Spanish Level 3 & 4 Archives - Bryce Hedstrom - Comprehensible Input Materials & Training

CONEXIONES-Making Connections with the Spanish-Speaking World

Bryce Hedstrom — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 16:32:49 +0000

Conexiones is a non-fiction book for free reading in Spanish. This book is filled with short interesting articles that will help Spanish students to understand and connect with the Spanish-speaking world. My students have enjoyed these readings and I bet yours will too. It is simple enough for levels 1 & 2 to read and it is interesting enough for all levels to pick up cultural insights in a low-stress format.

When you order Conexiones be sure to download this free book Conexiones Teacher Resources. It will help you with activities to use articles in Conexiones as whole class reading.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT CONEXIONES:

“The readings in Bryce´s book excite a different kind of reader: the child who spends hours curled up with a magazine like Ranger Rick, Popular Science or National Geographic. This book rounds out a classroom library by focusing on interesting non-fiction that is comprehensible to novice learners of Spanish. Whether offered as an independent reading selection, read in small groups or part of a whole-class reading activity, these readings are a necessary complement to the fiction that is central to my classes.”

—Mike Peto, teacher and author
My Generation of Polyglots Blog, mrpeto.wordpress.com, North Carolina

“Conexiones is a treasure trove of short, easy, amply-illustrated readings in Spanish about real things, places, animals, customs and history in the Spanish-speaking world, including even some general science. The book is divided into three sections: (1) readings for first-year students, (2) readings for second-year students and (3) the Diccionario cultural y geográfico de Latinoamérica, a concise eclectic encyclopedia of things, places, animals, customs and history in Latin America. To my knowledge there is nothing else available at these levels of Spanish that is comparable to either the readings or the dictionary.

Every Spanish teacher should welcome these short readings and the dictionary, which can be used in a variety of ways. Particular readings can be taught or assigned. The whole book can be available to students to pick and choose what they are interested in reading. The dictionary can be a source of useful information at any time. We are fortunate that Conexiones exists. It should be an essential part of every Spanish teacher’s repertoire. Ideally, every Spanish student should have a copy.”

—Contee Seely, Publisher
Co-author of Fluency Thru TPR Storytelling, with Blaine Ray, Berkeley, California

“Wow! Conexiones provides an essential resource of interesting and accessible Spanish articles for both teachers and language learners! Teachers have the option of including the reader in our FVR libraries, using specific readings as a complementary part of the year’s curriculum, or … both!”

—Diane Chamberlain
Spanish teacher and professor, Laramie, Wyoming

Here is what Allison Weinhold, from the Mis Clases Locas blog says about Conexiones: http://misclaseslocas.blogspot.com/2018/11/libro-lunes-conexiones-making.html?m=1

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Juana, la Avanzadora (by Margarita Pérez García) Unique Word Count 328ONLY 11 COPIES LEFT

Bryce Hedstrom — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 17:05:27 +0000

Juana, la Avanzadora tells the story of an extraordinary woman who fought for the freedom of her country at a time when women were relegated to the sidelines.

The history of women during the Venezuelan War of Independence is marked by their absence. They are better known as cooks, nurses or companions in the revolutionary struggles of their husbands and male relatives. We know little about the women who fought on the battlefield against the Spanish Empire. Juana Ramírez is an exception.

Born into slavery in 1790, Juana Ramírez dreamed of an equal society for brown, indigenous and black people. Juana hoped to join the fight for independence from the Spanish Empire, but women were relegated to accompanying fathers, husbands, sons or brothers who went to war. At the age of 15, she joined the fight as a simple laundress and then as a makeshift nurse. But when all seemed lost at the Battle of Alto de los Godos on 25 May 1813 and the men had fallen, her actions at the head of a 100-strong all-female artillery unit won them the war. Did Juana live to see her dream of freedom come true?

Additional Info:

Level 4
Unique Word Count: 328
Total Word Count: 6,444

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La revelación (by A.C. Quintero) Unique Word Count 331

Bryce Hedstrom — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 14:43:12 +0000

With studying, taking care of her siblings, filling in for her absent mother, and listening to every rule her father puts in place, Victoria needs a break–and a REAL social life. When Victoria’s friends invite her to join their amateur ghost-hunting team, she jumps at the opportunity. Living in St. Augustine, Florida, there’s plenty of ghost stories and folklore to keep them busy until graduation. And truthfully, Victoria could use some excitement in her life.

But when the crew gets a lead on a possible ghost-sighting at Castillo San Marcos, they have to act fast. Armed with a map and equipment to measure paranormal activity, they navigate through dark and gloomy tunnels in search of a secret chamber.

However, their exploration is halted by a piercing scream that stops them dead in their tracks. They quickly realize they’re out of their league–and one member short. What starts off as a simple ghost hunt unfolds into something more terrifying than they imagined. Mystified, they must determine if they’re hunting ghosts or are they the ones being hunted?

Targeted Level:
- Level 3
- Unique Word Count: 331
- Total Word Count: 13,675

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El escape (by A.C. Quintero) Unique Word Count 350

Bryce Hedstrom — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 22:26:27 +0000

With a unique vocabulary of approximately 400 words, sprinkled with 24 illustrations, this high-interest level 3 (or 2nd Semester level 2) novel will have students on the edge of their seats. In addition to a plethora of cognates and grammatical structures recycled throughout the story, this novel also features vocabulary associated with family, relationships, and technology.

Synopsis:
Get ready for adventure with a cautionary twist! Federico and his friends have a pretty simple life. They love to play basketball, soccer and go skateboarding at the park. They also love to go to their favorite hangout out, La librería Curioso: the only abandoned building left in town. This space gives them the privacy they need to practice pranks and other hilarious stunts to upload to Youtube. But the night of Friday the 13, their jokes go sour. While shooting the breeze and popping firecrackers, they stumble upon an uncanny situation. In an effort to satisfy their curiosity, they witness something will change their lives forever. Now the boys have to escape the situation, alive.

Targeted Level:

Level 3
Unique Word Count: 350
Total Word Count: 10,400

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El armario (by A.C. Quintero) Unique Word Count 350

Bryce Hedstrom — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 17:58:56 +0000

Synopsis:
Liliana has bitten off more than she can chew and her secret life has spiraled out of control. One can only shove their skeletons into a closet for so long before they begin to march out, one by one. Liliana, however, is far from being the sole keeper of bones: someone has a secret darker than hers. While at a “friend’s” house, Liliana stumbles upon perplexing discoveries…the kind for which people may kill. Time is running out and Liliana must make a decision. For every decision, there is a trail of consequences. Liliana will soon discover that everyone’s closet holds skeletons…but some bones are bigger than others!

Targeted Level:

Level 3/4
Unique Word Count: 350
Total Word Count: 9,600

Review:
“You are becoming one of my favorite authors! This weekend I finally got in the mail your book, “El armario.” I’m half way through it and I can’t put it down. I have an EL student (she’s not in any of my classes), but she came to my class in her own time and read “Las apariencias enganan.” Since then, she’s been asking every day when I’m getting volume 2. It gives me so much happiness to see students read because of their own intrinsic motivation.”
-Alina F.

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Las apariencias engañan (by A.C. Quintero) Unique Word Count 350

Bryce Hedstrom — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 16:55:09 +0000

Las apariencias engañan is an engaging and comprehensible novel for Spanish levels 3. The story features a 300-word glossary, in addition to engaging pictures that tell the tantalizing tale of 4 teens, caught in their web of lies. Its twist and turns will engage your students from beginning to end. Mostly told in the past tense, this novel features a comprehensible vocabulary with footnotes, so students don’t skip a beat.

Synopsis:
All the teens in Buena Vista have secrets, but Camilo’s is the worst of all! As he masquerades as one of the sweetest boys in Buena Vista, his mask starts to crack, and his foundation soon follows. But, he’s not the only one entangled in a web of lies; his secret is only the tip of the iceberg in this cold tale of hidden truths and betrayal. His girlfriend, troubled by his uncanny behavior, sets out on a truth-seeking mission and her discoveries pry open pandora’s box. She discovers that Camilo is living a double life; but, he isn’t the only one with compromising secrets. His house harbors a bigger secret that has haunted the town for years. This compelling story reveals the timeless truths that: things are never what they seem, or “Las apariencias engañan.”

Targeted Level:

Level 3/4
Unique Word Count: 350
Total Word Count: 10,700

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Los ojos de Carmen (by Verónica Moscoso) Unique Word Count 350ONLY 9 COPIES LEFT

Bryce Hedstrom — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 16:38:34 +0000

Summary

Daniel, a 16-year-old American boy wants to enter a photography contest. He goes to Ecuador to visit his Ecuadorian-American relatives. While there, he must deal with various culturally challenging situations. On a day trip he meets Carmen, a girl with exceptional eyes. He wants to photograph her, but…

The story is told from Daniel’s point of view. This novella is filled with cultural substance and significant facts about Ecuador. Third year students will find it accessible and engaging. With about 350 unique words and plenty of repetition, it tells a 7,450-word story. A full glossary is included at the end of the book.

Targeted Level:

Level 3
Unique Word Count: 350
Total Word Count: 7,450

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Soy Lorenzo (by Virginia Hildebrandt) Unique Word Count 400

Bryce Hedstrom — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 18:36:44 +0000

Soy Lorenzo is perfect for Level 3, novice-mid/novice-high readers and heritage language readers.

The indigenous lore of Nicaragua’s Miskito coast hosts this coming-of-age story. Desperate to break free of the limits of his village, Lorenzo finds himself entwined in the legends of his ancestors’ sacred knowledge. This compelling story will engage your students and spark discussions on a multitude of culturally authentic topics and current events. [Read a sample of this book]

Targeted Level:

Level 3
Unique Word Count: 400
Total Word Count: 7,600

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Pero corazones no sabemos (by Theresa Jensen) Unique Word Count 450

Bryce Hedstrom — Tue, 15 May 2018 19:00:30 +0000

After the trauma of losing her parents, getting scammed, drugged and almost losing everything, Lety’s life finally looks like it’s getting back on track. But what if her parents aren’t really dead after all? What if those closest to her have been lying to her for years?

Find out why -caras vemos pero corazones no sabemos-!

…pero corazones no sabemos is a sequel for the mystery Caras vemos.

However, this book also works as a stand alone read.

Targeted Level:

Level: 3
Unique Word Count: 450
Total Word Count: 11,236

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La lucha de la vida (By Jennifer Degenhardt) Unique Word Count 450ONLY 12 COPIES LEFT

Bryce Hedstrom — Tue, 01 May 2018 15:33:49 +0000

Synopsis:
After years of living with uncertainty, first with his mother and then in foster care, J.P.’s life is finally becoming more predictable, routine and even comfortable. Now that he is living with his father, his stepmother and his two half-sisters, J.P. finally has the opportunity to learn more about himself. As a fan of professional wrestling that he views on TV, he decides to pursue that sport at his new school. What he is not nearly as keen on is the idea of studying, mostly because it’s hard for him. Nevertheless, he resolves to do well enough to ensure eligibility for participation on the wrestling team, as his sights are set on winning a state championship that year. J.P.’s father, Juan, is also learning. He is learning how to contend with the challenges that come with raising a teenager. Juan tries to better understand the son who recently came to live with him and attempts to connect with him further by letting J.P. know that he, too, was once a wrestler back in Mexico, a luchador mexicano. Wrestling serves as the topic of most of the father/son conversations as they get to know each other better at this stage of their lives – conversations that are peppered with J.P. constantly reminding his father of the desire to get his driver’s license as soon as he turns 16. But there is a problem, one J.P. knows nothing about, and one that Juan hopes can be fixed before his son finds out. In this novel, readers are presented with a wealth of vocabulary and grammatical structures while delving into family and social issues. The cultural component is that of Mexican wrestling – la lucha mexicana.

Targeted Level:

Level 3
Unique Word Count: 450
Total Word Count: 11,100

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