Kaitlin tells a story about her 8th grade class and a conversation they had in English about why the countries in Latin America speak Spanish. This conversation led to deeper ideas and questions. She explains how this well placed use of English can outweigh the value of the 90% TL target and why she feels that way.
Kaitlin gives you idea for activities to do with your classes on days when you don't have the energy to provide your normal input. Maybe you're sick or tired. Maybe your students have extra energy leading up to a break. Taking a day here and there to get some peace well help in the long run.
Kaitlin shares 3 specific ways she modifies the Stepping Stones curriculum (by Tina Hargaden) for elementary classes.
Kaitlin gives some ideas for how to pick a Señor Wooly video to use while trying to stay focused on the cycle/phase from Stepping Stones.
Kaitlin reflects on continued virtual teaching during these wild pandemic times.
I share some reflections on my transition from hybrid teaching (in person and online) to 100% virtual learning and changes I will make when we go back to hybrid.
I've found using graphic organizers of having students take notes during input time can really help then listen better and understand more!
Kaitlin shares about some of her experiences so far while trying to make her curriculum more culturally responsive, equitable, and representative of ALL races and cultures.
I explain how to do write and discuss and share some tips I learned to make this strategy successful!
I share with you how write and discuss saved my sanity and some ideas for extending the text if you have a little too much time left in class.
I give you an update on my school year as well as share what's working well for me using the Stepping Stones/Curriculum Club materials.
Warning: this is mostly an episode of me crying and sharing my heart about how difficult the year has been so far and how burnt out I'm already feeling. Yes, even on day 3.
Kaitlin explains how she sets up her gradebook percentages and why.
Kaitlin took a back seat in this episode and spent the interview listening and learning from some of the best! A.C. Quintero and Alicia Gonzalez, teachers on a mission to make their classrooms equitable, chat about not only the why and what of equity, but they also share how to put it into practice.
I give a few ideas for how you can teach with the Stepping Stones Curriculum by Tina Hargaden while making sure your students also get the grammar and vocabulary your school or district may require.
Every decision we make is hard. But which hard is worth it?
A.C. Quintero is a talented and passionate Spanish teacher. She is also the author of many fabulous (seriously... I've read almost all of them) comprehensible input novels for students. We had a great chat about what equity looks like in the world language classroom and why it should be a priority.
Bertha Delgadillo is an inspiring, strong, and wonderful Spanish teacher. Her own story as an undocumented student in the US has impacted her teaching practices and how she creates a safe space for heritage and undocumented students. Make sure to check out her blog post on this topic !...
Jodi is one of my closest friends that I am also proud to call a colleague. We have both gone on a similar journey transitioning from teaching with a textbook to teaching completely with CI strategies. Hear some of her tips to work with the book you have or some simple strategies to add in to the already existing curriculum. Check out Jodi's YouTube channel to see her awesome teaching videos!
Here's my heart. It has been a long 9 weeks at home and for the first time since this started, I am feeling like myself. I hope this inspires you and helps take steps to feel like yourself again, too.
Kristen Wolf is a Spanish teacher in Montana who has a passion for reaching ALL students. Join us to hear some of Kristen's story and to hear us chat about differentiation in CI classrooms.
I explain how I do the activity Back At'Cha/Ping Pong Recall that I learned from Martina Bex. The class is split into 2+ teams and each team takes turns telling information about an image/content that they are familiar with. They go back and forth sharing more details until they run out of things to say. Then it's on the the next image/section of content.
I share my take on the activity called No Detail Left Behind (previously called Circle the Wagons) that I learned from the Señor Wooly team during Wooly Week 2019. The students are in smaller groups sharing as much as they can about images from a very familiar story.
I go into great detail on how to use a story mountain and story mountain graphic organizer to recycle and continuing process the language froma story that you already told your class. I also discuss the activity "What Would They Say/Think?" And other extension options once students are comfortable and confident with the story.
I explain the quick Quiz and some easy grading hacks for them.
I share how the Q&A game works, two ways to play, and suggestions for how to make sure your students are staying on task during the activity. Click this link for the rubrics/game boards to play the Q&A game .
I share one of my favorite strategies for telling stories... A visual story! I also share some ideas to extend the story once you have artwork and a text created!
I explain a narrative input chart, how I used it to tell a personal story in class and how I used the same images and a story mountain graphic organizer to extend the story. (I'm planning to add links to this description soon.)
I explain what a clip chat (movie talk) is and some different strategies to help make it successful in your classes. Plus, I share the benefits of following this activity up with a write and discuss and how you can extend the content
I share my take on the traditional idea of PQA as well as suggestions for personalizing other input activities with whole class and individual questions.
