Creating Dream Maps with Novice World Language Learners

Creating Dream Maps with Novice World Language Learners

A dream map is a creative and interactive activity that encourages students to visualize their goals, dreams, and plans using images, symbols, and short text. In a world language classroom, this tool becomes even more powerful, allowing students to build vocabulary, practice language structures, and engage in meaningful communication.

What Is a Dream Map?

A dream map is a visual representation of personal aspirations. For younger students, this might include their dream pets, places they want to visit, or activities they hope to try. Using the target language, students express their ideas through art and language, creating a connection between their personal goals and linguistic development.

Why Use Dream Maps in the World Language Classroom?

Dream maps are more than just fun art projects—they’re dynamic learning tools.

Benefits:

  • Building Vocabulary: Introduce and reinforce words related to hobbies, aspirations, and daily life.
  • Practicing Structures: Use phrases like Quiero… (I want…), Voy a… (I’m going to…), or Me gustaría… (I would like…).
  • Encouraging Creativity: Allow students to personalize their language learning experience, making it relevant and enjoyable.

How to Create Dream Maps

Materials Needed:

Steps to Create Dream Maps

1. Introduce the Concept
Explain the idea of a dream map in the target language. Share examples tailored to your students’ age and proficiency. Teach key terms like:

  • Sueños (dreams)
  • Metas (goals)
  • Planear (to plan)

Model your own dream map to inspire students and provide a clear example.

2. Brainstorm in the Target Language
Guide students to brainstorm their aspirations with questions such as:

  • ¿Qué quieres hacer en el futuro? (What do you want to do in the future?)
  • ¿Qué lugares te gustaría visitar? (What places would you like to visit?)
  • ¿Qué actividades quieres probar? (What activities do you want to try?)

3. Plan the Dream Map
Distribute the Mapa de sueños template and assign categories, such as:

  • Familia y amigos (Family & Friends)
  • Pasatiempos (Hobbies)
  • Viajes (Travel)
  • Educación (Education)
  • Metas personales (Personal Goals)

4. Create the Map
Students can:

  • Cut and paste images or draw pictures for each category.
  • Write simple captions in the target language, e.g., Quiero un perro (I want a dog) or Voy a viajar a Colombia (I’m going to travel to Colombia).

5. Present and Share
Encourage students to present their maps to the class, practicing speaking skills:

  • En mi mapa, quiero aprender a cantar. (On my map, I want to learn to sing.)

6. Reflect
Help students reflect on their learning:

  • What new vocabulary did they use?
  • What steps could they take to achieve one of their dreams?

Dream maps inspire students to visualize their future while actively using the target language. This activity sparks creativity and offers an easy way to ease back into the school routine after the break.

Celebrate New Year’s with Corre, Año Viejo, Corre: A Fun Spanish Story for Students and Language Teachers

Celebrate New Year’s with Corre, Año Viejo, Corre: A Fun Spanish Story for Students and Language Teachers

This is one of my favorite stories, not because I wrote it, but because it brings back so many fond memories of growing up in a neighborhood in the south of Cali, Colombia. As I wrote Corre, Año Viejo, Corre, I could clearly picture all the children in my neighborhood gathering around the Año Viejo. I wanted to capture that rich cultural tradition in a short story, but with a touch of humor to make it fun for elementary students and something teachers can easily share in their world language classrooms.

The Año Viejo is a New Year’s Eve tradition celebrated in Colombia and other Latin American countries. This custom involves burning a life-sized doll, traditionally filled with fireworks, gunpowder, or straw. The Año Viejo symbolizes the end of a cycle, leaving behind the negative and setting new goals, almost like pressing a reset button. It can also be a way to express political opinions, depending on who the doll represents. There are also smaller versions of the “Año Viejo.” Burning the doll is a family tradition and a community event shared among neighbors, streets, or neighborhoods. Regardless of the doll’s size, this celebration is always accompanied by the song ¡El Año Nuevo!, blending joy with nostalgia. But most importantly, it symbolizes a new beginning.

 

The Story in the Book

As the year comes to a close, a grandmother decides to make an Año Viejo doll to say goodbye to the old year. She carefully crafts each detail, but suddenly, the doll comes to life and starts running! What will happen to Año Viejo? Can he escape?

Corre, Año Viejo, Corre isn’t just a playful story—it’s also a great way to teach kids about New Year’s celebrations in Latin America. Students will learn about the tradition of creating an Año Viejo figure, which symbolizes letting go of the past year. It’s a fun way to teach cultural traditions in Spanish class!

Where to Find Corre, Año Viejo, Corre

You can find Corre, Año Viejo, Corre on Amazon, CPLI Books, or in my online store as part of a special bundle. This bundle includes the story and an Año Viejo character, giving you everything you need to bring this engaging cultural tradition into your world language classroom. It combines a captivating story with hands-on activities and language practice, making it the perfect addition to your teaching resources.

What’s Included in the Corre, Año Viejo, Corre Bundle:

  • Reading Comprehension Activities: Check for understanding with fun questions and activities that help build reading skills.
  • Crafts and Extension Activities: Students can create their own Año Viejo puppets, write goodbye notes to the past year, and even design their own versions of the character.
  • Language Learning: Reinforce vocabulary with simple Spanish phrases related to New Year’s celebrations and cultural traditions.

This bundle is an excellent tool for teachers who want to make learning Spanish fun and meaningful, while also introducing important cultural lessons. Perfect for elementary school world language teachers looking for engaging, culturally rich content!

 

SAYING ADIÓS TO ANOTHER YEAR

SAYING ADIÓS TO ANOTHER YEAR

For some reason I feel that 2022 has been the fastest year in my life. I partly attribute this to spending too much time on social media and not being fully present. I’m not a person who likes starting the new year with goals ( I used to!) because I strongly believe that setting goals and having a new beginning can be done anytime during the year, but I have decided to start 2023 with the commitment to spend less time scrolling through social media, blog more of my own ideas, and see my friends and family in person more often.

With this being said, 2022 wasn’t a bad year. I’m lucky and privileged that I got to go to my home country (Colombia) at least twice during the year, and this year I went to see places that I have never been to in my beautiful country. And the best part of it is that I got to do it with the loves of my life! ¡Mi familia!

I’m always grateful for all the support I get from readers and teachers in different parts of the United States and the world. I love the connections I have been able to make through this blog and also the friendships that have come from it!  I’m grateful for you taking the time to stop by and connect here. I wish you the best in 2023!!!

And to keep my virtual tradition alive, here are my 5 most visited blog posts this year!

1. Quotes by Influential Hispanics

2. Movement and Vocabulary Game for Language Learners

3. Frida Kahlo y la casa azul

4. 17 Fun Games to Play in Spanish Class

5. Curriculum Ideas for Elementary Spanish

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION CRAFT – ¡FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!

NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION CRAFT – ¡FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!

And just like that 2022 is here! Some teachers have already been back in the classroom, while others are getting ready for it. Some teachers have been teaching online and others have been doing in-person classes. No matter how you are teaching right now, my best wishes are for you to finish the school year healthy and strong!

Here is a craft that will help you start 2022 in your classes. It’s a simple and relaxing activity for the first days back in the new year. Click HERE to download it!

Remember to subscribe to my blog to get updates about resources, teaching tips, and upcoming workshops!

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!