Meet CI author Diego Ojeda

February 22, 2023/in comprehensible input, Giveaway, Giveaways/by admin

Do your Spanish students LOVE poetry? How about stories told from the first person perspective?

You should definitely check out Diego Ojeda‘s books, which might just be the perfect fit for your Spanish class FVR Library!

I asked Diego a few questions to get to know him and his inspiration as an author. Read on to get to know Diego and his work too!

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I started writing and publishing when I was 8 years old so writing is very natural to me.

What, to you, are the most important elements of a good Spanish language book for 2nd language acquisition?

To keep in mind student’s interests and language proficiency

Which of your characters do you relate to the most? Why?

To all my poetry because all my poems come from my own experience.

What kinds of books do you like to read?

I like to read books about education.

Describe your ideal writing space / atmosphere. How do you prepare to write? (Do you go to a specific room of your house? Grab a cup of coffee/tea? Go to Starbucks or the library?)

I use a very comfortable chair in the loft of my house. I can’t write while sitting at a desk.

Your Spanish students can get to know more about the immigrant experience through Diego’s work.

Diego has graciously gifted us fur of his books to give away during our 2023 ‘Spanish Teachers LOVE to Read’ giveaway to help you grow your Spanish class Free Voluntary Reading Library! (ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!)

Poesía gramatical features comprehensible poems about different topics where each poem has a specific grammar focus. These poems help teachers show how grammar can be used with creative purposes. The poems are multilevel and great for any spanish FVR collection. Here’s what Diego had to say about two of his books:

” Nostalgia migrante features comprehensible poems about the topics of inmigration and emigration. Each poem reflects the author´s experience as an immigrant. By reading these poems your students will start seeing immigration from a human perspective, beyond politics and stereotypes.
Level 2, 3, 4, AP and Heritage”

Connect with Diego around the internet:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DiegoOjeda66

Instagram: @Sr_Ojeda

Blog: www.srojeda.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@DiegoOjedaEDU

A Spanish book lover’s giveaway!

February 18, 2023/2 Comments/in ci authors, CI readers, comprehensible input, Education, Giveaway, giveaway TpT Gift Card, Giveaways/by admin

We’ve teamed up to offer a SORTEO with 4 prizes to help you build your Spanish Class FVR Library

Scroll to learn more about the prizes and to find the giveaway entry form!

PRIZE #4 : books, personal library stickers, $20 TpT gift card, and FVR lessons

📚 Author Jade Greene is gifting 2 of her books – ‘Sueño Hecho Realidad’ and ‘El Duende de Salento.’

🖼️ Stella Claire Shoppe from Etsy is gifting a set of personal library stickers (¡en español!).

🎁Srta Spanish is gifting a $20 TpT gift card.

📝 The Stress Free Spanish Teacher is gifting FVR Organizer printables.

PRIZE #3 : books, personal library stickers, $20 TpT gift card, and FVR lessons

📚 Author Diego Ojeda is gifting 4 of his books – ‘Poesía Gramatical’ and ‘Nostalgia Migrante.’

Get to know author Diego Ojeda in this blog post!

🖼️ Stella Claire Shoppe from Etsy is gifting a set of personal library stickers (¡en español!).

🎁The Spanish Brew is gifting a $20 TpT gift card.

📝 The Stress Free Spanish Teacher is gifting FVR Organizer printables.

PRIZE #2 : books, Spanish teacher tote bag, $20 TpT gift card, and FVR lessons

Author A.C. Quintero is gifting 6 of herbooks – ‘La clase de confesiones,’ ‘Feliz cumpleaños,’ ‘La obsesión digital,’ ‘La pasajera misteriosa,’ and ‘Las apariencias engañan.’

🌟Get to know author A.C. Quintero in this blog post!

Tapas For Two Gifts from Etsy (You might also know her as Educando Entre Mundos!) is gifting a teacher tote bag (¡en español!).

Mis Clases Locas is gifting a $20 TpT gift card.

The Stress Free Spanish Teacher is gifting FVR Organizer printables.

PRIZE #1 : books, Spanish teacher tote bag, $20 TpT gift card, and FVR lessons

Author Carrie Toth is gifting 8 of her books! ‘Bianca Nieves y los 7 toritos,’ ‘La Calaca Alegre,’ ‘Vector,’ ‘Papálotl,’ ‘Bananas,’ ‘S.O.S.tenible,’ ‘48 horas,’ and ‘La hija del sastre.’

🌟Get to know author Carrie Toth in this blog post!

Tapas For Two Gifts from Etsy (You might also know her as Educando Entre Mundos!) is gifting a teacher tote bag (¡en español!).

The Engaged Spanish Classroom is gifting a $20 TpT gift card.

The Stress Free Spanish Teacher is gifting FVR Organizer printables.

There are 22 ways to enter the giveaway below!

(And you’re probably already doing most of these anyway! 🤭)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway rules: Giveaway runs from February Wednesday, February 22nd to midnight on Saturday, February 25th, 2023. Open to World Language Teachers. U.S. residents only. Prizes may not be the exact examples shown in the pictures based on availability. Winners will be chosen at random and contacted via Instagram Direct Message by @thestressfreespanishteacher or by email and must respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is not sponsored nor endorsed by Instagram.

Meet comprehensible input story author Carrie Toth

February 18, 2023/2 Comments/in ci authors, CI readers, comprehensible input, novels/by admin

Do you LOVE using Spanish CI books with your middle school and high school Spanish students?

You will definitely want to get to know Carrie Toth, the author of eight Spanish readers that are perfect for your Spanish class FVR Library!

I asked Carrie a few questions to get to know her and her inspiration as an author. Read on to get to know Carrie and her work too!

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I have always loved to write. I made my first book, Petey’s Scratch and Sniff Adventure, in second grade. (It was full of scratch and sniff stickers so all of my classmates loved it.)

When / why did you first start writing Spanish language books?

I wrote my first Spanish language book in 2010. I had taken a class on the Spanish Civil War. There was so much information that I wanted to share with my students, but graduate level materials were not accessible to them. I created a backward planned unit on the topic and showed it to Kristy Placido. She and Carol Gaab encouraged me to write a reader to accompany it. I needed so much help that first time! It’s HARD to keep a book comprehensible.

What, to you, are the most important elements of a good Spanish language book for 2nd language acquisition?

The most important element is always a great story. I want my stories to be page turners! After an author has a solid story, THEN they can go back and work on keeping the vocabulary accessible to students! The story is always the hook to keep kids reading.

Which of your characters do you relate to the most? Why?

I relate most to the tone of my books. I feel like I’m drawn to dark stories. The characters go through real struggles, because life isn’t always sunshine. I like that about them.

What kinds of books do you like to read?

I read a TON of Young Adult Fiction because I like to talk to my students about what they’re reading. I love dystopian settings. I also am a die hard Stephen King fan. If you haven’t read his latest book, Fairy Tale, DO IT!

Describe your ideal writing space / atmosphere. How do you prepare to write? (Do you go to a specific room of your house? Grab a cup of coffee/tea? Go to Starbucks or the library?)

Ok, this is going to sound ridiculous…I have actually finished three of my books while sitting at a table at 6 Flags (Amusement Park) during Fright Fest with my students. I don’t write slowly over time, I get character voices in my head and I have to GET THEM OUT. So a nice 8 hour undisturbed period of time is amazing! When I am editing the drafts, I like to sit in my living room with ALL THE COFFEE.

☕

With titles like, ‘Bianca Nieves y los 7 Toritos,’ it’s no wonder Spanish students LOVE Carrie’s readers!

Carrie has graciously gifted us eight of her readers to give away during our 2023 ‘Spanish Teachers LOVE to Read’ giveaway to help you grow your Spanish class Free Voluntary Reading Library! (ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!)

1. La Hija del Sastre – Spanish CI reader for Intermediate Low to Intermediate High level students (level 4).

2. La Calacra Alegre – Spanish CI reader for Intermediate Low to Intermediate High level students (level 4).

3. Bianca Nieves y los 7 Toritos – Spanish CI reader for Novice Mid to Intermediate Low level students (level 2+).

4. Vector – Spanish CI reader for Intermediate Low to Intermediate High level students (level 3+).

5. 48 horas – Spanish CI reader for Novice Mid to Intermediate Low level students (level 3+).

6. Papátl – Spanish CI reader for Novice High to Intermediate Low level students (level 1+).

7. Sostenible – A Spanish CI reader for Novice Low – Novice Mid level students (level 3+).

8. Bananas – Spanish CI reader for Novice High to Intermediate Low level students (level 3+).