You've got a new comprehension-based curriculum, and you'd be 100% sold if it weren't for that storyasking part. You've got a script, but what the heck do you do with it? Many teachers have asked the same question before. Storyasking is an invented word meant to differentiate creating a story from telling a story. If you've … Continue reading “I don’t understand how to ask a story.”
If you're looking for the magic resource that will make your students learn Spanish, have fun, and love your class--it doesn't exist. But you know what does exist? YOU! YOU are the magic that will help your students learn Spanish. YOU are the magic that will allow your students to enjoy the journey. YOU can … Continue reading Is there a magic pill for language learning?
Once I moved away from using the textbook as the center of my curriculum, I was free to bring in all kinds of new texts. Popular songs, novels written for language learners, picture books, short non-fiction readings prepared by me, infographics, edited stories written by my students or co-created by the class, and more. By … Continue reading How to write comprehensible texts
The CI waters are up to your ankles as you stand on the first step descending into the lake of CI. You tried asking a question, and whether it went well or it didn't, your ankles have adjusted at least a little bit to the temperature. It's time to take another step: The next mission … Continue reading Dip your toes in CI: Read together
It's a new school year and you, dear language teacher, are ready for a new YOU! You have heard about comprehensible input centered instruction, you perhaps attended a workshop or six over the summer...maybe you have even given CI instruction a go in the past! Whatever your background looks like, you have decided that 2017 … Continue reading Dip your toes in CI: Ask a question
When I first started teaching, all of my files were paper and I organized them in hanging file folders. Eventually, I graduated to beautiful binders filled with page-protected worksheets separated with colorful dividers for each unit. As I began to gather more and more materials from the Internet (blog posts, videos, lesson plans, images, etc.), … Continue reading Organization schmorganization
For the last several years, I have participated in an annual event at a local college. I have used more or less the same lesson plan each year, and you can read through it in detail and download the materials that I use for it here. This year, I had taught two 55 minute classes. In … Continue reading Watch me ask a TPRS® story
Have you ever gone to a session at a conference and been SO EXCITED about whatever you learned that you don't eat, don't sleep, don't shower, and ignore everyone that you care about until you finally get the chance to try it out? No? That's just a Martina thing? Shoot. Well this last summer, everyone … Continue reading BreakoutEDU & 2016 Christmas Lottery commercial
I have dedicated any computer time this week to formatting and finally publishing my Sistema Solar unit, but I keep being distracted with conversations that I just have to share with you!! One of my [many] great takeaways from Terry Waltz's fantastic manual TPRS with Chinese Characteristics is the idea that it is important to do TPRS® "by … Continue reading Competency before Creativity
This is the sixth post in the series "TPRS® 101: Teaching Proficiency is Really Simple". The first week back from winter break is like a re-start for many teachers. You set goals back in August, and you’ve accomplished some but fell short of others. You spent a semester learning and growing as a professional, and … Continue reading TPRS® 101, Step Six: Give it a try!
