In Plain Language

If you want to make language learning an even more exciting and successful journey for your child, music (and particularly salsa music!) is a great way to start. Tamara Marie, host of the Learn Spanish Con Salsa podcast, explains why and gives tips to get started in this episode of In Plain Language.  You can learn more about Spanish Con Salsa by visiting www.SpanishConSalsa.com.  Support the In Plain Language podcast to continue bringing free language and speech resources to families by clicking "Support" here: https://anchor.fm/in-plain-language. Shop Malty the Blue Tiger bilingual books through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and many other trusted retailers, or by visiting www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com.  

If you've embarked on the exciting journey of raising a bilingual child, you know just how much (and sometimes conflicting) information there is on this topic. Nadia Granados, BA, MA, PhD, and Briana Santiago, BA, MA — who are sisters and founders of LinguaLearner, an engaging Spanish and English preschool curriculum that you can do with your child at home — describe three common myths and what parents need to know in today's eye-opening episode.  You can learn more about LinguaLearner at www.LinguaLearner.com. Support the In Plain Language podcast to continue bringing free language and speech resources to families by clicking "Support" here: https://anchor.fm/in-plain-language. Shop bilingual books and language learning resources at www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com.

Research shows that kids who grow up in homes with books have better academic success and life outcomes. In today’s episode, we speak with Rebecca Cohen, co-founder of Brooklyn Book Bodega, a nonprofit organization that aims to increase the number of 100+ book homes in Brooklyn.  She explains why it’s so important to have books kids can call their own at home, gives tips for building your own home library, and has great insight on how to get involved — whether you’re looking for free books for your own home library or want to help other families get access to books. You can learn more at www.BrooklynBookBodega.org.  Support the In Plain Language podcast to continue bringing free language and speech resources to families by clicking "Support" here: https://anchor.fm/in-plain-language. Shop bilingual books and language learning resources at www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com. 

Reading comprehension is a critical building block of learning, whether your child is reading in their native language or a new language!  In today's episode of the In Plain Language podcast, Spanish teacher Erin Coleman of The Engaged Spanish Classroom gives tangible tips and activities for gauging and boosting your child's reading comprehension. You can visit her blog and shop here for more resources: www.TheEngagedSpanishClassroom.com. Support the In Plain Language podcast to continue bringing free language and speech resources to families by clicking "Support" here: https://anchor.fm/in-plain-language. Shop bilingual books and language learning resources at www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com.

Strong language skills can set your child up for success in all subjects! If your child is spending more time learning from home than usual right now, they may not be exposed to the language-building activities they would typically have in school.  In today's Season 2 kick-off of the In Plain Language podcast, Diane Paul of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association gives expert tips for supporting your child's language development at home — without it feeling like homework for them.  Support the In Plain Language podcast to continue bringing free language and speech resources to families worldwide by clicking "Support" here: https://anchor.fm/in-plain-language. Shop bilingual books and language learning resources at www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com. 

What skills do kids need to have when they enter kindergarten? Should they know how to read, or how to count? What can you do if their preschool has been closed and they've been watching Frozen on repeat for the past four months? Not to worry: Carrie Shrier, an early childhood educator at Michigan State University Extension, has straightforward tips and strategies to get your child ready this summer (no cramming required).  To keep your child learning at home, shop Malty the Blue Tiger bilingual books & audiobooks at www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com or on Amazon now! These are the teacher-recommended resources that will teach your child language skills and help them embrace their unique voice. This is our last episode of Season 1 of In Plain Language! We'll be back in October 2020 with new language learning resources for you and your family. Thank you so much for joining us!

Over the past few months, many children (and adults) have moved completely online for virtual learning and work. But how is this affecting language — and is it possible it’ll have long-term effects on how we communicate with each other? In today’s episode, we talk about the linguistic impact of the past few months, and hear insight on how video chat specifically may change language from Kristen Syrett, associate professor of linguistics at Rutgers University.  To keep your child learning at home, shop Malty the Blue Tiger teacher-recommended bilingual books & audiobooks at www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com or on Amazon now! These are the resources that will teach your child language skills and help them embrace their unique voice.

When your child is learning a new language, making mistakes along the way is a natural (and important!) part of the journey.  In today’s episode, you'll hear from Lauren Stengele, a non-native Spanish speaker, language teacher, and bilingual homeschooling mom, about helping kids get comfortable with learning language and making mistakes along the way. Plus, she'll touch on how to not be too hard on yourself through each season of raising bilingual children.  To help others on their bilingual journey, Lauren writes seasonal plans designed to help families speak more Spanish at home. Take 10% off these plans now with the code MALTY on her website, www.BilingualTogether.com, where she also writes about raising bilingual kids and homeschooling in two languages. You can find Lauren on Facebook and Instagram (@bilingualtogether). If you're helping your child learn at home right now, be sure to also check out Malty the Blue Tiger teacher-recommended bilingual books & audiobooks at www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com or on Amazon. These are the resources that will teach your child language skills and help them embrace their unique voice. 

Hi Malty friends — it's your host, Kelsey! Want to raise an incredible writer? As the author of Malty the Blue Tiger and a former journalist, I'm excited to share with you my favorite writing activities for kids, and how they can help inspire a love of writing in today's youngest authors. If you're helping your child learn at home right now, be sure to check out our teacher-recommended bilingual books & audiobooks! (Psst: You can take an extra 15% off your order with the code PODCAST at www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com.) You can also find our bilingual children's books on Amazon! These are the resources that will teach your child language and help them embrace their unique voice. Have questions about speech, language, or writing, or simply want to chat? Come say hello! Send Malty the Blue Tiger a message on Instagram or Facebook, and I'll respond personally! You can also find plenty of free language and speech resources on our website. 

Many schools across the country are closed right now due to COVID-19. If your family is in this situation, we’re here to help with tangible, useful tips for keeping your kids learning at home — and tricks for when you feel overwhelmed. We spoke to two homeschooling parents who have been doing this for a while: Julia Mederich, a mom of two (a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old) and the founder of Northwoods Children Homeschool Blog, and Syeda Sanjeda, a mom of two (a 9-year-old and a 10-year-old) and co-founder of Homeschool Panda. They have great tips for helping your kids think, grow, and learn from home. For more activities and resources for learning at home, visit www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com. We have plenty of free tips and resources, plus interactive bilingual audiobooks that teach kids Spanish! On our site, you can also snag a signed edition of our dual language books, which come with a motivational note for your little one. See More: www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com