¡Tacos+de+lodo!

Hello! Thanks for checking out my lesson plan for reading. The book I chose is named "¡Tacos de Lodo!" and is written by Mario Lopez, and is a biographical tale based on his childhood experiences with his sister playing in the backyard. I found it very entertaining with a good, moral message attached. Also, it's plot and vocabulary can be applied to a wide range of activities.

The pre-reading activity consists of the teacher handing each student the "Comparaciones" worksheet I have attached. On it are objects, events, and people from the story. First, the teacher goes over the vocabulary on the sheet to make sure the students know every word. If they don't know a word, (for example, "lodo"), the teacher should explain it using props and/or gestures (e.g. bring in mud to show the class). Then, the students fill out the sheet comparing the different words/phrases from the story to something in their own lives. Once every student is finished filling it out, the teacher may want to have a few students share what they wrote.

For the during reading activity, the teacher instructs the students to yell "Tacos, tacos, tacos!" every time the word "tacos" is read. It helps the students to listen and focus on the main ideas.

The post-reading activity is a challenge for the kids, and a good incentive to listen while the story is being read! They divide up into pairs, and one student in each pair receives a copy of "La lista de control". The student without the sheet recounts the story to the other student, in as much detail as possible. As the student with the sheet listens to the retelling of their partner, they check off the events listed on the sheet that their partner recounts. They then switch roles--now, the other partner retells the story while the other one "grades" them using the events on the sheet. I like this activity because it gives them a chance to tell the story in their own words, and to grade each other's work. It provides both of the students in the groups to concentrate on their vocabulary usage and use all previous knowledge they have about the story.

You can purchase the story here: http://www.amazon.com/Tacos-Lodo-Mud-Spanish/dp/0451236017

This is the pre-reading activity. This is the post-reading activity.