Sandy Suggests...

We talk a lot about elevating foreign language learning, and all the books we produce are made to honour that. We love the idea of it because there are so many benefits to learning an additional language beyond just knowing how to speak in another language. Language learning promotes literacy, fosters inclusivity, exercises perseverance, and adds joy to life overall.

The cool thing is, though, so does working on your skills in your own native language, too. Most people probably don’t think that raising their kid(s) in their native language is actually teaching them “a language”, but, truthfully, it is. With that in mind, we have created this resource library for parents, caregivers, teachers, homeschoolers, and learners of all ages.

The idea for this list was borne from the concept of simulating an immersion environment in your home. These mainly English, Mandarin, or bilingual English/Mandarin resources are curated for you by Little Crab Educational Press (LCEP) founder Rebecca. To read more about that genesis, you can check out this blog post.

Presented for you by our LCEP mascot, Sandy the Crab, the resource library categories are:

• Study Methods, Tools and Hacks (texts, workbooks, apps, podcasts, etc.)

• Books We Love for #ReadAloudTime

• Movies (coming soon)

• TV shows (coming soon)

• Music

• Decor and Crafts (coming soon)

• Online Creators (just added!)

Study Methods, Tools and Hacks

Bilingual Boats Notebooks (from LCEP)

  • Little Crab Educational Press resource library "Sandy Suggests..." recommends Bilingual Boats notebooks for your simulated language-immersion environment categorized under "Study Methods, Tools and Hacks"
    Learn More 

  • WHY SANDY SUGGESTS IT

    • improve your reading comprehension, vocabulary retention, writing skills and translating skills

    • can be used as a translation or composition notebook

    • for use with Mandarin or any character-based language such as Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, etc.

  • FORMAT OPTIONS

    • physical 90 page notebooks

    • digital download including instructions and a single notebook sheet available for printing as many time as you wish
Shop the Notebooks in Our Little Shop

ChinesePod

  • LCEP mascot Sandy has a lightbulb over his head as he Suggests using ChinesePod in your DIY Simulated Language-Immersion Environment for accelerated language learning
    Learn More 

  • WHY SANDY SUGGESTS IT

    • houses the largest library of Chinese learning audio and video content available on the web

    • dialogues presented on general topics, more niche sub-topics, and topics not commonly discussed in typical textbooks or courses

    • provides critical real-world context

    • massive bank of levelled content

  • CONTENT OPTIONS

    • Podcast

    • YouTube Channel

    • online resources via website
ChinesePod Website

Khan Academy Kids

  • Sandy Suggests "Khan Academy Kids" for creating a simulated language-immersion environment to accelerate vocabulary learning
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  • WHY SANDY SUGGESTS IT

    • programs engage kids in core subjects like early literacy, reading, writing, language, and math, while encouraging creativity and building social-emotional skills

    • original interactive activities, books, animated videos, games, and creative lessons

    • developed in collaboration with learning experts at Standford

  • CONTENT

    • ad free, no-subscription required app

    • available from the App Store, GooglePlay, and amazon appstore

    • online resources and downloads available via website
Khan Academy Kids Website

Language Learner Activity Guide: Leveraging Radio

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  • WHY SANDY SUGGESTS IT

    • provides insights to support parents fostering their child’s additional language learning at home

    • scaleable (in terms of both time and number of participants) activities for the classroom or tutoring/home/ homeschool setting

    • focused on Mandarin learners but applicable to learning nearly any language

  • INCLUDES

    • 5 Gamify-able lesson activities for classrooms, smaller groups of students, or self-study using radio

    • Navigation Hack: How to jump to the audio without having to navigate (often clunky) websites

    • BONUS summary and list of 9 Mandarin Radio Stations that feature children's programming from around the globe plus access to over 40 Mandarin radio stations worldwide with regular news and cultural content
Get the Guide

Reading Trackers

  • Sandy Suggests "Reading Trackers" for creating a simulated language-immersion environment to accelerate vocabulary learning
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  • WHY SANDY SUGGESTS IT

    Simplified Chinese Vocabulary Study System:

    • help with goal setting

    • create a sense of personal accountability for completing tasks

    • promote a positive sense of accomplishment by visually tabulating completed tasks

    • included descriptions of what kinds of books to read create a sense of purpose for the reader

  • FORMAT

    • LCEP Reading Trackers are available as instant digital download PDFS
Shop Reading Trackers in Our Little Shop

Tortoise Tiles: ABCs of Holiday Series (from LCEP)

  • LCEP mascot Sandy has a lightbulb over his head as he Suggests using LCEP's Tortoise Tiles in your DIY Simulated Language-Immersion Environment for accelerated language learning
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  • WHY SANDY SUGGESTS IT

    Simplified Chinese Vocabulary Study System:

    • integrate new words into your lexicon more quickly

    • organise words easily for convenient review

    • sustain a longer retention timeline, and

    • maintain a quicker recall ability

    • stay motivated!

  • TARGET VOCABULARY

    • New Year's and Spring Festival - 新年 and 春节
    • Valentine's Day - 情人节
    • Four Spring Holidays - 四个春假 (圣帕特里克节, 复活节, 清明节, and 端午节)
    • Mid-Autumn Festival - 中秋节
    • Thanksgiving - 感恩节
    • Halloween - 万圣节
    • Remembrance Day - 国殇纪念日
    • Christmas - 圣诞节
Shop the Series in Our Little Shop

Transparent Tinted Window Reading Guides

  • LCEP mascot Sandy has a lightbulb over his head as he Suggests using transparent reading guide strips in your DIY Simulated Language-Immersion Environment for accelerated language learning
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  • WHY SANDY SUGGESTS IT

    • aids students and adults with the following difficulties: skipping words, skipping lines, reversing letters, transposing letters, losing your place, re-reading lines, squinting, concentration & reading fatigue

    • asset when reading bilingual books such as LCEP's storybooks

  • OPTIONS

    • Paragraph Sized

    • Sentence Strips

    • our recommended supplier carries these in a variety of colours

    • our recommended supplier ships to Canada and the US via Canada Post
Shop School House Teaching Supplies

Books We Love for #ReadAloudTime

Car, Car, Truck, Jeep

Shop School House Teaching Supplies
  • LCEP mascot Sandy has a lightbulb over his head as he Suggests using the colourful children's book Car, Car, Truck, Jeep for #ReadAloudTime in your DIY Simulated Language-Immersion Environment for accelerated language learning
    Learn More 

  • WHY SANDY SUGGESTS IT

    • super fun English read-aloud with bright, bold colours and a song-plus-text format (read to the melody and rhythm of Baa Baa Black Sheep)

    • use it to challenge your or a child's Mandarin by trying to do as-you-go translations. (Ex. "Car, Car, Truck, Jeep... in Mandarin to fit the rhythm the best would make it "Car, Truck, Jeep" = 车, 卡车, 吉普车!)

    • illustrations provide a lot of fodder for extending the book for your child/students into additional vocabulary topics (ex. colours)

  • FORMATS

    • board book

    • eBook

1 3
Shop School House Teaching Supplies

Music

Chinese Kids Songs

  • LCEP mascot Sandy has a lightbulb over his head as he Suggests using music from @ChineseKidsSongs in your DIY Simulated Language-Immersion Environment for accelerated language learning
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  • WHY SANDY SUGGESTS IT

    • fun kids' songs in Mandarin written and performed by a dad in Singapore (and sometimes his super cute kids too!)

    • adorable home-made videos, useful topics, catchy tunes

    • great for beginner Mandarin learners (even adults - sing his songs to yourself while you vacuum!)

  • PLATFORMS

    • @chinesekidssongs on Instagram

    • @chinesekidssongs on YouTube
Chinese Kids Songs on Instagram

Online Creators

Kristen | Mandarin Chinese Coach

  • Learn More 

  • WHY SANDY SUGGESTS IT

    • Kristen's instagram channel has engaging carousels that walk you through useful knowledge

    • Her advice covers how to implement different learning tools

    • She covers the Chinese we all learn in formal classes versus what is actually said in "real life"

  • PLATFORM

    @chinese.with.kristen on Instagram
Kristen on Instagram