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…
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Find interactive readings in Spanish on Garbanzo
“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…
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Storyasking made simple
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…
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Mindset for Acquisition: Changes in instruction require changes in thinking
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…
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Teacher Appreciation Sale! Up to 25% off ALL THE THINGS!
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…
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Get news articles for Spanish learners in 2019-2020 school year!
For the last three years, Spanish students have been able to follow the top stories from the Spanish-speaking world in El mundo en tus manos. Each week, Maris Hawkins and I identify important and interesting current events and write up comprehensible summaries so that beginning language learners can understand. As we prepare for the 2019-2020…
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Teach language with Yoga Stories!
One of our family’s favorite ways to get the squiggly wiggly’s out is with Cosmic Kids Yoga. In each episode, Jamie tells a story and acts it out with yoga poses and other forms of movement (ex: jumping jacks, running in place, etc.). Our kids love the stories, love Jamie’s accent, and love yoga. Adapting…
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We care the most when we are most connected.
Earlier this week, my heart sank as I watched live footage of Notre Dame be consumed by fire. Like many language teachers, my world travels have brought me to Paris several times, and by extension Notre Dame. Like many language teachers, I feel a connection to Notre Dame. Watching it burn was sad because it…
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Semana Santa lesson plans for Spanish classes
If you are a Spanish teacher that wants to teach their students about Semana Santa, I’ve got the tools you need to make it happen in the target language. My Semana Santa bundle includes four sets of materials that will allow you to teach about Semana Santa in all of your Spanish classes (Levels 1+),…
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15 ways to keep playing with stories in language class
Maybe you just finished co-creating an EPIC class story, or perhaps your students are still collapsed on the floor after listening with rapt attention to your terrifying true tale. No matter what kind of story you’ve just shared with your students, you’re likely to find that no one is ready to let it go just…
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