April 2009
This Boletín focuses on fun activities designed to help your child learn and develop the skills necessary for success in school — and in life.
In this edition:
This is the English version of our Spanish-language newsletter, the Boletín informativo Colorín Colorado, which is written with Spanish-speaking parents and families in mind. Many of the articles included in the original Spanish version of the Boletín informativo are also available in English! For those that aren't we'll provide you with a summary and a link to the article in Spanish.
This Boletín focuses on fun activities designed to help your child learn and develop the skills necessary for success in school — and in life.
In the Boletín informativo sobre la lectura, you'll find practical information on how to help children develop literacy skills. We also offer information to help parents actively participate in their children's education by helping them begin to understand the U.S. educational system, which varies from systems in Spanish-speaking countries.
Many articles in this newsletter will make great handouts for parents! We hope that you will be able to share the information in this newsletter with Hispanic parents and families who are trying to help their children become successful readers. You are welcome to print and distribute (crediting www.ColorinColorado.org), or you can use our "Tell-a-friend" feature.
Don't forget to check Colorín Colorado for updates, tips, and much more!
Reading and school success
Is my child ready to enter kindergarten?
Many schools register children for kindergarten during the spring even though classes don't start until the fall. If you are wondering whether your child is ready, this article will give you some tips on social and educational expectations of children entering kindergarten. If you are considering registering your child for the Fall 2009 school year, check your school's registration dates as soon as you have the opportunity so that you don't miss the registration period.
See article in English >>
See article in Spanish >>
Testing: An Introduction for Parents
As a parent, there are many ways you can support your child's academic success, which will in turn help your child with test-taking throughout the school year. The following articles offer a number of suggestions of ways that you can help your child prepare for tests, and support your child's learning habits.
See articles in English >>
See articles in Spanish >>
Encourage Your Child to Write
Reading and writing are two skills that reinforce each other. Even when children are in kindergarten, they can start writing stories! Here are some ways to help your child practice writing.
Let's Read!
Selecting Books for Your Child: Finding 'Just Right' Books
How can parents help their children find books that are not "too hard" and not "too easy" but instead are "just right"? Here are some easy tips to remember at the library or bookstore!
See article in English >>
See article in Spanish >>
Book of the Month
Animal Poems of the Iguazú/Animalario del Iguazú
By Francisco X. Alarcón
Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez
Inspired by a visit to the Iguazú National Park in South America, Francisco X. Alarcón celebrates its animals, skies, waterfalls, and more in these short and vibrant bilingual poems. Each page holds pulsating paintings that swirl and move, further vivifying each poem. This book is a perfect selection for Poetry Month and discussions about the environment.
New video for El día de los niños/ El día de los libros
El día de los niños/ El día de los libros ("Día") is a celebration based on childhood and literacy that began in 1997. Borrowing from the traditional Mexican holiday El día de los niños, the American version expanded to include literacy based on children's author Pat Mora's efforts. Check out Colorín Colorado's resources for El día de los niños/ El día de los libros (including video interviews with Pat Mora and Lulu Delacre) on our website, and remember that it's always a good time to go to the library!
See Colorín Colorado's Día page in English >>
See Colorín Colorado's Día page in Spanish >>
New Booklist for Poetry Month!
April is Poetry Month! Celebrate with Colorín Colorado's new Poems for Everyone booklist, featuring wonderful collections of poems from different cultures. Many of the included books are bilingual in English and Spanish, offering poems for a wide-ranging audience.
See list in English >>
See list in Spanish >>
If you'd like to learn about other English-language poetry collections for children, take a look at these lists from Reading Rockets and AdLit.org:
Research, Guides, and More
Video Interview: Francisco X. Alarcón
Francisco X. Alarcón, author of the April Book of the Month, is an award-winning poet who writes for both children and adults. Born in Los Angeles, Califonia, he considers himself "bi-national," having spent time as a child in both Mexico and the United States. In this video interview, Alarcón discusses how his background inspired his poetry, and reads some of his poems.
Watch interview in English >>
Watch interview in Spanish >>
Rediscover Your Public Library
For families with young children, the public library is a great place to find entertainment, educational and cultural enrichment, or valuable information. Here are 9 great reasons to visit your library!
See article in English >>
See article in Spanish >>
Helping Your Preschool Child
As a parent, you can encourage your child's learning in a way that no on else can. That desire to learn is a key to your child's later success. This booklet from the U.S. Department of Education is for families and caregivers who want to help prepare their young child to learn and to get ready for school.
See booklet in English >>
See booklet in Spanish >>
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About the Boletín informativo ¡Colorín Colorado!
Colorín Colorado's Boletín informativo is a Spanish-language e-newsletter about reading and other educational issues, aimed at parents of Latino English language learners. This service is sponsored by the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Major funding for ColorinColorado.org comes from the American Federation of Teachers, with additional support from the National Institute for Literacy and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. The site was created by WETA/Reading Rockets, who takes full responsibility for its content. The points of view expressed in the articles included do not necessarily reflect the points of view of WETA, Reading Rockets, or any organizations who support us.
This e-newsletter is part of ColorinColorado.org, a free web-based service that provides information, activities, and advice for educators and Spanish-speaking families of English language learners (ELLs).
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