November Blog Hop

I am so excited to be participating in this bilingual blog hop with some great bilingual teachers!  After visiting these great bilingual blogs, you will be thankful! Thankful because....for you, this means FREEBIES!! 

My freebie for this November Blog Hop is a Thanksgiving Turkey Craftivity.  This cute turkey craft is sure to get your kids engaged and wanting to write what they are thankful for! This craftivity won't be free for long, so click on the picture to get this great freebie Thanksgiving Turkey Craftivity!  Also, check out my other products, such as monthly homework packets, Science journals for the whole year, and literacy centers on my TPT Store The Dual Language Garden, click on Follow Me to see what's new in my store! 

This is not the only freebie you get today!! Hop on over to Lectura Para Ninos for another great freebie!  Your freebie awaits....click the "Next Stop".....

Linky Party

Hi friends!!  I have linked up with my friend over at First Grade Shashay for a Fall Themed Resources Linky Party.  I am so happy to share my October Spanish Homework Packet with you on her blog!

This October Spanish Homework Packet is definitely a kindergarten must-have!  Not only does it have engaging and interactive Language Arts and Math activities, it also includes syllable practice cards with an easy to use, parent friendly calendar for the entire month of October!

Make sure you check it out here and other wonderful Fall themed resources at First Grade Shashay's Linky Party.

Making Connections....A World of Difference (for both parents and teachers)

Getting students or our own children "hooked" to learning is more than just finding an interesting topic to teach them about.  I believe that children can and will learn about anything presented to them as long as the learning is connected to something they already know!  In order for students to "catch" what you are throwing at them, you have to allow them to make a connection to it, and if they don't on their own, we have to teach our children how to connect to the information.  I don't know about you, but when I hear new information, my mind always wanders and tries to find something like the information presented to me to "anchor" on to.  This is also why we have students blurt out ALL THE TIME....Oh, my mom....or....Oh, I remember one time....Does that happen to you??  
As a kindergarten teacher, this happens more times than I can count, in just one day!  I have learned to embrace these times and now have students "turn and talk" to people next to them, so that they can make that "connection".  
As parents, we also need to know that our children need to make this connection too!  My 4 year old gets so excited when she learns new things and I love to hear her making those connections!!  
So next time you are trying to teach your students or children something, try connecting it to something they already know.
It's worth a try, I promise, it won't disappoint you!!

Monday Meet Up -- Mrs. Dinh

I am super excited about participating in the "Monday Meet Up" with The Teaching Tribune this summer! Every Monday I will introduce a new blogging friend to you.  The first blogging friend I'd like to introduce you all to is also my good friend and fellow teacher, Mrs. Ha Dinh.

You can find her blog at First Grade Shashay.  

This is only the beginning

Hello and thank you so much for visiting my blog! My name is Sandra Garcia. I have been a Spanish Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher for 9 years. I have my Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and my passion is bilingual education. I am currently in the process of writing the Spanish Curriculum for my district. I am also pleased to have been selected as a lead trainer for our new Science program.        

I am married to the most wonderful man in the world and have three wonderful children, one boy and two girls.  I am so excited to announce the engagement of my son!! I have gained another daughter!!     

My vision for this blog is for it to be a collaborative blog where guest bloggers will be invited to discuss and share their expertise and ideas about early childhood education as well Spanish phonics and phonemic awareness. Being a Spanish teacher, I understand the struggles of not having materials, not having a team to "bounce ideas off of", and being an "island". I'm sure that many of you are in the same boat and understand those struggles as well! I would love for this to be a place to come and share ideas and support each other, for the better of our students....because ultimately, we do all we do for them!