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.  

In Plain Language

How to Teach Kids Music Through Music

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.

3 Common Myths About Raising Bilingual Kids

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. 

The Importance of Getting Kids Access to Their Own Books at Home

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.

Boost Your Child's Reading Comprehension (In Any Language!)

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. 

Support Your Child's Language Development at Home

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.

Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten This Summer!

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.

The Fascinating Ways Video Chat May Impact Language

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. 

Helping Kids Move Past the Fear of Mistakes

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. 

5 Activities to Improve Your Child's Writing Skills

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

How to Keep Kids Learning at Home

Does storytelling occasionally feel more like a chore than a special family activity? Do you want your child to learn important reading skills AND to grow a love for reading? These invaluable storytelling tips from the pros — voiceover artists Sheli Baez (the voice of Malty the Blue Tiger!) and Brock Powell (the voice of The Kool-Aid Man!) — will help. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use great storytelling to grow your child’s literacy skills such as reading comprehension, visualization, and critical thinking — and to turn them into an avid reader for life. Follow Sheli on Instagram: @shelibaez Follow Brock on Instagram: @brocktalks Shop teacher-recommended bilingual books & audiobooks now! Take an extra 15% off your order with the code PODCAST at www.maltythebluetiger.com. These are the resources that will teach your child language and help them embrace their unique voice.

The Kool-Aid Man, Malty & More! Top Storytelling Tips From Voiceover Artists

Did you ever make up secret words — or even an entire language — as a child? This can happen for a number of reasons, which we discuss in this episode of In Plain Language. We'll be talking about kids who create languages for fun (a hobby that can actually be super beneficial!), kids who create code words with friends, and twin speak. Hear invaluable tips from linguist David Adger, PhD, of Queen Mary University of London and psychologist Joan A. Friedman, PhD, of Santa Monica, California.  Don't forget to subscribe and review this podcast if you love what you hear! Those little things go a long way in spreading the word about this resource. You can shop teacher-recommended language learning books and audiobooks at www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com (U.S. only) or find us on Amazon (globally).  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/in-plain-language/support

Why Do Kids Make Up Their Own Languages?

Audiobooks give you a special opportunity to help your child improve their reading comprehension and fluency skills — and to learn another language! Find out how to use audiobooks in the most effective ways to advance reading and language skills, raise a happy reader and/or bilingual child, and help your child succeed in school in beyond. In this episode, we chat with Justine Bruyère, PhD, a lecturer in the reading education program at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College in Nashville, TN. We just launched Malty’s NEW language learning audiobooks! Get 15% off your order at www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com by using the code PODCAST at checkout today. These innovative digital audiobooks continue Malty’s adventures and teach kids new Spanish words along the way — and even come with free printable read-alongs of the story. Best of all: No subscription fees! Visit www.MaltyTheBlueTiger.com to claim your 15% off now.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/in-plain-language/support

How to Use Audiobooks to Advance Your Child's Reading & Language Skills

The opportunity window refers to the first few years of a child's life in which it's said to be easiest for kids to become bilingual. But does that mean the opportunity to truly raise a bilingual child is out the window if your child is older?  In this episode, we chat with Frances Evans, the founder of the blog Discovering the World Through My Son's Eyes, who successfully raised a bilingual son. However, she was worried that she had missed the "opportunity window" when she started. She shares with you what she learned!  You'll also hear from Cindy Medina, a high school Spanish teacher who has tips for teaching older kids another language.  Shop Malty the Blue Tiger dual language children's books (available in English/Spanish or English/French) on Amazon today to give your kids new language skills and confidence in their unique voices. These books are essential tools for both bilingual families and new learners! You can also sign up for our Malty newsletter now to get an exclusive discount on our digital language learning audiobooks for kids when they launch on February 4: https://www.maltythebluetiger.com/newsletter-page  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/in-plain-language/support

Have I Missed the "Opportunity Window" to Raise Bilingual Kids?

Speaking eloquently and confidently for a crowd is an invaluable skill — yet it's one that children are rarely taught, even as they’re expected to make great presentations as part of their academic success in school (think oral book reports, science experiment presentations, and social studies debates). However, you can instill this skill set in your child with these five easy tips. We spoke to Lauren Mosback, a licensed professional counselor and author of My Sister’s Super Skills, and Herman Otten, a public speaking expert, to bring you the best strategies for helping your child rock school presentations and public speaking overall. By the end of this podcast, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge you need to raise an exceptional public speaker (or become one yourself — after all, these tips work for grownups, too!). Shop Malty the Blue Tiger bilingual children's books (available in English and Spanish or English and French) on Amazon today to give your kids new language skills and confidence in their unique voices. These books are essential tools for both bilingual families and new learners! Get your Spanish edition: https://amzn.to/2O0hBXH Get your French edition: https://amzn.to/2K8GLSM Love what you hear? Leave a review if you can — it means the world to everyone who contributes to and creates this show! Plus, we’ll be featuring some of your reviews on the air. You can also support this podcast with a small monthly donation at anchor.fm/in-plain-language. In doing so, you help to continue these important conversations about language. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/in-plain-language/support

The 5 Best Public Speaking Tips for Kids

You're about to hear invaluable tips from top experts to help your child's language skills skyrocket — whether it's their native language or another language. This is In Plain Language, the speech and language podcast by Malty the Blue Tiger bilingual children's books. Shop Malty the Blue Tiger books (available in English/Spanish and English/French) on Amazon today, and find free language resources at MaltyTheBlueTiger.com. Every time you subscribe to, review, or share this podcast, it means the world to everyone who works to continue these important conversations. Thank you for joining! Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/in-plain-language/support

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In Plain Language

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