Personal development
February 18, 2015
Are you ready for the most intense, profitable workshop on curriculum planning this summer? I’ve been planning for the 2015 Camp Musicuentos workshops since the inaugural workshop ended last June, and I’m so excited to announce that registration for the events (a 2-day workshop in Louisville, Kentucky, and a one-day workshop in Warwick, RI) is […]
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February 17, 2015
Shall we talk labor and delivery a moment? I suspect I have your attention! No worries, I’m not going to get gross. I don’t think so, anyway. But you will get to know me a little bit better. When I was pregnant with my third child, some family friends were visiting, a couple and their […]
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February 9, 2015
Preservice world language teachers are asking experienced teachers questions they’d like to hear about from the trenches. To find out more about what #Teach2Teach is, see here for an explanation of how it came about, and what the questions are, or how to submit your own question if you’re a teacher in training or a […]
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January 22, 2015
What’s the number one problem in world language teaching? I’d be super interested to hear your answer. After careful thought, here’s mine: Teacher Training Programs I have the great privilege of communicating with a lot of world language teachers, which is a huge change from where I was just ten years ago, where I’m not […]
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January 14, 2015
My first two suggestions for resolutions for 2015 were intended to push for a more positive note in world language teaching in 2015: for us to stop beating ourselves up when things don’t go exactly according to plan, and for us to act like we’re on the same team with the same goals, instead of […]
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January 10, 2015
Here’s another trend I’d like us all to resolve to change this year (the first was to stop beating ourselves up thinking our students’ learning is entirely up to us). If you don’t participate in a listserv (which is like being on an email list with a bunch of other teachers) or a Twitter chat (WHY NOT?!?!) […]
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January 5, 2015
Happy New Year, Musicuentos readers and language teachers everywhere! It’s that time of year we all like to step back and think about areas we can change or improve in the year ahead. I’ve been enjoying the #oneword posts I’ve seen (especially Laura’s one on less) from teachers choosing a word to guide their 2015. […]
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December 31, 2014
And so we end the 2014 Musicuentos Book Club with a biography and an autobiography, both carrying a challenge: What do you believe, and what will you do with it? George Müller: Delighted in God We throw around phrases like “my prayers are with you” and “you’re in my thoughts and prayers.” What are your […]
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December 30, 2014
It wasn’t even close. My post on the biggest mistake we make (and are pushed in so many ways to make) as language teachers was hit more than 40% more than the #2 post. We know we’re covering too much content, and we’re tired of being told that’s the right thing to do. Oh- and HAPPY […]
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December 27, 2014
I don’t remember why this book came on my radar. I wasn’t at ACTFL 2013, where Tony Wagner delivered the keynote address. I thought someone blogged about it but now I can’t find out where that was. In any case, I’m so glad someone recommended I read this book. Summary: Passion, purpose, and play. What […]
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December 24, 2014
Happy Christmas Eve, everyone! Three poignant, sweet stories today, all from war years or not long after. Stella Bain Plot summary: From GoodReads, When an American woman, Stella Bain, is found suffering from severe shell shock in an exclusive garden in London, surgeon August Bridge and his wife selflessly agree to take her in. A […]
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December 22, 2014
Three books from one of my favorite genres today, war nonfiction. Opening our eyes to the wars that have torn our past infuses more respect for the peace we enjoy and the evils we still fight. The Monuments Men Summary: From GoodReads, At the same time Adolf Hitler was attempting to take over the western […]
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