The Castro Code: Cultivating Fluency

The Super Bowl is approaching and is a huge cultural event for my students. So, I will go with the flow this week to engage in meaningful conversation and bring some fun, high-energy activities into my classroom! Here are some ideas for connecting with your students this week.  Vocabulary– start by introducing or reviewing useful…

This past weekend, while  I attended the Comprehensible Midwest Conference, I was asked to be part of a panel discussion on DEI With wonderful educators William Adams, Haiyun Lu, Jennifer Saldana-Whyte, and Adriana Ramirez as a moderator.  During the discussion, we were asked to share an example of a time when good intentions in DEl…

I just watched a PD on YouTube on community-building activities. The YouTube channel is called GOLDEDU. The ideas shared on this channel are more for online teaching and are only sometimes applicable to language teaching. Still, I always find some activities that I can adapt to teaching a world language. One of the ideas they…

As teachers we know that the first days of school set the tone for the entire year. I prioritize starting with personalization, Total Physical Response (TPR), and intense classroom routines. If you missed my previous post on why I kick off the year with Comprehensible Input (CI), you can check it out here.   Day One:…

Here are some activities to do with your students when you need a break or when they are just too tired. You can also use these as time fillers or as a bailout move when PQA or StoryAsking is not working (it happens to all of us!). These activities allow you to still provide Comprehensible…

Two Truths and One Wish” is a fresh twist on a classic icebreaker activity that helps language teachers connect with their students on a deeper level. This activity is easy to implement and requires no preparation. Simply hand out index cards and ask students to write three statements: two truths and one wish. You can…

I have heard this comment from many teachers, “Comprehensible Input (CI) is great for beginners, but it doesn’t work in upper-level classes.” The truth is, CI works at any level as long as the content is comprehensible and compelling. So, how do you implement Personalized Questions and Answers (PQA) with advanced students? The simple answer…

As we begin a new school year, our primary goal is to establish a solid foundation of mutual respect and classroom community. This is more than just a rule; it’s a commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for all of us. Getting to know our students and letting them know us and our…

It’s testing season! I don’t know about you, but my students are mentally and physically exhausted. AP and State tests can be overwhelming and exhausting for students. can increase stress levels the pressure to perform well can lead to anxiety and fatigue. Furthermore, the format of the tests, which may include long periods of sitting…