December 9, 2014
It’s time for the 8th most popular post of 2014, which was the second in a two-part series, and it just so happens that the 4th most popular post of the year was the first part in the series. Since it makes sense to read them in order, I’m offering them both to you here. […]
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December 7, 2014
Two nonfiction books today, both set in the same area (New Orleans) in the same era (Katrina and after). One is about Katrina, one isn’t really, both are about choices that may or may not lead to death, and both will make you stop and think about why and when people die. It’s a reflection […]
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December 5, 2014
Before you read the ninth most popular Musicuentos post of 2014, in which I argue that Genius Hour (also known as 20 Time or 20% Time) is philosophically incompatible with teaching novice language learners, you have to promise me that you’ll click the links at the bottom to Laura Sexton’s blog, because if anyone could […]
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December 3, 2014
Two books for this post: The Painted Veil, and Life After Life. Both about women with many layers, British women, both finding out that adultery isn’t all it’s cut out to be. One a classic, the other a modern bestseller. One to skip, and the other to lose yourself in for a weekend. The Painted […]
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December 2, 2014
Welcome to the 2014 “Best of Musicuentos” series. In the month of December I do not post much new material as I enjoy the season with my family, but rather I re-post the top ten posts of the year, in case you want to re-read, or in case you’ve joined us this year and didn’t […]
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December 1, 2014
Happy Cyber Monday! One of my digital resource missions is to inspire teachers of intermediate, advanced, and heritage students to start using more engaging authentic materials in the classroom, and that starts with more engaging help in navigating those authentic resources. From today through Wednesday, enjoy a total of 20% off my digital resources on TeachersPayTeachers […]
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December 1, 2014
Musicuentos Book Club 2014
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Welcome to the first (annual, I hope) Musicuentos Book Club. A book I read last year called The End-of-Your-Life Book Club, in which a son journeys through reading books with his mom while she is dying with cancer, inspired me to keep a record of the books I read and share my thoughts about them […]
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November 25, 2014
My first trip to the annual convention of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages was amazing. Well, there was the thing where I didn’t have any kids with me for a few days. I adore my children, but a few days off was much needed! Honestly, I didn’t get to attend many […]
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November 24, 2014
Can you believe 2014 is almost over? So, what’s next for Musicuentos? Expect one last informative November post this week about what I learned at ACTFL (hint- no one has all the answers). Then, as I did last year, I’ll be taking the month of December off from blogging. But that doesn’t mean you won’t […]
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November 17, 2014
What would you do if you had taught high school Spanish for years and then suddenly you were given new responsibilities involving… KINDERGARTEN?! If you’re like me, your first day you’d come away thinking What are they thinking? What was I thinking? WHAT DO I DO?! Learning from the best In high school we can […]
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November 8, 2014
Since I had my precious Cottrell-itos on my trip to the annual conference of the Indiana Foreign Language Teacher’s Association, I didn’t get to spend as much time involved in the conference as I would have liked to, but I did greatly enjoy the time I did have. I reconnected with “old” friends, made new […]
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October 30, 2014
After I get a question repeated to me a certain number of times via Twitter, comments, or emails, I know it’s time for a blog post. The Great Dilemma If you have never had to consider how students in your TCI (teaching with comprehensible input) class will fit in a program that forces grammar-heavy common […]
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