I base my teaching on fundamental principles of language acquisition. Whether I am working one-on-one with a child or teaching a preschool Spanish lesson to a group, these components are essential to every unit and lesson I plan.
If you are teaching kids Spanish at home or at school, be sure to check out our Teach Kids Spanish: Resources and Strategies page. You’ll find lots of helpful, inspiring information.
As language educators, we use terms like comprehensible input, affective filter, and sheltered language to talk about these concepts. Because many parents and preschool teachers do not have that background, I’ve made an effort to avoid that language. Rather, in everyday terms, this is how I think about effective teaching as I plan and apply the concepts of language acquisition to a preschool Spanish lesson.
I mention a few activities as examples below, but you can find many songs, games and printables in the preschool Spanish activities category. You can also read how-to descriptions of 10 of my favorite Spanish preschool activities.
Change activities often during your Spanish preschool lesson.
To hold the attention of a group of three year olds, there has to be a certain level of energy in the class. You need a variety of activities and each one can only last a short time. I wrap up an activity while the kids are still engaged and move to the next one.
Give them something to hold or touch to support the language.
As often as possible, I give my students something to hold to support the language. It can be a paper cut-out or an object like an apple. If it is impossible for everyone to have the object, I do activities where I pass it to one child and then another. Here is one group reciting and acting out Yo soy un árbol, a rhyme I wrote for autumn. As you can guess, those leaves are going to fall.
Include lots of movement in a preschool Spanish lesson.
Movement enhances language learning tremendously. In addition to fingerplays, songs with actions and acting out words, you can add movement in other ways. It can be as simple as each child standing up as you count them (touch their head) and sitting down when you count again. You can also play more complicated games. Here are a few examples of activities with movement that are appropriate for a preschool Spanish lesson:
5 Spanish finger plays.
Spanish movement songs to teach first verbs.
Camino de colores Spanish color game.
In school, we add movement to Spanish class. At home, you can add Spanish to daily activities like washing hands or household chores.
Tell stories as part of a preschool Spanish lesson.
Stories provide children with comprehensible input (Spanish they understand through pictures, objects, actions or context). The stories can be picture books if there is a close text-to-picture correspondence and you clarify with gestures and your voice.
You can also act out stories or use puppets. This is often easier than being tied to a text and kids love it. The stories do not have to be long or complicated. Use repetition and patterns; they help children understand and predict. Children will not, and should not, understand every word of the story. The goal is for them to understand key words and derive meaning from context and clues. That is how they will learn Spanish. You can see tips for telling stories and examples here: Telling Stories in Spanish
Help kids talk and sing during a preschool Spanish lesson.
Provide opportunities for children to produce the language, and give them lots of support so they can be successful. Have them repeat words after you and help them by clapping out the number of syllables as you say a word. Sing “echo” songs and teach rhymes and songs they can memorize.
Music is a wonderful way for children to begin to produce Spanish. Try Spanish counting songs, color songs, or songs about body parts. Songs for themes like spring, winter, or chickens are great for preschool too.
Phrase questions so that children can answer them successfully. If a child is just learning words for animals, for example, it is much easier to answer ¿Es un perro? than ¿Qué es esto? where she has to produce the word without support. The Learn Spanish with Pictures activities model how to structure questions to give kids confidence.
Use language in context and complete sentences.
Words need to relate to each other to convey even a simple idea. It is important for teachers and parents to use and teach complete sentences in context rather than isolated words. Handing a child an apple and saying La manzana es roja is more effective language modeling than pointing at different colors and naming them. Teaching children to pronounce individual words is important, but that should be a starting point, not an ending point.
You can find lots of examples of how to use sentences instead of words in this post: How to Use a Spanish Vocabulary Worksheet with Pictures.
This explanation of activities using photos also shows how to use full sentences and language in context.
Repeat and spiral material.
It takes repeated exposure to really learn language. Within a preschool Spanish lesson, a unit and a school year, children need to hear and use the same words and structures over and over. Vary activities, but be sure to repeat material.
Think about your preschool Spanish lesson as play.
You are teaching, but the children are playing, so play with them. If they think it is funny to whisper a new phrase, let them whisper it to each other. If they laugh at the story you are acting out, do the funny part again. Stay engaged and enthusiastic. Have fun. Play all the time.
Tune in to children as individuals and as a group.
During a preschool Spanish lesson, it is important to be aware of the group’s mood and level of attention.
Children have good days and bad days, both as individuals and as a class. Learning is hard work and it is easy to get ahead of them. Stay aware of how they are handling the material and adjust accordingly. You can provide security with familiar activities and give them time to process new information.
Do what works.
Follow the children’s lead. If they are most interested in one type of activity, incorporate it more often. If they have a favorite game, play it. If they have a favorite song, sing it. These preferences will change, so take advantage of their interest and need to learn a certain way. Of course you need a plan, but be sure to keep the plan flexible enough to capitalize on the natural dynamics of the class.
Megan Quantrill
Jan 21, 2013
I love your ideas! We have been running Spanish classes for 2.5 years now and I’m glad to say we include all of the above in our sessions. I particularly think the tactile involvement, songs and repetition are key – holding a flashcard up every now and then won’t do it! We are always discovering ‘tricky’ ways to get children to speak Spanish too – for example speaking into a microphone, saying a phrase into mummy’s ear, speaking softly into a balloon etc. They just think it’s a game but really they are gaining confidence in getting the feel for how Spanish sounds when they produce it in a non-intimidating environment.
onlinefreespanish
Jan 22, 2013
Excelente! el blog de hoy, gracias.
Jenny
Jan 23, 2013
You are so right. My kids love speaking with different expressions, to a puppet, or into something that makes it “sound funny.” It is a fun way to provide for lots of repetition and as you say, give them confidence with the sounds of Spanish. Your program sounds great!
Jenny
Jan 23, 2013
¡Gracias Claudia! Como siempre, te agradezo el apoyo. 🙂
Tatiana
Jul 10, 2013
Muchisimas gracias por sus brillantes consejos, ellos complementan mi savoir-faire para mis talleres creativos en español para niños en Paris, Francia. Soy super fan de ustedes y sigo con emoción su página de Facebook. Lo que más me gusta son todos los tips basados en la cultura latinoamericana. Soy venezolana en Francia.
andrea
Aug 23, 2013
Hola, tu blog excelente, te quisiera pedir consejo acerca de las clases en la Espanol por que es mi primer año y no se por donde empezar.
Gracias
Jenny
Aug 23, 2013
Hola,
¿Vas a dar clases? ¿A niños de qué edad? Lo que haces depende de la edad y el horario. Como un consejo general, la música y el movimiento son herramientas importantes. También los libros con vocabulario básico y buenas ilustraciones. ¡Buena suerte!
Marcela
Sep 20, 2013
Te quiero felicitar por excelentes consejos y tu dedicación a la enseñanza del español. Me encantó tu blog. Quería pedirte consejo por que es mi primer año como maestra de español y tengo dos grupos de niños con 3 a 5 años y en esta semana inicia otro grupo con niños de 18 meses a 2.5 con sus padres. La verdad no tengo ni idea por donde empezar. Si me puedes ayudar te lo agradezco.
Jenny
Sep 20, 2013
Hola Marcela,
Te ayudarían mucho unas canciones – les encantan a los chicos y son fáciles de enseñar. De Spanish Together hay una que se llama Hola,hola (ponle acciones), otra que se llama Sí, no, y otra que se llama ¿Cuántas manzanas hay?. Se pueden comprar por .99 en iTunes. También, de Sing-a-lingo, las canciones 1,2,3 y Marcha.
Con los más chiquitos es cuestión de jugar más que nada. Puedes hacer juegos de dedos como Saco una manito o La araña pequeñita, jugar con un peluche, o “leer” un libro muy básico – indicar un dibujo en cada página y decir por ejemplo “Hay un gato. ¿Cómo hace un gato?” (hazlo tú). Repite todo en la próxima clase y añade una o dos palabras nuevas.
No sé cuantas veces la semana tienes clase, o por cuánto tiempo, pero considera un programa como Sonrisas Level 1, si hay dinero para comprarlo. Te dará el vocabulario y actividades para enseñarlo. Si tienes preguntas especificas, escríbeme un correo ([email protected]). ¡Buena suerte!
https://www.spanishplayground.net/spanish-song-with-actions-saco-una-manito/
https://www.spanishplayground.net/itsy-bitsy-spider-spanish/
Penny
Oct 4, 2013
This is a wonderful post and has altered the way I will go about teaching my daughter Spanish, she is two and we are just starting out (our family doesn’t speak Spanish, so a learning experience for us all). I was going to teach single words until reading this – I will definitely be sharing this information. Thank you, I’m so glad to have found your site through a tweet suggestion.
Christa
Oct 9, 2013
I am a childcare trainer. May I use this information in my trainings?
Jenny
Oct 9, 2013
Of course! The methodology is something you can find expressed in different ways in many places.
msvega
Jan 2, 2015
Excellent suggestions. You are so right!
Katrina
Mar 28, 2015
I have been a classroom teacher teaching English as a second language in US public schools. I am now home with my daughter and I am about to start teaching Spanish to different groups of preschoolers. I am a little nervous about teaching such young children. Your list of fundamental principles are very helpful! Thank you so much! I really need help with some titles of basic books that I can use with my little ones.
Daisy
Jun 22, 2015
I love your ideas, it helped me a lot out to set up a plan to teach kids in an after school program. But, can I ask for advice? The groups are divided into Pre-k to 1st , 2nd and 3rd, 4th and 5th, and then 6th all the way to 12th. and I have it pretty planned out for the younger kids (thanks to you) but I’m still so lost for the other groups.
Jenny
Jun 22, 2015
Hi Daisy,
I sent you an email. You have your work cut out for you, but I know you will have fun!
Liliana
Jul 28, 2015
Hola Jenny,
Me encanta tu blog. Te cuento que soy profesora de Preescolar en ingles, pero imagínate que me salió la oportunidad de dar unas clases de Español a domicilio a una niña de 4 años y su hermano de 6. No se ni por donde empezar.
Te agradezco un consejo o guía.
Muchas Gracias,
Sara Sprenger
Jul 28, 2015
Gracias 🙂
Jenny
Jul 31, 2015
Being a preschool teacher, you are going to have lots of ideas once you get started. You’re going to have a great time!
Since they haven’t had Spanish, I would treat them both as preschoolers and not worry about reading and writing until they have some vocabulary and are familiar with the sounds of the language.
I would suggest lots of songs with actions, simple stories, and simple crafts that let the kids use the vocabulary a lot. You can make the stories up and use puppets, or simplify picture books. Authentic language books will be too hard for children who are just beginning, but the pictures will give you something to work with.
I organize my units by theme. You can get an idea of what I do here. Something like this might work for your students too.
https://www.spanishplayground.net/preschool-spanish-mouse-activities/
The biggest thing to keep in mind is that they need lots and lots of repetition, and that you are trying to create “comprehensible input” You might find this explanation helpful, or something you want to share with their parents:
https://www.spanishplayground.net/5-language-learning-concepts-raise-bilingual-child/
In terms of resources, I would suggest songs by Spanish Together, Susy Dorn and Miss Rosi (You have to choose carefully. These have more vocabulary).
You also might want to consider a program like Calico Spanish to give you a base to work with.
http://www.calicospanish.com
There is a free set of material from the state of Georgia here:
https://www.spanishplayground.net/free-spanish-videos-salsa/
Good luck and let me know if I can be of more help!
Mara
Nov 5, 2015
Dearest Jenny, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! Me encanta tu blog!
I like to incorporate crafts in my classroom, I teach preschool through 4th. What do you suggest?
Thank you!
Jenny
Nov 6, 2015
I relate crafts to my theme as a way to practice vocabulary. Because the crafts themselves don’t need to have text, I search Pinterest (in English gives more results) and find one that incorporates the vocabulary I want to practice. For example, I recently did a preschool unit on ants and we made this simple craft (without the labeling) and talked about how las hormigas viven en el hormiguero, etc. as we did it. Often if there is a cute and easy puppet that fits the theme, I will choose that to get kids talking. I have to keep my crafts very simple because I don’t have much time. With older kids, if possible I choose something they can write a sentence on or explain to the group. Pinterest is my starting point (I search by theme and grade – ants preschool) and then I adapt to make it fit my class.
Marcia
Jan 29, 2016
Dear Jenny,
I was very fortunate to get a teaching aid job and also teaching spanish to preschoolers and Kinders, but I only have 15 minutes twice a week. How can I incorporate all your information into only 15 minutes. The preschoolers have had no spanish but the Kinders already get spanish through another class. What is a good way to get started and continue to keep them engaged in such little time.
Thank you
Jenny
Jan 30, 2016
You will be surprised at how much they can learn in 15 minutes! Start with a song (Marcha, Marcha by Singalingo for example) a finger play and a simple game with picture cards. Soon they will know the song and finger play and you can introduce another song. You don’t have to do each activity every class. Mix up things they know with one new thing. Every few weeks, do an art activity with related vocabulary. They will build up a base of songs and games fairly quickly. You’re going to have fun!
Karina Cruz
May 1, 2016
Love the ideas, the best way to have the children to experience the language is through the visual stimulus, music and to let them participate continuously in the activities.
Dorothy
Sep 24, 2016
Thank you for sharing these activities. My 2nd language is German(-except for speaking to my mother, not much use for it here). My daughter and her boyfriend both took 3 years HS Spanish, so we are going to try to teach their son early. He’s 4 weeks today (August 24=birthday). We get some very easy Spanish/English storybooks and we have been playing some YouTube videos. Probably more for getting us used to thinking and speaking Spanish than for him at this point.
Sonja
Oct 9, 2016
Gracias por las ideas. Apenas voy a empezar a dar classes de español a niños pre-escolares.
Laura Knox
Nov 19, 2016
Love it! I’m in the process of developing a preschool program & happy to see I already have most of your strategies implemented. Look forward to following you.
Delia Alba
Jun 29, 2017
Jenny,
Buenas noches I love all the ideas you have for teaching Spanish to preschool children. I am a certified teacher and I taught Spanish to kinder for 3 years in a public school setting. I relocated to California and I was sure they would have a dual language program in place in the public school systems but no not true. I teach kinder for a school district but I would like to teach Spanish on my own in the evening to children. In the area there are no such classes in place. But since I am used to academic curriculum this whole idea of learning through play is new and kind of scarry to me. I would like to build a binder to present parents when I offer the classes and not sure if I should do individual or group classes and if I should do them in my home or rent a space? Just thinking of planning lessons over whelms me for some reason. Any inup
Jenny
Jun 29, 2017
Hi,
It sounds as if you have great experience to bring to teaching Spanish to kids in a private setting. In term of one-on-one vs group, and where, those decisions are usually determined largely by what the demand is, your schedule, how much profit you need to make to make it worth your time, prep and travel time and other logistics. Feel free to contact me using the form on the contact page if you have specific questions. I’m sure you would love doing classes!
Yrma Avellaneda
Oct 15, 2017
Excelente ayuda ¡ muchas gracias
Yrma Avellaneda
Oct 15, 2017
Me encanta tu bloque, enseñó español a preschoolers, pero ahora tendré niños de segundo y tercer grado en clases privadas si me dieras algunos tips te agradecería mucho, recomiendo las canciones de Susy Dorn son buenísimas para enseñar ¡
Steph
Feb 16, 2018
Gracias por toda la información.
What do you believe is the ideal number of preschoolers in a lesson? Length of time for a lesson? I am trying to develop a plan in my school. 12 too many? Better to have 2 groups of 6 children?
Jenny
Feb 17, 2018
Hi,
I try to keep my preschool lessons to 30-40 minutes. In terms of number, it depends some on your space and the age of the kids (there is a big difference between 3 and 4). Is there an aid or anyone else in the room? If it is just the teacher, two groups of 6 would be easier. If there is an aid or the classroom teacher to help, 12 is doable. Congratulations on starting a program!
Heather
Apr 19, 2018
Hello,
I love all of these ideas they are great. I teach a beginners spanish course to adults but I have been asked to go into a school and teach some lessons to 6-10 year olds.
Im not sure where to start actually, I know there are lots of resources online but do you have any advice or suggestions regarding where to start. For example how to lay the foundations, what topics or vocab to teach first?
Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.
Gracias
Jenny
Apr 19, 2018
Hi Heather! You’re going to have so much fun teaching kids!
Is this going to be ongoing? Or are you teaching a set number of classes? In any case, I would suggest you structure your lessons around a theme. It can be something like spring, chickens, or something more general like farm animals. Then you can choose key vocabulary that relates to the theme and teach using simple sentences with lots of actions, pictures and objects. I would not teach any explicit grammar with kids that age who are just beginning to learn. Instead, I would choose songs with movement, use lots of pictures and play games. After a few weeks, choose another theme. The vocabulary will begin to overlap, and no matter what theme you do, you can always include numbers, colors, questions and high-frequency verbs like “hay’ and “está”
One easy way to start would be to use lessons from one of the curricula on Teacher Pay Teachers. Fun for Spanish Teachers (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fun-For-Spanish-Teachers) has lots of good materials, and so does Mundo de Pepita (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mundo-De-Pepita)
Do you use Facebook? There is a group called “Teaching Spanish to Children” It is run by Julie of Mundo de Pepita and they share tons of good ideas. They are very helpful and supportive, so you could ask there for specific ideas too.
Good luck!
Rube
Apr 30, 2018
Teaching my PreSchool Grandchildren about 1 day a week, trying
to get them to talk back, they understand a lot. Great ideas.
rube
Jenny
May 1, 2018
Glad the suggestions are helpful. I wouldn’t worry too much about production – it will come. Songs and finger plays go a long way toward building comfort with a language at that age. Have fun!
Eliza
Feb 8, 2019
Hello!
Is there anything in this article that would change if teaching preschoolers online instead of in person?
Thanks!
Jenny
Feb 9, 2019
Teaching online is different. I assume you are thinking of video lessons. I do some classes by Skype, and it’s a challenge!
I try to make the classes as hands-on as possible, so you need to have the same materials in both places. Also, there has to be someone there helping the kids. Let me know if I haven’t understood the question correctly. Good luck!
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