As expected, I’ve come out of the first day with big ideas, but also big questions (which you might be able to help me out with at the end of the post). As of today, I’d say I’m pretty firmly in the Novice Mid range when it comes to the Read more…
I don’t get TPRS. But I really want to. I’ve pored over blogs from Carrie Toth, Kristy Placido, Cynthia Hitz, Justin Slocum Bailey, Keith Toda, and Bryce Hedstrom for years. I’ve tried writing stories a la Martina Bex and Anne Matava to support PBL projects with Comprehensible Input and connect Read more…
Between the #LangCamp book study of Keys to Planning for Learning and local curriculum redesign projects, this summer is about instructional overhaul for me. Thank goodness I had Camp Musicuentos to help make that overhaul worthwhile! The Musicuentos blog has been integral to my development as a language educator. Sara-Elizabeth Cottrell‘s insights have really Read more…
How the tables have turned! A few short years ago, I was in grad school, devouring every single word published on Musicuentos, treading water and questioning every move I made. I struggled to break away from the way I was taught and to begin to teach the way I was starting to Read more…
It started with potty training. My mom gave me a book on potty training in 24 hours that “really worked” with both me and my brother. I tried potty dolls, juice boxes, M&M and sticker bribes–even pantsless vacation days. He ignored them all and kept trying to tell me about Read more…
Just flew back from Mexico, and boy are my arms tired! Must be from holding up my phone for all of those pictures and videos I took. Before I went to Peru on a Sister Cities exchange trip last year, I started a new Instagram account to document as much as Read more…
Interactive Notebooks were a disaster my first year. It was mostly because I jumped in feet first and just made it up as I went. And that’s okay. As Thomas Sauer is fond of saying, no one ever died of bad language instruction. But with more anticipation, planning, and having Read more…
Vocabulary can make my students feel insecure. Though I have abandoned textbooks, I have not entirely abandoned vocabulary lists. I tend to present them more in semantic groups with visuals or in contextual situations now, however. My students kind of wish they had more, though, something they could refer to and refresh Read more…
What could be better than binge watching on Netflix for class? Maybe actually learning something in the process? The idea for this unit began when I overheard my students obsessing over their latest Netflix marathon sessions. “How can I tap into that passion?” I thought. Can I get them binge Read more…
It’s true that I have over 200 blog post drafts that may never see the light of day. Some of them, well, they certainly reflect how far I’ve come. Some are actually pretty good ideas, though I haven’t gotten around to developing them. So I went back in time and Read more…