¡Puedo Leer! How to Read Spanish for High-Level Beginners

Overview:
This high-level beginner Spanish class teaches children ages 5-7 how to read Spanish by sounding out the letter sounds in the same way an English-speaking student learns to read using phonics. Using the “Nuevo Silabario Hispanoamericano” as a guide, each week learners review the vowels and are introduced to one or two new letters. (The emphasis is on single letters for most of the class, but letter combinations in the last three months.) As a feature of this class, students receive a printout weekly of a simple Spanish language book to create, the same one the teacher will read aloud during class. The purpose of this class is to teach children how to read Spanish out loud, though not necessarily understand Spanish. Learners should already know some Spanish before joining. 

This class is an excellent aid for parents whose children are learning Spanish, but who may not know Spanish themselves OR whose children are in monolingual schools and only learning English literacy at school.

Class Structure:
Each class period begins with a review of the Spanish alphabet. Letter names and letter sounds are reviewed each time through songs. A special emphasis is placed on vowels each class as they are the glue that holds words together. One or two letters are showcased weekly. The teacher reads a very simple Spanish language book to the students which contains the Letter(s) of the Week. Students are encouraged to read along with her from their own copy which they would have made BEFORE class began. From there the teacher writes a few new vocabulary words which begin with or contain the Letter(s) of the Week on the digital whiteboard. Lastly, the teacher writes a few sentences using these new words and reads them aloud. Learners choose their favorite sentence to copy and illustrate. Various activities are inserted into the class schedule as time permits.

Teaching Style:
This class uses songs, various literacy Google slides presentations, and letter flashcards with images. Children are encouraged to sing along as they learn the songs, answer questions, read along with their own printed and assembled version of the storybook, and write Spanish-language sentences their own paper.
 
Prerequisites:
This high-level beginner Spanish class is for learners who know the English and Spanish alphabets, are able to sound out CVC words in English, who are familiar with basic Spanish vocabulary (colors, shapes, pets, food, etc.), but do NOT know how to read Spanish words yet. Learning new Spanish words is not the focus of this class, though learners will almost certainly learn new words along the way.

Class Content:

Week 1, Week of September 2nd - Vowel of the Week = A, Syllables = common consonants + A, Easy Reader Book = ¿Dónde Viven Los Animales?

Week 2, Week of September 9th - Vowel of the Week = E, Syllables = common consonants + E, Easy Reader Book =  Mi Familia (No LIVE class due to vacation, attendees will receive a video lesson free)

Week 3, Week of September 16th - Vowel of the Week = I, Syllables = common consonants + I, Easy Reader Book = ¡Vamos!

Week 4, Week of September 23rd - Vowel of the Week = O, Syllables = common consonants + O, Easy Reader Book = ¿Cuál Es Más Grande?

Week 5, Week of September 30th - Vowel of the Week = U, Syllables = common consonants + U, Easy Reader Book = ¡Mira Lo Que Encontré!

Week 6, Week of October 7th - Consonant(s) of the Week = M, Syllables = M + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Me Gusta La Escuela

Week 7, Week of October 14th - Consonant(s) of the Week = P, Syllables = P + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Algo Muy Rico

Week 8, Week of October 21st - Consonant(s) of the Week = N, Syllables = N + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = ¿Qué Necesito?

Week 9, Week of October 28th - Consonant(s) of the Week = L, Syllables = L + single vowels, Easy Reader Book =  TBD (Homemade Book)

Week 10, Week of November 4th - Consonant(s) of the Week = S, Syllables = S + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Sombreros, Sombreros, Sombreros

Week 11, Week of November 11th- Consonant(s) of the Week = D, Syllables = D + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = ¡Sé Dibujar!

Week 12, Week of November 18th - Consonant(s) of the Week = T, Syllables = T + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Sorpresa de Cumpleaños

NO CLASS THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 25th! (Thanksgiving)

Week 13, Week of December 2nd - Consonant(s) of the Week = B, Syllables = B + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Burbujas

Week 14, Week of December 9th - Consonant(s) of the Week = C, Syllables = C + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Todo Cambia

Week 15, Week of December 16th - Consonant(s) of the Week = G, Syllables = G + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = ¿Qué Vamos A Cenar?

NO CLASS THE WEEKS OF DECEMBER 23rd and 30th!

2025
Week 16, Week of January 6th - Consonant(s) of the Week = F, Syllables = F + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Rosa Tiene Frío

Week 17, Week of January 13th - Consonant(s) of the Week = V, Syllables = V + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Veo

Week 18, Week of January 20th - Consonant(s) of the Week = R, Syllables = R + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = ¿Qué Es Rojo?

Week 19, Week of January 27th - Consonant(s) of the Week = J, Syllables = J + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = ¿Qué Hacen Las Familias?

Week 20, Week of February 3rd - Consonant(s) of the Week = H, Syllables = H + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Hola, Playa

Week 21, Week of February 10th - Consonant(s) of the Week = Q, Syllables = Q + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Cuando Sea Grande

Week 22, Week of February 17th - Consonant(s) of the Week = Z + W, Syllables = Z + W + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = ¿Quién Se Esconde?

Week 23, Week of February 24th - Consonant(s) of the Week = K + X, Syllables = K + X + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = 
TBD (Handmade Book)

Week 24, Week of March 3rd - Consonant(s) of the Week = Y, Syllables = Y + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Ya Casi Es Primavera

Week 25, Week of March 10th -  Consonant(s) of the Week= Ñ, Syllables = Ñ + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = ¡Diseños!

NO CLASS THE WEEK OF MARCH 17TH! (Spring Break)

Week 26, Week of March 24th - Consonant(s) of the Week= LL, Syllables = LL + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = Llegó El Invierno

Week 27, Week of March 31st - Consonant(s) of the Week= RR, Syllables = RR + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = A Divertirse En El Barro

Week 28, Week of April 7th - Consonant(s) of the Week= CH, Syllables = CH + single vowels, Easy Reader Book = TBD (Handmade Book)

Week 29, Week of April 14th - Letter Combinations of the Week= GUE, GUI, Easy Reader Book = TBD (Handmade Book)

Week 30, Week of April 21st - Vowels Combinations of the Week= AI, EI, OI, Syllables = common consonants + AI, EI, OI, Discussion about accent marks, Easy Reader Book = Mis Cinco Sentidos

Week 31, Week of April 28th - Vowels Combinations of the Week= UA, UE, UI Syllables = common consonants + UA, UE, UI, Discussion about accent marks, Easy Reader Book = ¿Cuántos Hay?

Week 32, Week of May 5th - Vowels Combinations of the Week= IA, IE, IO Syllables = common consonants + IA, IE, IO, Discussion about accent marks, Easy Reader Book = ¿Qué Hay En La Comunidad?

Week 33, Week of May 12th - Letter Combinations of the Week= AY, EY, OY Syllables = common consonants + AY, EY, OY, Easy Reader Book = ¡Vamos a Contar!

Week 34, Week of May 19th - Letter Combinations of the Week= TRA, TRE, TRI, TRO, TRU Syllables = common consonants + TRA, TRE, TRI, TRO, TRU, Easy Reader Book = Figuras Para Almuerzo

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!