A book for bilingual and ESL educators
How Leonardo da Vinci and a Piece of Chicharrón Made Me a Better Teacher
Renaissance Strategies for the Modern Classroom
Ten chapters on how students learn, inspired by Leonardo’s notebooks, and a free Digital Workshop with a lesson for every chapter.
Paperback · 167 pages · ISBN 979-8254361886 · 2026 · Also in Spanish
AI tools for teachers and a multilingual AI tutor, included with the book.
Watch the trailer
The story behind the book
Narrated by Verónica, the AI tutor in the book’s Digital Workshop. Captions available.
About the book
Written for the first year of teaching, and every year after
If you are starting out as a teacher, there will be days when nothing seems to work. This book was born in one of those years: a grueling first year in a fifth-grade bilingual classroom in North Texas, and two unexpected sources of inspiration, Leonardo da Vinci and a piece of chicharrón. What could chicharrón possibly have to do with teaching science? You will discover it in these pages.
You will explore the science of learning, culture and language, visual literacy, and play, and close with a thoughtful look at technology and AI: not a list of apps, but a way of thinking that lasts. The book first came out as the companion to our professional development workshop, Supporting Emergent Bilinguals in Science. Its strategies, though, are about effective teaching for emergent bilingual students and every learner, so they work in any subject: science, reading, social studies, and more.
“To put in your hands what I wish I’d had when I was starting out.”
From the Introduction
See the 10 chapters
- My Problem with Science
- The Science of Learning
- Culture, Language, and the Power of Chicharrón
- Focusing on What Really Matters
- The Power of Visual Literacy
- Playful Learning
- Technology as an Ally
- In the Age of Artificial Intelligence
- The Teacher’s Digital Workshop
- Shaping the New Renaissance Men and Women
Epilogue: Leonardo da Vinci, Jazz, and the Art of Improvisation
Included with every book
Your Digital Workshop: a modern bottega
Leonardo learned in a bottega, a workshop where masters and apprentices worked side by side. Your book comes with a digital one.
A lesson for every chapter
Ten interactive lessons that take each chapter into practice.
AI tools for planning
The ExCEL Lesson Planner, the Chicharrón Effect Generator, Leonardo’s Apprentice, and more.
Verónica, a multilingual AI tutor
More than a tutor, she is your AI teaching assistant. Ask about the book and your lessons, by text or voice, in eight languages.
Verónica speaks English, Español, 中文, Tiếng Việt, Tagalog, हिन्दी, اُردو, and Português.
Your access code is printed near the end of the book.
Who it is for
New teachers, and every teacher who wants fresh ideas
Written for pre-service and early-career teachers, and for bilingual and ESL teachers looking to revisit the fundamentals.
For universities and school districts
Training for schools and programs
Bring Supporting Emergent Bilinguals in Science, the workshop this book was written for, to your teachers, with hands-on practice in the Digital Workshop. We also design custom workshops for other subjects.
Considering the book for a course, a teacher preparation program, or professional development? Contact us about a review copy.
About the author
Luis J. Hernández Ledezma began his career in education in Venezuela and later taught fifth grade in a bilingual classroom in Texas. With more than 20 years in education, he founded Enabling Learning to build tools that amplify teachers’ work, not replace it.
Questions
Where is my access code for the Digital Workshop?
It is printed near the end of the book. Create an account in the Digital Workshop and enter the code once.
Is the Digital Workshop free?
Yes. Access is included with your book.
Is there a Spanish edition?
Yes. Cómo Leonardo da Vinci y el chicharrón me hicieron un mejor maestro is available on Amazon, with the same free Digital Workshop.
What formats are available?
The book is available in paperback on Amazon.
Do I need experience with AI?
No. The book explains the ideas first, and the Digital Workshop guides you step by step.
Can my school or program use the book for training?
Yes. The book is the companion to our workshop Supporting Emergent Bilinguals in Science, and we also design custom workshops. Contact us.