2024 Year in Review: Language Learning Highlights for Parents and Teachers
As we wrap up 2024 at Little Crab Educational Press, we’re celebrating a year filled with practical tips, inspiring stories, and creative strategies to make language learning accessible and enjoyable for parents, teachers, and lifelong learners alike. This December blog offers a quick overview of the year’s highlights, giving you the perfect chance to catch up on anything you might have missed. Plus, all the freebies shared throughout the year are conveniently linked in the article, making it easy to revisit your favourite resources or discover something new.
The Recap
Here are this year’s highlights to help you quickly revisit the topics that matter most to you.
January: No More Decision Fatigue: Daily Language Practice Hack Tailored for You (and Your Family, Too!)
In this blog, we tackled the challenge of staying consistent with language learning without feeling overwhelmed. The "Seven Language Skills Daily Study Strategy" introduced a way to focus on one skill each day—speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, pronunciation, or vocabulary—to keep practice sessions fresh and manageable. We also discussed the benefits of early bilingual exposure for children and showcased how our resources, like Text Scaffolding and skill-focused graphics, make learning effective for all ages. Readers were invited to download a free tracker to help implement this strategy and stay motivated.
February: Perspective Shift: Slay Your Inner Saboteur with a Growth Mindset
Self-doubt and perfectionism can derail language learners, but this blog offered a solution: embracing a growth mindset. By shifting the focus from mastering every word to celebrating personal progress, learners can rediscover joy in the process. Drawing parallels with singing, where creativity fosters growth, we provided practical tips like using immersive listening tools (hello, binge-worthy TV shows!) and included a free TV show viewing study sheet to enhance comprehension. This post was all about letting go of the inner critic and enjoying the journey.
March: 2 Simple Things Every Teacher Should Be Doing (And Why Parents Should Know About Them)
Rebecca shared her teaching journey and the transformative impact of two essential techniques: Instruction Checking Questions (ICQs) and Concept Checking Questions (CCQs). These strategies ensure students fully understand instructions and concepts, preventing confusion and boosting confidence. The blog explained how parents could apply these tools at home and highlighted their value across all subjects and learning settings, making this post a favourite for educators and caregivers alike.
April: “Have We Met?”
This personal blog post celebrated the evolution of Little Crab Educational Press. Rebecca and Lisa shared how their unique paths—from language teaching in China to creating bilingual Mandarin-English resources—shaped their mission to support learners worldwide. Milestones like the creation of Little Byron - Xiǎo Bái Rèn - 小白任 and innovative products like Tortoise Tiles and Bilingual Boats were highlighted. Readers were invited to explore the newly launched Our Little Freebie Library, a growing collection of free resources to make language learning more accessible.
When students grow restless at the end of the school year, teachers need creative ways to maintain engagement. Enter TT Taboo, a lively team-based game that turns language learning into a fun, movement-friendly activity. Using Tortoise Tiles, teachers can incorporate vocabulary themes like holidays or cultural celebrations into the game, fostering collaboration, language recall, and kinesthetic learning. The blog included step-by-step instructions and tips to help educators adapt the game for their classrooms.
June: Exploring the World in Chinese – From Home
This blog highlighted the power of radio as a flexible and immersive tool for learning Mandarin. From toddlers to teens, learners of all ages can use radio to enhance listening skills, expand vocabulary, and gain cultural insights. The post provided practical strategies for integrating radio into daily routines, along with a free Language Learner Activity Guide: Leveraging Radio. This guide featured gamified activities, navigation hacks, and access to over 50 Mandarin radio stations, making language immersion more accessible than ever.
July: Literal vs. Free Translation: Which is Best for Language Learners?
Translation plays a key role in language learning, and this blog explored the strengths of both literal and free approaches. Literal translation helps beginners build vocabulary and understand grammar, while free translation focuses on natural fluency and cultural context. The blog included expert insights from Dr. Katharina Barbe and introduced the Bilingual Cryptogram Puzzle Book 1, a fun resource to practice translation techniques using idiomatic expressions (成语), and its companion Motivational Chéng Yǔ Memory Game freebie.
August: How Do I Help My Kid Transition into Language Immersion Classes?
Transitioning into language immersion programs can be daunting, but this blog provided five solid strategies for parents. From using apps and online classes to preparing children with real-world practice, the post offered actionable tips to build confidence. It also featured resources like the Welcome to My Classroom! bilingual handout and creative tools like Tasty’s Mandarin-language cooking videos to keep learning fun.
September: We Asked; Mandarin Teachers Answered: See Inside Our Survey Results!
This blog shared insights from a survey of Mandarin teachers across North America, revealing key challenges like the lack of customizable, age-appropriate resources and materials for subjects beyond language arts. In response, we announced plans to expand our catalog with handwriting practice books, parent guides, and more. This post was a testament to Little Crab Educational Press’s commitment to breaking down barriers in Mandarin education.
October: Reading Levels Made Simple: A Parent’s Roadmap to Mandarin, English, and Bilingual Books
Navigating reading level systems can be confusing, but this blog broke down key classification methods for Mandarin and English books. From Pinyin levels to Lexile indicators, we provided clear guidance to help parents choose age-appropriate, language-appropriate materials. We also touched on bilingual books and how they’re classified, offering practical advice to help parents support their little learners.
November: 5 Ways to Help Your Child Hack Word Translation in Any Language
Word translation can be tricky, especially when definitions vary by context or region. In this blog, Rebecca shared tips like cross-referencing dictionaries, using context clues, and asking clarifying questions to help children navigate these challenges. She also emphasized that making mistakes is a natural and essential part of learning, encouraging kids to experiment with confidence.
Can’t Decide Which Freebie to Get?
No problem! When you sign up for ANY of our free cheat sheets, guides, digital products, and more you gain access to ALL of our free giveaways - all the way back to when we started writing our blog (as well as exclusive access to multiple offer codes)!
At Little Crab Educational Press, we’re here to empower parents and educators with tools, tips, and inspiration. What was your favorite blog of 2024? Did a resource transform your language-learning journey? Let us know! Reach out at hello@littlecrabpress.ca or in the DMs on social media. We’d love to hear from you and help you make 2025 your best learning year yet!