Alternate title: “Data Nerd Stuff.” Brace yourselves.So shortly before the official decision to go hybrid, my district sent out a survey for all Spanish teachers to list their Top 10 content/skills/standards for the level(s) they teach in order to prepare learning plans for the district. This was my chance!
One of the many, MANY important things I learned from attending my first Maestra Loca workshop is that you have to keep things moving: https://twitter.com/SraSpanglish/status/1124757088700334085?s=19 I applied this principle for some intense STAMP test prep (I know, I know, I miss my AAPPL, but if my new) district wants to Read more…
Whether you’re going to a Mexican restaurant (we are) or participating in a foreign language competition (that too) or taking your kids on a mile-long walk with water jugs (#squadgoals), students can always engage in a little interpersonal exchange, as well as a little presentational reflection. Last year I tried Read more…
I’m excited to have been asked to contribute a language teacher’s perspective on technology for the CUE Blog (thanks for the referral, Sra. Rhodes!) Here’s an excerpt: What a time to be alive! The whole world is inside our classrooms every day. I like to pretend it’s me bringing it to Read more…
What makes Adobe Voice so great is the one-press recording and the quick image search. Kids don’t have to spend hours designing the perfect visual representation for their video–they pick one image from the vast clipart and/or Creative Commons stash, record, and move on to the next image/recording. And all Read more…
The problem I have had with the the Language Festival unit in the past is keeping it communication-based and in the target language. I mean, sure, we can win first place at a competition based exclusively on the presentational mode if we discuss and plan and research in English. And Read more…
I assessed my students’ proficiency in interpretive reading, interpersonal speaking, and presentational writing earlier in the semester with their first Integrated Performance Assessment. I think we’re all feeling pretty good about their reading about now (although some need a little work on their portfolio evidence still), so I’m switching out Read more…
I’m not really happy with the jigsaw model for Project-Based Learning that I instituted for our festival project and school supply drive last yer. It did not really fit those kiddos–who are now in my Spanish II classes. In retrospect, I don’t think it really fit the projects, either. So instead, I think Read more…
My students are trying to inspire eight-year-olds to read in Spanish, and I’m trying to help my students increase their target language proficiency at the same time. So early in the unit, I wanted to set up a sort of IPA pre-test to establish where they are just starting the semester, so Read more…
The daily chorus bellringer is hands down the most popular activity I have ever done. It’s the ideal way to get Spanish language stuck in kids’ heads and build skills. It’s also a little lame. Novices need to learn to follow along with something they read. They need to get a catchy chorus Read more…