By trade, I am a Spanish teacher. I learned Spanish in classrooms and in the real world, and I'm intentional about creating opportunities that will help me to become ever more proficient. On the quest for proficiency, there is one factor that will always haunt me... ...ENGLISH!!! You see, English is my L1. And, like … Continue reading Is L1 clouding your judgment?
Most of us teach language within four classroom walls, and yet the physical space of our room neither defines nor constrains us: our language classes are boundless. The connections that we help our students to make span time periods, political borders, races, and interests. If we are lucky, they might even span that uncomfortable space … Continue reading Why language teachers love Content Based Language Instruction
Keep scrolling to see some of the newest additions to our TpT store! Shop with TpT credits! Did you know that you can shop TpT with credits earned by leaving feedback? Every $1 you spend on TpT earns you 1 TpT credit. For every 100 TpT credits, you earn $5 that you can apply toward … Continue reading New materials + a great tip!
Observing other language teachers is one of the best ways to hone our own practice. Noticing the strategies that other teachers use to help learners understand and feel comfortable is at the core of the Coaching model used at national conferences like iFLT and NTPRS, and it is a form of professional development that we … Continue reading Peer observation form for language classes
This guest post was written by Alyssa Blask Campbell, Founder of Seed & Sew. Alyssa has a M.Ed. in Early Childhood. Alyssa co-created the Collaborative Emotion Processing (CEP) method and now works with individuals, families, and organizations throughout the US and Canada to raise emotionally intelligent humans. Seed & Sew serves people all around the world … Continue reading Why your best Classroom Management efforts might be failing
Back to School JUST GOT BETTER! TpT announced that they are having a BONUS Back to School sale and we can't wait to treat you with another day of up to 25% off EVERYTHING in our store - the sale runs TOMORROW ONLY–– Tuesday, August 20. This will likely be your last chance to get … Continue reading EXTENDED SALE! Up to 25% Off EVERYTHING! Tuesday
"We acquire language when we understand messages; when we understand what people tell us and when we understand what we read". Dr. Stephen Krashen This foundational insight from Dr. Krashen is our Core Belief at Garbanzo. To that end, we are building an online, interactive library of diverse texts that are designed for language learners … Continue reading Find interactive readings in Spanish on Garbanzo
Storyasking à la TPRS is one of my very favorite methods for facilitating language acquisition, and it is also one of the most complicated to learn. In this week's #summerSOMOSfunCLUB, Elicia Cárdenas and I shared some steps and strategies for maximizing its success in your classroom. Scroll to the end of the post to watch … Continue reading Storyasking made simple
If you have decided to teach for proficiency with an emphasis on comprehension, you are probably asking the question, "Where do I start?" When you ask this question to colleagues, they will probably suggest some resources for you. "Get SOMOS!", they might say, or "Start with Special Person interviews!". You'll probably hear, "The MovieTalk database … Continue reading Mindset for Acquisition: Changes in instruction require changes in thinking
Energy levels are low and attention spans are short. Kids are getting antsy and you are likely on your last legs! While May may be pure torture: there is one brief moment of reprieve: TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK! Whether or not your school PTA is treating you with a breakfast buffet this week, The Comprehensible Classroom … Continue reading Teacher Appreciation Sale! Up to 25% off ALL THE THINGS!
