Risas y Sonrisas Spanish for Kids

Name: Risas y Sonrisas Spanish for Kids
Brand: Risas y Sonrisas Spanish for Kidshttp://www.spanishforkids.com

by Risas y Sonrisas Spanish for Kidshttp://www.spanishforkids.com

Foreign_languageGrades K–5

About This Curriculum

<cite index="2-1,2-4">A multi-sensory, conversational Spanish course for elementary school from kindergarten through fifth grade that uses music, games, videos with songs and skits, movement (including sign language), color-coding words, pictures, reading, role-play, drawing, and writing.</cite>

What makes it unique: <cite index="5-11,5-12,5-18,5-19">Makes repetition fun and engaging so students look forward to Spanish class and gain a love of the language that stays with them for life. Any teacher, instructor, or parent can start teaching Spanish whether or not they speak Spanish, with audio, illustrations, and videos demonstrating correct pronunciation and detailed lesson plans.</cite>

Risas y Sonrisas Spanish for Kids: Multi-Sensory Conversational Program

Risas y Sonrisas Spanish for Kids is a comprehensive, multi-sensory Spanish curriculum designed for grades K-5 that emphasizes conversational skills through music, games, videos, sign language, and interactive activities. The program combines online animated content with physical materials including workbooks, flashcards, and cultural resources to create an engaging learning experience.

Best for

Homeschooling families teaching elementary Spanish (K-5) who want a multi-sensory, engaging approach that works with multiple grade levels simultaneously and don't require heavy grammar focus

Evaluation Criteria

4 strengths · 3 neutral

Teacher TrainingStrength

Extensive teacher support is provided through detailed manuals and pronunciation resources, making it suitable for both fluent and non-fluent Spanish speakers.

Comprehensive instructor manual, audio/video pronunciation guides, detailed preparation instructions, and online progress tracking; reviewers note it's appropriate for non-fluent teachers due to extensive audio and video support

Cultural KnowledgeStrength

Cultural knowledge is integrated throughout the program with dedicated cultural components and authentic materials.

Includes cultural points like piñatas in each chapter, Hispanic Culture Cards, Hispanic countries map, and 48 mini-cards with flags and regions

Direct InstructionStrength

The program provides structured direct instruction through the comprehensive instructor manual and systematic lesson plans.

Homeschool Instructor Manual includes lesson plans for four semesters, game instructions, material preparation guidance, and structured progression through themed units

Comprehensible InputStrength

The program provides abundant comprehensible input through animated songs, videos with skits by native speakers, and graduated vocabulary introduction across themed units.

Features over 30 original songs with colorful illustrations, skits with native Spanish-speaking children and Spanish subtitles, and progressive vocabulary building across 14 themes from basic greetings to complex topics

Explicit GrammarNeutral

The curriculum covers some basic grammar elements but focuses primarily on conversational skills rather than systematic grammar instruction.

Includes verb conjugation cards, personal pronoun forms, and covers masculine/feminine gender, but the review notes 'this is really a conversational course' rather than grammar-focused

Retrieval PracticeNeutral

The curriculum incorporates various forms of retrieval practice through games and interactive activities, though systematic spaced review is not explicitly described.

Features interactive flashcards, domino matching games, bubble games for vocabulary recall, and repetitive but varied practice activities across different modalities

Speaking Listening BalanceNeutral

The program strongly emphasizes speaking and listening skills through songs, skits, and interactive Q&A, with less focus on reading and writing, especially for younger learners.

Multi-sensory approach includes singing, signing with ASL, acting out skits, practical Q&A sessions, though workbooks provide some reading and writing practice primarily for grades 3-5

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, onlypassionatecuriosity.com

Review Sources

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Key Facts

GradesGrades K–5

SubjectForeign_language

PedagogyUnschooling

Faith-BasedNo

FormatDigital + Physical

Pricing<cite index="11-15">Homeschool Program online access for one year (includes items below) - $325 (Once you purchase this program, you can request via email a 20% discount coupon on subsequent purchases)</cite>. Note: Some older sources show different pricing (<cite index="15-31">$175 for the Homeschool Program with an additional $60 per year for online resources</cite>, <cite index="18-6">$299 for one homeschool program teacher license</cite>), but the most current pricing from the authoritative review source shows $325.

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