August 7, 2013
My authorized AP syllabus
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Last week I got the email I’d been waiting for from the College Board – my AP Spanish syllabus has been authorized for the 2013-2014 school year. It was especially encouraging that it went through on the first try; the last two times I’ve done this process, I had to re-submit, once for something I […]
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August 6, 2013
As you go back to school, it may help you to check out the posts under my label “first days.” These posts include: A fun spoof off “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” that makes fun of homonyms in the Spanish alphabet. Advice from last year’s #langchat about the first days of school, including ideas […]
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August 3, 2013
As we all go back to school and meet new students and try to push them to try something really new and maintain target language in the classroom, as you maintain it, commit to make your target language input comprehensible and make sure students know you’re committed to it. Show them this video: This baby […]
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August 1, 2013
It’s August and for many of us that means it’s time to start back to school! Sales are in full swing at the stores where I live and families are stocking up on everything from crayons to uniforms. It’s going to be a great month on Musicuentos. I’ll be sharing some of my favorite tips […]
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July 27, 2013
Tips for the New AP
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The world of AP World Language teachers is all abuzz with the vast changes made to the exams this year. Six years ago the Spanish language exam changed to what was a more proficiency-based format. Last year other exams changed to move toward and past what the Spanish exam was, and for 2014 the Spanish […]
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July 22, 2013
I have taught AP Spanish for five of the last six years. At my school, AP Spanish is a fourth-year course. I do not require applications for the class or otherwise “cull” potential students. Anyone who wants to take it may do so. Also, we require all students who take an AP course to take […]
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July 17, 2013
There’s one moment in a teaching class I took in college more than ten years ago that forever remains in my memory. Our professor, one of my favorites of all my education years, told a story of how he watched one of his students die of cancer. He ended the lecture that day with a […]
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July 13, 2013
The App Store is celebrating 5 years by giving away some great apps, including two that are of interest to world language teachers. Get Barefoot World Atlas free right now and explore the world in a multi-lingual app with great visual appeal. Day One, an award-winning journaling app, is also […]
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July 10, 2013
Back when I used to ask for translation at the end of every test, I’d comb through that chapter’s vocabulary list to come up with sentences that would test the maximum number of words and target features. Like this gem: I saw a turtle with two heads in the park with my tall friend and […]
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July 6, 2013
Here’s a fun video that features an animal (gato), narration in present, and talking about wants and feelings. I don’t know the source of the song, but the video was made by a Spanish student who heard it in his class. Proficiency goals as you show this video: Narration in present Talking about feelings Talking […]
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June 30, 2013
This summer I’m reposting some of the gems from the early days, partly because I’ve gotten a lot of readership since then and really, who has time to go back mulling over old blogs, and partly because my traffic is significantly slower and I’m working on other projects in the summer. This topic is from […]
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June 26, 2013
This is the last post in a short series on songs that help students develop accuracy and proficiency in talking about the present tense. For the other songs, see: Sigo con ella Hace tiempo Carmelina (and also, a post on songs for stem-changing present verbs) Tengo tu love – Sie7e This song is another one […]
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