Search Results for "novice"
August 30, 2018
This podcast on productivity was the last straw for me. Near the beginning, the host reminded me of the research on how much better the brain works when you not only see something written down, but you wrote it there. Sacrificing a good idea on the altar of a new idea I don’t remember when and […]
August 27, 2018
Social entrepreneurship… in Spanish 1?! A few years ago, a company called VIF International asked me to think and work with them on this question: What would a project-based learning curriculum look like in a novice Spanish class? It’s not an easy question. Project-based language learning presents the same problem Genius Hour does: how can you […]
August 10, 2018
When did I first teach a learner novel? Hmm, think back. From about 2011 through 2014 I taught only intermediate and pre-advanced students and/or the very littles: preschool. I’m pretty sold on the complexity, grit, culture and authenticity that infuses the classroom when you teach an authentic novel as soon as learners can handle it […]
August 7, 2018
For the third year, let’s celebrate August (which is back-to-school time here in the southern half of the U.S.) with some #AuthresAugust! For previous posts related to using authentic resources in the classroom, including previous #AuthresAugust picks, check out my authres tag. Definitely take a look at my post from last August called “Authentic or […]
May 8, 2018
My class has an infection right now, and it’s called translation. It’s no secret I am not a huge fan of translation as the go-to method of checking comprehension, though I’ve moderated my stance on this over the years (especially for interpretive assessments), and lately I’m remembering why. I’ve based four out of the last […]
March 23, 2018
What do you do when you’re entering a new classroom, but this time, you have to leave it the way you found it, every single week? Well, you ask #langchat, of course. Two and a half years ago I took to Twitter to get ideas from my amazing #langchat PLN could come up. I was re-entering the […]
March 13, 2018
Do you remember Mad Libs? As I was planning my semester around our novel Robo en la noche and our unit’s Driving Question: What can we create and share to show an interesting itinerary for a five-day trip in Costa Rica? it occurred to me that Mad Libs would be a fun way to explore a […]
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 […]
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 […]
November 22, 2017
A hand is raised. Or not raised. Maybe something’s just blurted out. And your heart is in conflict. Do I let her speak? Do I ask him to wait? Because I know, if I let this go on, we’re going to spend the next ten minutes talking about stuff – trivial or not – in […]
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 […]
September 12, 2017
As much as I love my Madhur Jaffrey cookbook, “Quick and Easy” is not exactly how I would have titled it. But this year, I’ve discovered some super tasty Indian simmer sauces at the grocery store. Whoa. Guess what? My family loves them. They gobble up chicken in simmer sauces from a jar as much as or more than […]