Make developing curriculum even easier

Developing curriculum is time consuming but worth it – unless the time it takes makes you give up on communicative teaching all together!  I’ve blogged about some ways and even more ways on easing into developing curriculum.  Here are two more.

• Tackle one unit, one class at a time. This is part of taking baby steps.  If you’re ready to step out of your textbook and plan a whole unit, don’t tackle all three of the subjects you teach.  Don’t tackle more than one unit.  I revamp my classes fairly regularly but I never try doing them both at the same time.  This year I’m redesigning my AP class (anticipating the new audit next year) and doing very little new with my Spanish 3 class.
• Take a workshop on a CI method. Comprehensive input methods like Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS) and the Accelerated Integrated Method (AIM) will boost your confidence immensely as you increase your comprehensive target language input for greater student proficiency.  Start by checking out great teachers like Carol Gaab, Kristy Placido, Carrie Toth, Audrey Misiano, and Sylvia Duckworth.

I hope you are encouraged to take some small, effective steps toward more communicative teaching than a textbook can offer.

Foto credit: Jorge Pérez Guijarro