertos, etc.).

26. Watch the children’s programs on the Spanish Cable Channel.

27. Acquire Spanish programs for your computer.

28. Label the objects of your home in Spanish.

29. Read and discuss news articles that relate to Spanish-Speaking countries.

30. Routinely ask your child the name of some of the following questions:

31. Cross the border! If, by chance you are traveling to the southwest, take the opportunity to cross the border into México for a few hours or days. Let your child be the official translator.

32. Make and break a beautiful piñata for your child’s birthday.

33. Keep an eye open for summer activities in Spanish. (Hosting an exchange student, Language camps, summer study programs for families in México).

34. Read “Skipping Stones” magazines at your local public library. It is a multi-cultural magazine written by children. Some entries are submitted in Spanish.

35. If your child has an older sibling who speaks Spanish, allow them to choose a time of day that they will only use Spanish to communicate.

36. Recognize, praise, and encourage any efforts your child makes to speak Spanish. Often times just the vocalization of our pride in his/her efforts can make the difference.

37. Check your libraries for free Latin American concerts.

38. Call the Northrop Auditorium for Latin Music presentations.

39. Explore the links in the Recursos para Estudiantes section of this website.

40. Read one of the following books (for adults):

41. Read the Hispanic Heritage Month calendar of Events.

42. Visit the Resource Center of the Americas.

43. Subscribe to a Spanish magazine. Ask a teacher, or Sra. Yepes for assistance.

44. Ask an older PSI student to read to your child in Spanish after school, or help your child with homework, mentor or baby sit younger children in Spanish.

45. Have a Spanish cooking night. Pick a Spanish-speaking country, find a traditional recipe, and cook with your child. Ask him/her to name the ingredients in Spanish.

46. See a play in Spanish or about a Spanish-speaking culture.

47. Practice Reading, Math, and Science skills with activity books in Spanish.

48. Listen to Spanish music!

49. Read “La Prensa” a Spanish newspaper. It can be found free of charge at several locations (i.e. Mexican restaraunts/mercados).

50. Have your child correspond with a compañero throughout the summer or school year.

51. Change the language option on your television to watch Arthur and other PBS shows in Spanish.