Let’s explore some fun ways to introduce feelings to young children this week via my bilingual kids’ song from the Boca Beth Program titled Feelings / Sentimientos off my second of four CDs.

Here are the lyrics:

Feelings / Sentimientos
(sung to the tune of the song “London Bridge” )

I am happy, Yo estoy feliz
Yo estoy feliz, Yo estoy feliz.
I am happy, Yo estoy feliz.
I smile when I’m happy!
I am sad, Yo estoy triste
Yo estoy triste, Yo estoy triste.
I am sad, Yo estoy triste.
I frown when I’m sad.
I am surprised, me sorprendio,
Me sorprendio, me sorprendio,
I am surprised, me sorprendio
I smile when I’m surprised.
I am scared, tengo miedo,
Tengo miedo, tengo miedo.
I am scared, tengo miedo.
I shake when I’m scared.
Repeat first verse of ‘happy!’

Follow this link for the suggested classroom activity to accompany this bilingual song for children.  (Look for the fourth song down on the list and note the difference between the song lyrics of ‘estoy’ and ‘soy.’   When I wrote the song our translator and I thought it would be fine to stay with soy – which is a permanent state of being – because it fit the beat of the song much better with one syllable.   But as time has passed we truly accept that it should be estoy as a temporary state of being and plan on changing it on the next run of this CD.)

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

It’s true!  The Spanish alphabet is different from the English alphabet!  

But it’s not so different that you and your child can’t learn it with my Boca Beth song titled Rappin the Spanish Alphabet (available as a FREE You Tube video from Monday’s blog post or on our More Boca Beth bilingual music CD which is only $9 with the 40% savings code of JOLLY for Christmas / Hanukkah shopping fun!).

I thought I would help you with some additional visual learning today by suggesting some cool books for the Spanish alphabet:

This book titled The Alphabet / El alfabeto is fantastic and is presented in  board book style for toddlers and preschoolers who are learning to read.      Experts agree that children CAN learn their native and a new language in  print by using tools such as this book with someone interacting with the  child during the reading time.

I realize it says it’s out of stock on Amazon, but you can find it other places (and check out the price of only Used at $1.22!!!!)

Next up is this easy-to-use, interactive coloring picture book to help children learn the Spanish language and its alphabet.  It’s in stock and can be purchased for only $1.90 NEW!!!  I have found with Amazon.com that I bundle together a bunch of products and save on shipping from the same vendor so watch who are buying from and try to buy from them all of your items.

Lastly, keeping in step with technology, is a Kindle edition of what seems to be a very cool ABC Bilingual Learning Book.    For only $5 you download this animal themed learning game tool, and witness your child learning the alphabet in both English and Spanish from what they say!

There you have it amigas and amigos!  A fun literacy-based wrap up to help YOU introduce the Spanish alphabet to your young children (and YOU might learn it right along with them!).

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

This week we will have fun with young children learning Spanish and English via our Hello, How Are You? / Hola, ¿Cómo estás? song.

Check out this fun video featuring three English-speaking gals learning Spanish the FUN way – with music:

Here are the lyrics to this song:

¿Cómo estás?/How Are You?
(Sung to the melody of “Skip To My Lou”)

¿Hola, cómo estás?
¿Hola, cómo estás?
¿Hola, cómo estás?
¿Cómo estás hoy?

Hello, how are you?
Hello, how are you?
Hello, how are you?
How are you today?

¡Muy bien gracias mi buen amigo!
¡Muy bien gracias mi buen amigo!
¡Muy bien gracias mi buen amigo!
¡Muy bien hoy!

Very fine thank you my good friend!
Very fine thank you my good friend!
Very fine thank you my good friend!
Very fine today!

Here is the suggested circle time activity to do hand-in-hand with this song:

If possible, have each child get a BOCA puppet passed out to them and explain that BOCA loves to do “dos cosas/two things.” He loves to sing/canta and dance/baila. I also explain that BOCA has excellent behavior and that he never bites or hits or touches another puppet friend. Have the children put BOCA on their hands and interact with their friends respecting space and enjoying the fun of puppeteering.

See you later this week for more Boca Beth bilingual fun for kids of all ages – babies, toddlers and preschoolers love our bilingual beats.

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

P.S.  (This is the last day to save 40% on any size order over at www.BocaBeth.com using code word TREAT.  Remember – we always offer FREE shipping!  SHOP TODAY and SAVE BIG!)

Age Level:  Ages 3+

Number of students:  15-20 with help of extra adult

General Subject Area:  Science / Art

Materials needed:

• Dried corn on the cob (sold as squirrel feed)
• Paint brushes
• Paint
• See-thru container
• Water

Introduction:  When talking about animals we always end up talking about the various categories of animals – zoo animals, endangered species, rainforest animals, household pets, farm animals and on and on.  After discussion, book reading, art projects and singing about animals I transition into this Science / Art fun with corn from the farm animals’ habitat.

Stated Objectives:  Students will be able to use fine motor skills when picking the kernels off the cobs.  They will utilize their visual skills in the observation of the growth of the corn cob sprouts.  Children will incorporate their tactile and kinesthetic skills as they enjoy the texture of the kernels remaining on the texture table.

Procedure:

1. Give each child their own dried corn cob
2. Allow the children time to pick off all the kernels off their corn cob
3. Use the kernels in your texture table
4. Allow the children to paint their corn cobs with large brushes and vibrant paints for a fall art project to decorate the classroom.
5. Save one of the corn cobs to grow in your Science area by doing the following:  Fill a container (large enough to accommodate the corn cob) with 1 inch of water and allow the cob to soak for approximately 1.5 – 2 weeks (a clear, see-through container allows the greatest observation of growth).  Make sure to keep watering the corn cob.  The cob will soon sprout plants that will grow very tall and can be planted in soil.

Closure:  Once the activity is over with the kernels being picked off and the cobs painted we clean up singing our Boca Beth bilingual Animal Song / La canción de animales and decorate the classroom with our bright and beautiful fall cobs.  We observe the change in the cob in our Science area for weeks and plant the off shoots in a visible place that we can see each day to chart the growth progress.

A fun class extension of this animal fun – honing in on animal habitats:

Supply children with 3 bowls filled with grass, hay and water in small groups.  Give children many different types of plastic zoo animals.  Have them work together as teams placing each animals in the “environment” or “habitat” where they think they would most likely find them living.  Depending upon the age group of the children, the conversations of “environment” and “habitat” can take place.

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

VERY FUN VIDEO about farm animals – WARNING!  Immersion method used but with GREAT visual clues:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00JiNhb7bN0

This week on NBC’s TODAY show they are ramping up their Education Nation features and spending a significant amount of time each morning focusing on the state of our Nation’s Education System ~ where it’s broken, how Bill and Melinda Gates’ Foundation has helped to uncover some of the issues, what’s being done to fix our broken public school system and so much more. 

This week I will continue to share my fun bilingual education method of bringing Spanish and English together for young children ages birth – eight via my Boca Beth bilingual kids songs.  Our fun song this week is I See Colors / Veo colores featured in this video below:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fkpzAO9x1Y

Want the words to this song (or – as an adult – need to see the words in black and white?)?  Here is the link to the lyrics off my web site (look for the 4th song down).

I use this book often to reinforce the concepts taught in my bilingual song that introduces seven colors in English and Spanish.  It’s available on Amazon.com for $4.01 used (it’s just their shipping that will get you unless you work around it).

Later this week … more bilingual fun stuff for you and your children from me, Boca Beth!

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

This week we have been focusing on counting in Spanish and English – more bilingual fun from my Boca Beth Program.  (Make sure you read both posts from earlier this week for lots of GREAT ideas on how to introduce both English and Spanish when counting with young children.)

Enjoy this immersion song – meaning only in Spanish – that helps your child practice his/her Spanish numbers forwards and backwards counting style!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ydJr1Is8xI

Did you use some of our ideas this week to help young children learn to count in Spanish and English?

If so, comment below about it or send me an e-mail at BocaBeth@msn.com with a picture of what you did, a video clip of what you did or simply a detailed explanation, and I will send YOU a FREE gift from my Boca Beth Program and bilingual children’s product line.

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

For my last post this week on the color theme I invite you to check out the lyrics to my Veo colores / I See Colors song here on this page of my web site.  (Look for song #4)

Also, look into the suggested activities to do while singing this song with young children hoping to learn a second language before the age of 10 by following this link to my free teaching resources page on BocaBeth.com.  (Again, look for song #4)

Not sure if you know that Dr. Jean and I worked on a bilingual music CD for kids recently, and it was released at the start of May 2011!  Here is her Color Box song in English (click the link):

The Color Box song by Dr. Jean

Here is Caja de colores ~ the Spanish version of Dr. Jean’s color song sung by me, Boca Beth:

Caja de colores by Dr. Jean ~ Sung by Boca Beth

Enjoy our bilingual fun music for children to get a jump start on learning the two most widely spoken languages in the United States.  Like the songs?  The CD is available on Dr. Jean’s web site - digital downloads as well.

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

P.S. (Teachers love learning the fun way ~ just like kids!  Check this video from one of my early childhood trainings.)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEFxPethb-o

I had such a BLAST recording the Spanish part of Dr. Jean’s newest CD that will be titled Fusion Fiesta Fun!  She is such a great lady with such a history of making wonderful music that teaches young children all kinds of things while they have fun (and the teachers & parents love it too!!!).

I recall being on a cruise ship a couple years back, and the kids’ camp Pre-K age group performed her infamous Tooty-Ta song!!!  Now that is when you know you have made it big when you hear your children’s recordings being played on the open waters.

I invite you to watch the replay of my 4.19.11 show over at my channel on MomTV.com.  You will be able to hear many of the new songs from this soon-to-be-released bilingual CD set.

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

Here is a video of one of the other new songs off this CD:

Kiss is a Beso / Beso es un kiss  Click this link to the left for a free MP3 version of our Boca Beth bilingual kids’ song that is sung to the traditional tune of Skip to My Lou. 

Remember, the joy of our Boca Beth bilingual music is that I write most songs around the tune of a children’s classic melody.  Something both you and the children will recognize.  Experts agree that is a fun and easy way for second language acquisition to take place.

Enjoy the video of this same Boca Beth song below:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGsvRJ8gP9U

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

I had the great pleasure to join a class of Early Childhood Education students at Gaither High School this morning for a one-hour presentation that I gave on why, when and how we should introduce Spanish and English to young children.

Preschool-aged children ready to learn with Boca Beth

These teens had already heard a lot about infant brain development, neural pathway connections for later life learning and the brain research associated with the learning that takes place during the first five years of life.  Becky Burgue and her Little Wrangler Preschool had been featured in our Tampa Tribune newspaper, I e-mailed her, and I told her I would love to speak to her students that would soon be teaching the young children of our country.

She loved the idea, and we loved the time spent together this morning!  They sang in Spanish and English with our Boca Beth bilingual music CDs, they moved & grooved to one of our music videos that play on The Education Channel and they learned a lot about the many benefits derived from introducing two languages during the first years of life.

Thanks Becky and students for opening your classroom and your minds to our Boca Beth Bilingual Program and Products. 

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth