Practical Mini-Guide for Hispanic Teachers and Moms
The Most Common Myth
“If a child already knows how to read in Spanish, they will automatically be able to read in English.”
The truth:
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Spanish has 24 sounds (phonemes) and very consistent rules.
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English has 44+ sounds and many irregularities.
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In English, a letter can sound different ways (example: a in cat, cake, car).
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🧠 Why this confusion occurs
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In Spanish → one letter = one sound (easy and predictable).
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In English → one letter = multiple sounds (e.g., “o” in dog, go, love).
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This causes pronunciation errors and frustration if not taught with phonics.
✅ 3 steps to start with phonics correctly
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Start with the most frequent English sounds
Example: short /a/ (cat), short /i/ (sit), short /o/ (dog). -This sequence is included in the Brillo Bilingüe books and manual :) -
Use gestures and mouth shapes
Have children imitate how to position their tongue, lips, and teeth. Example: for /th/, gently stick your tongue out between your teeth. -
Play with minimal pairs
Example: ship/sheep, bit/beat. This helps them hear the difference that doesn't exist in Spanish.
🎲 Practical Activities
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Sound memory game: cards with pictures (cat–cap, ship–sheep).
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Simon Says with sounds: “Touch something that starts with short /a/!”
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Guided reading: start with simple CVC words (cat, dog, sit).
💡 Final Tip for Teachers and Moms
“Don’t translate English to Spanish: teach it from the sound up. Your child or student needs to learn to think in English, not to compare everything to Spanish.”
Do you want a complete step-by-step plan for the entire school year?⚡️
Discover the Brillo Bilingüe Manual and my courses designed for Hispanic teachers and moms.