ThinkCERCA strives to meet the needs of all learners, including the needs of English language learners. To help meet these needs, we provide lessons to support students in building background knowledge and acquiring academic language in Spanish to prepare for success on English-language lessons.
Independent Close Reading Lessons
We feature independent close reading lessons—also known as QuickCERCAs—in both Spanish and English to build students' background knowledge while creating cohesion within the classroom. The Spanish-language lessons are based on texts that were either originally published in Spanish or that were translated from the English by professional educational translators. The voiceovers for our Spanish-language lessons were recorded with fluency and expression by native Spanish speakers.
Stop by our support page for step-by-step instructions on assigning ThinkCERCA Spanish lessons or learn more about our ELD supports.
Grades 3-5
How did the shape of M and M's lead to a scientific breakthrough? (CCSS.CCRA.R.8)
After thousands of years, how did some wolf families become different kinds of dogs? (CCSS.CCRA.R.1)
What are some of the challenges that monarch butterflies face, and what strategies do they use to survive? (CCSS.CCRA.R.8)
What are the main differences between the three types of skeletons? (CCSS.CCRA.R.1)
What should people do to reduce ocean noise? (CCSS.CCRA.R.8)
Grades 6-8
Why should modern students study the importance of the Underground Railroad? (CCSS.CCRA.R.8)
Why are more girls playing soccer now than in the past? (CCSS.CCRA.R.8)
How did the Clarks’ doll experiment impact the United States? (CCSS.CCRA.R.8)
How can understanding elephant sounds help scientists? (CCSS.CCRA.R.1)
What evidence shows the evolution of fish to mammals? (CCSS.CCRA.R.1)
Introductions to Key Skills and Concepts
We also feature lessons that introduce key literacy skills and concepts—also known as Minilessons—in both Spanish and English to support students' acquisition of academic language. The Spanish-language lessons mirror the content in our English-language lessons and were translated from the English by professional educational translators. The voiceovers for our Spanish-language lessons were recorded with fluency and expression by native Spanish speakers. Why Do We Make Arguments? (CCSS.CCRA.R.8)
Summarizing (CCSS.CCRA.R.2)
Claim (CCSS.CCRA.R.2)
Evidence (CCSS.CCRA.R.8)
Reasoning (CCSS.CCRA.R.8)
Counterargument (CCSS.CCRA.R.6)
Audience (CCSS.CCRA.R.6)