Caution
Imagine Reading and Imagine Lectura are being retired on September 1, 2024. Learn more at Imagine Reading and Imagine Lectura end-of-life recommendations.
Note
This article applies only to Imagine Lectura. Imagine Reading does not contain Dictado lessons.
Dictado is a culturally relevant teaching strategy, comprised of mini-lessons and Dictado sentences, that is commonly used in Mexico and other Latin American countries. In Imagine Lectura, each Dictado text is paired with a reading passage.
The Dictado lesson component takes place over three or more sessions. It contains two mini-lessons that focus on language conventions such as accentuation, punctuation, and common spelling rules. The third mini-lesson is an evaluation. The same Dictado text is repeated in all of the mini-lessons to help with reinforcement. In each session, students apply the language convention as they recite, write, and correct Dictado sentences.
To lead a Dictado lesson:
- Log in to Imagine Lectura.
- Click Unit Library in the upper navigation bar and choose a unit.
- Click into a reading passage.
- Select Dictado Lesson in Step 2: Deep Reading Cycle.
- The Dictado Lesson Plan opens with 3 days of lessons. Scroll to view the entire lesson plan and Print if desired. The lesson plan is unique to the reading passage you've selected.
- Scroll to the Teacher Preparation section.
Open the Dictado Lesson Protocol for your reference.
Ensure students have copies of the Signos de correcctión poster for their reference. The protocol and the poster are the same for all Dictado lessons. - Follow the lesson plan. It includes step-by-step instructions to lead a Dictado lesson, including introducing the language convention, correcting the Dictado, and conducting a formative assessment.
Recommendations
Personalize the Dictado lesson to your student's needs and skills. Some ideas for variation:
- Record yourself reading the Dictado so students can listen to it as many times as needed. Students who finish quickly can begin another related task, while those who need more time do not feel pressured to rush.
- While students work in pairs on Day 2, work with intervention groups to provide more individualized support.
- On Day 2, ask students to identify anything they are still struggling with and how they will improve. Have them write this in their Dictado notebooks.
- For students who need more support, print out the Dictado but leave out some key words or phrases for students to fill in. These words or phrases should contain the language convention. This exercise will help students feel successful in practicing the new skill.
- To increase motivation and provide a reference to the skills learned, list the language conventions on the first page of the students’ Dictado notebooks. As students showcase their proficiency in language conventions with Dictado formative assessments, acknowledge this by checking off, stamping, or giving stickers for each skill mastered.