Personal development
October 4, 2018
One way or another, you’ve probably experienced a conference. But have you experienced an unconference? As far as I can tell, the words “unconference” and “edcamp” refer to the same structure of professional development, with “edcamp” being specific to the education sector. The “edcamp” model has been taking hold for several years and the definition tells us […]
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September 12, 2018
I could be wrong, but it seems to me that teacher conferences are in trouble, and have been for a while. As I looked ahead to rejoining the conference scene, earlier this year I asked the language teacher community on Twitter to think with me about problems and solutions with conferences. I hope what we […]
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September 7, 2018
I don’t get to see you at ACTFL this year. For the first time since my first ACTFL in San Antonio (has it been that long?!), I won’t be there. And that is okay. Not only is it okay, it’s the right thing for me. For one thing, a few years ago I made a […]
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May 25, 2018
There is a new song on my radio, and we’re playing it on Alexa about twelve times a day lately. It’s provocatively called “Dream Small.” It’s a Christian song, so the overall message will not resonate with some of you, but I want to extrapolate, if I may, and say something that’s been on my […]
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February 15, 2018
Last fall, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, together with the National Council of State Supervisors for Languages, released a newly designed, re-imagined set of Can-Do statements. Have you taken a look yet? Maybe not, it’s okay. You’re already trying to use all the good pedagogy tips everyone’s been telling you about to plan […]
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January 11, 2018
We have a habit of resolving things in January, of sensing the newness and opportunities of a new year like an present we’ll unwrap a day at a time for the next twelve months. Old year(s) resolutions I have a habit of posting such things in January. Last year I wanted to be Officer Hopps, though […]
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December 31, 2017
Book Club 2017: All the Fluff
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It’s that time again! Here’s a run-down of what I read in 2017. It’s newly on my bucket list to read all the Pulitzer-winning novels, and this year’s list has 2: His Family, the first one, and The Underground Railroad, the latest one. I prefer the first, and below you’ll see why. Must Read Best of 2017: […]
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December 20, 2017
In the month of December I’ve normally taken somewhat of a break from blogging. But wait, Sra. Musicuentos, all of 2017 has been “somewhat of a break” from blogging. I know. And my personal life is appreciating it very much. In any case, in what remains of this December I still hope to post a few pseudo-typical […]
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December 14, 2017
I treat gift-giving like I do many aspects of my teaching life: it’s hard for me to accept that there’s much of anything between mediocre and wild success. (Working on that.) And I love birthdays. I love people birthdays and I love the Son of God’s birthday – I love Christmas. I love the countdown calendar my kids […]
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November 15, 2017
The tweets and photos and haircuts (yes, #ACTFLhaircuts) have started. It’s that time again, everyone. Thousands of world language professionals are headed to Nashville this week for the annual convention of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. I’m thankful the convention has come so close to home this time! My schedule this […]
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March 3, 2017
Let’s do this together.
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Edit: The Camp Musicuentos curriculum planning workshop and The Brave Little Tailor comprehensible input strategies workshops are in transition to an online webinar format for 2018. For more information, see my Workshops page. Where will I see you this year? I hope to meet you at one of the conferences I’ll be attending this […]
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January 30, 2017
Do you remember Napster? Did you use it to download music without anyone contributing to the work the artist and the artist’s team put into it? I did not. But I’ve got no high horses around here- fifteen years ago, I used a similar “service” (I’m not trying to be coy; I cannot even remember the […]
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