I don’t think anyone would call me a TPRS teacher, though I’ve certainly dabbled in comprehensible input for years, and I will gladly sip some CI Kool-Aid when offered a fresh serving, whether through organized national conferences or a workshop conveniently passing through my home state. I recently got the Read more…
David Bisbal, I still love you, but it was time to retire “Te mueves tú” last year. Last year, Nicky Jam took my pop latino novio‘s place (I am eternally grateful to Sra. Whisenhunt for the suggestion!) It was the perfect attention-getter all semester and beyond–they physically COULD NOT resist the call and response that Read more…
Let me be clear: I am a Spanglish teacher. I went into this game an English teacher, and novels have been the basis for my approach to instruction for a goodly portion of my career. It took me a while to come around to the idea of using novels in Read more…
Going to iFLT last year was one of the most revolutionary professional experiences I have had–right up there with three years of grad school! However, after a year of lots and lots of traveling, I decided I needed the summer to stay put and process…after one more trip across the Read more…
Promise not to laugh? This is how I understood using authentic texts seven years ago. I do not know where the magic number 200 came from anymore, and WOW was I out of touch with even the CONCEPT of novice language learners. (Dra. Moser now claims she doesn’t remember me Read more…
I don’t know how I lucked out rooming with such an awesome dual immersion Pre-K teacher on my recent trip to Peru! It was so exciting to learn from her and absorb her strategies! Even though she teaches littles who are adjusting to their new context first and foremost, there Read more…
Mine is the last high school course our students will ever take. They’re done with all other high school classes after the 12th grade and basically get to enjoy a full load of free college courses 13th year–plus my senior English class. I had a more experienced senior teaching English Read more…
While I would be DELIGHTED to come talk with you and your colleagues about whatever your little hearts desire related to life, language, and all things teaching, what I REALLY would love is for you to come see me and my kids in action this school year. Here’s why. 1. Read more…
Cultural analysis was officially part of my portfolio scores last semester, primarily for mathematical purposes (it gave me a fifth category for quicker calculation), but it also challenged me to select texts where students can identify specific cultural products, practices, and perspectives. Our plan was to bring home some more Read more…
I teach language: high school English and lower level Spanish. Communication is my business. And grades are communication. It is my goal to help students understand and be understood, but for that to happen, they have to understand me, right? They have to understand my expectations. It’s the very driving Read more…