activism

“A thread is a clear connection between a main theme and every conversation that follows.” Matthew R. Kay, Not Light, but Fire. Chapter 3 set me off in a timely tangent, preparing for teaching in the time of Corona. What thread would tie my Spanish 1 courses together? What worthy theme would logically, and naturally, relate to whatever we learn–to the deeper purpose of even LEARNING a language? I brainstormed a list of about 11 questions that I thought could really matter, really connect the whole experience. But I came back to one and brainstormed some more…

By SraSpanglish, 4 years ago

ACTFL

For White Folks Who Teach in Suburbia

Y’all. I stopped reading For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood when I took the job in suburbia. My new school is the ethnic inverse of the Charlotte magnet school where I taught for one measly year. Honestly, Suburbia IS easier, if only for the numbers game (85 vs Read more…

By SraSpanglish, 4 years4 years ago

7 Dos and Don’ts for Equitable Engagement

When I saw this session with La Maestra Loca, I KNEW it would be my raison d’être this time. I knew from Annabelle’s April workshop that she had faced comparable management issues to those I confronted this year–WITH a new baby to boot!–so that she was presenting on equity from that perspective? I knew I was in the right place.

By SraSpanglish, 5 years5 years ago

activism

#SCOLT19 Culture Shock

To be honest, I generally avoid social justice and culture-oriented sessions. I feel like they all sound lovely and fun during the conference high, but somehow, I leave knowing they’ll never work their way into my lesson rotation. I took a chance, though, and stacked my Saturday morning at SCOLT Read more…

By SraSpanglish, 5 years5 years ago

activism

The Truth Is…Why I’m not at the protests

The truth is my protest unit failed. When I couldn’t get my seniors to read or write anything else, I had hoped controversial topics would hook them, make them question things, make them stand up and make a change–or at the very least think about texts in a way that Read more…

By SraSpanglish, 6 years5 years ago

activism

Video Analysis: What’s happening in Venezuela?

They originally wanted to make their skit for the upcoming language festival a talk show, full of celebrities and gossip. So we looked up some celebrities on People en Español (and on MSNLatino because of People’s lack of diversity–but that’s another post) and narrowed down countries we’d like to focus on. We Read more…

By SraSpanglish, 10 years ago

activism

In with the old

Find the updated project here This project was not fully cooked when I started teaching it. It’s also lain dormant for at least two years, maybe four. I really did have some good ideas in the olden days, but they do need to be reexamined and revamped to work now. Read more…

By SraSpanglish, 12 years6 years ago

activism

Interdisciplinary Idea

My principal tweets a lot…and sometimes it’s interesting. Last night, for example, he linked to http://www.designforchangecontest.com/. I have been looking for an excuse to become part of the health science projects at my school, interdisciplinary independent research projects that students typically complete as part of their science classes every 6 weeks, Read more…

By SraSpanglish, 14 years ago