My students have not personally approved every song on this list. But these are the songs I have found since last year that hit the two main requirements: Language they can use Lyrics they can’t forget High-frequency ear worms, tat’s the name of the game. Now routine has become sort of Read more…
Most projects worth doing cannot be done alone. Most projects worth doing require coordination of time, materials, money, and information. Coordinating all of these elements is one reason collaboration is an essential 21st century skill. The old adage tells us what we must do with anything we want done right, Read more…
La Laja is a school in Icononzo, Tolima in Colombia. They have one classroom and around 50 students. Some students walk 2 hours to get there. Ayudando Ando is a charity group out of Bogotá that seeks to support the growth of this tiny school buried in the mountains of Read more…
My unit on the Afrolatino Experience has evolved since last year. I have 4 distinct countries whose experiences we survey, a few key texts–of truly varied forms–for each, and essential questions that facilitate reflection, comparison, and contrast among the four countries. Essential questions: ¿Cómo se expresa la herencia africana en Read more…
I would not do the project with 9th graders, much less a class of 25 9th graders (well, 2 juniors and a sophomore are among them). They need a stronger foundation in the language and more maturity. Perhaps Spanish I could assist a more advanced class. I would spring for fewer Read more…
The cameras are all here! The supplies are almost all sorted! If we can get a couple of bigger boxes, double-check inventory, and just get our hands on the memory cards, everything will be just about ready to ship to La Laja in Colombia! That means it is time to Read more…
I woke up an hour before my alarm, anxiety over the bake sale to send school supplies to La Laja in Colombia stalking up and down my brain. I calculated that if every pair from class brings one batch of their goodies, and if every batch includes an average of a Read more…
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…
I cannot handle a class of 25 freshmen after 1:00. OK, 22 freshmen and a couple of sophomores and juniors. I haven’t had a class over 22 in over 3 years so, yes, I’m spoiled. And to pile all of those kids I’ve never met into one class at the Read more…
Escuela de la Laja de Icononzo de Tolima I was going to have students pack backpacks full of school supplies to have a tangible demonstration of “classroom and school environment” (core curriculum essential standard for Novice Mid, Connection to Other Disciplines, 1.1– Use memorized words and phrases to exchange information about the Read more…