Monthly Archives: September 2010

Ah, September.  I love this time of year.  I love books and school supplies, and knowing that soon the heat will finally subside and fall will be here.  I love making plans for Halloween and Thanksgiving and knowing they’re not too far away.  I love reading all the back-to-school posts on the blogs I follow.  I love knowing my own kids will be back in school and surrounded by familiar faces, with some teachers and classmates they’ve known for twoRead More ...

It’s been about four weeks since my daughter Vanessa’s last day of French Summer Camp and the beginning of our journey into her third language. As we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we’ve partnered with Little Pim and, for the next three months, we’re going to be using their products as well as getting awesome tips from its founder, Julia Pimsleur. All of which I plan to document and share with you! I must start by saying that IRead More ...

No doubt our children are growing up in a digital and connected world. Smartphones, computers and portable gaming devices are all around them since they are born.  Rather than shield them, I advocate for teaching them the best use of technology. I do carry an iPhone with me and I don´t know what I did before it. I have a great collection of apps that keep my daughter entertained while in the car during long drives or at moments whenRead More ...

That it would make me have to think really really hard sometimes to find the right words. That when asked her favorite fruits, my toddler would respond: blueberries, peaches, tamales, burritos. That her favorite bedtime song would be an improvised song whose lyrics are “Mama te ama, Papi te ama, —-te ama…” and which has as many verses as people and animals she knows. That “nalgas” is much funnier than “bottom” or even “butt” to say and point out. HowRead More ...

Hispanic—or Latino—Heritage Month, a celebration that runs until Oct. 15, started last week. Unlike years past and because of the influence of the growing Latino population, many more communities have special events and activities during this month-long celebration which are a great way to expose your bilingual children to our culture, food, music and arts. Our good friend Melanie, from ModernMami, has compiled an awesome list of resources to celebrate this month with your niños. In it you’ll find linksRead More ...

We got back from our trip to El Salvador just last week, and it already feels like it was so long ago.  Yet, the memories and benefits we gained from this trip are still well alive.  Some weeks ago I shared about Camila’s cultural immersion with her familia, and promised I’d be back to tell you more about her experience at a local, Spanish-language preschool. I made the decision to enroll her to a local preschool for two reasons: 1)Read More ...

School is back in session, and this year I am back in the classroom too.  I was fortunate to have been able to take a couple years off after the birth of my boys, but now I am back to teaching Spanish to junior high and high school students. Teaching is my passion, and I am fortunate to work at a wonderful school.  Working with teenagers is so much fun.  They are enthusiastic and eager to learn, but unfortunately forRead More ...

By now, you probably know that I’ve decided to make a conscious effort to expose my daughter to a third language and that the one of choice is French. There are many reasons why I’ve chosen French, including the fact that it’s my third language, I love it, and there seems to be a good amount of resources to expose her to French in our area. As I mentioned in the past, my 4-year-old daughter, Vanessa, attended two weeks ofRead More ...