Puedo is for permission; quiero is for YOUR mission. Earlier in the semester, it became apparent that I needed a way for students to get what they needed, so I whipped up an interactive notebook page on Piktochart, and we ran through some gestures. (While I was at it, I included Read more…
I resolved to do less in 2015, and I achieved that, partially through Google Classroom, partially through more careful vocabulary and language selection, partially through a carefully designed focus on performance and proficiency. Some of it was just deciding to stop while I was ahead. And so this year, instead of Read more…
The goal is not interpretation. The goal is not writing or speaking or interpersonal communication. The goal is to convince a Spanish-speaking audience that they need this new invention. Each group of 4-5 has already come up with a new product, but to convince the Spanish-speaking audience, they need some Read more…
Goodness knows I’ve done some experimenting with portfolio platforms. I’m pretty satisfied with the VoiceThread option at the moment, but when my Pinnacle amigo, @jkylewood demonstrated Seesaw (that’s web.seesaw.me NOT seesaw.com, by the way) after #langchat amiga @alenord had already been talking it up, I saw something broader than portfolios. Now Read more…
Ayudando Ando sent me a list of over 50 things that the rural mountain school they sponsored needs: Of course we couldn’t get all 50+ things on the list (much less ship them). But we could use that list as a starting point for our project. And as a perfect excuse Read more…
Get your copy of this page for $1 on TeachersPayTeachers! Novices are expected to be able to introduce themselves and provide basic information like their age and who’s in their family. It’s also useful if you as their teacher can stay in the target language when making sure they’re prepared for Read more…
I would love to give you a template for my student interests vocabulary page, but you have to make your own. It really is the whole point of the page. Week 2 of Spanish I, students can generally figure out (with enough gesturing, of course) how to interpret questions like Read more…
Sign up at http://bit.ly/1fve224 and type Promo Code B25FD3! Like interactive notebooks, Nearpod has streamlined my thinking about what I present to my students. It’s true that I was put off by Nearpod’s simplicity at first, but the more I use it, the more useful I find the simplicity. It’s kind of like Read more…
Storytime is the second step in my Alphabet Soup unit model, which combines Project-Based Learning (PBL), Target Language instruction (TL), Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS), Integrated Performance Asessments (IPA), ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), and Teaching Like a Pirate (TLAP).This process gives my units a clearer Read more…
Complete Verbos Esenciales poster setavailable on TeachersPayTeachers.com Ten essential verbs have made all the difference in my students’ confidence and target language communication. My students use these verbs to get their point across in questions for me, collaborations with peers, and reflections for themselves. With these verbs and whatever vocabulary they Read more…