As someone who is a huge Trader Joe’s fan, I was complimented on my choices. And I can’t think of a better compliment 😂

So I love using student actors. But it has gone bad in the past- so bad. But today I remembered that when it is good- it is so fun. ❤️

Started reading a novel with my students and used this idea from @marishawkins.bsky.social - do a dictation with sentences about the day’s chapter. After correcting, have students mark whether or not they think it happens in the chapter! Then after reading, revisit their predictions. Worked great!

You may find this interesting #langchat and #edusky. I tried to deconstruct what I consider to be realistic and attainable micro-practices (before, during, and after class) of successful students in my classes. Intention is to be clear regarding expectations and encourage successful habits. 1/3

CAPS (Capital Area Progressive Schools) conference today! And I am most excited to hear from @ltalusan.bsky.social ! Here’s to a day filled with learning and collaboration 😍

When you find a huge bug in your classroom and get rid of it before your second grade class arrives- that makes you feel like a master teacher 😂

She also shouted out our episode, which you can find here: www.buzzsprout.com/2388349/epis...

Thanks to @spsmith45.bsky.social I added this post about more research out of the Netherlands comparing a more proficiency based approach with a traditional approach: marishawkins.wordpress.com/2025/04/11/h...

Enjoyed myself immensely!!! Thank you for having me and putting on such a great conference!!!

What are the advantages of organically building vocabulary in a world language class? How do you elicit words from students in the first place? Thanks to @marishawkins.bsky.social who inspired me with her latest post Read the post and let me know languageteachinglab.com/thursday-tho...

I love learning more about teaching research, and love that Maris covered this specific study. How do students perform in traditional vs. proficiency-based programs of language study? Read more in Maris Hawkins’ blog post! marishawkins.wordpress.com/2025/03/23/h...

Today I’ve been reading #HoningOurCraft ch. 4 with my dog. This chapter discusses Comprehensible Communicative Language Teaching and contrasts it with other methods it pairs well with a recent post from @marishawkins.bsky.social marishawkins.wordpress.com/2025/03/23/h...

Things bringing me spring joy- Zumba with my second graders! 😍🌸

Excited to share a resource I wrote for PEARLL w/ support from @tmsaue1.bsky.social & Rebecca Rubin Damari! This action research guide provides step-by-step instructions, real-world examples, & practical insights for both pre- and in-service #langchat teachers. pearll.nflc.umd.edu/action-resea...

Look! It's @marishawkins.bsky.social, author of Common Ground: Second Language Acquisition Goes to the Classroom! On March 20, Maris will be joining us for a virtual workshop! Register today at nysaflt.org/virtualworks....

We started this Friday with a little chisme about some of the singers in Locura de Marzo and it was a hit! One of my favorite moments was when one of my students gasped when they heard what one of the singers said in the interview!

From my recent chapter: “For many in the United States, the study of foreign languages is seen as elitist (Reagan & Osborn, 2002) or is often hampered by monolingual & monocultural ideologies that see difference as an affront to power (1/x) #langchat #edusky

I wrote a thing about being a tool of white supremacy culture in education. White people, we have to be able to say, write and hear these words. White supremacy is not the shark; it's the water. juliabkoch.wordpress.com/2025/03/03/t...

“What’s trending in the minds of your students? If they love it, use it!” @ditchthattextbook.com #ncce25 @abbyschools.bsky.social

languagemagazine.com/2025/02/28/w... Lesson planning is a political act. As educators, the lessons we design and facilitate either support or dismantle educational systems that have historically marginalized certain student communities. #language #linguistics #teaching #translanguaging #methodology

Ending my first day with the amazing @grahnforlang.bsky.social ! And is there any other way to celebrate #NECTFL25 than with Leslie?!

Starting off #nectfl25 with @richmadel.bsky.social ! Some ideas- even if we are not using the textbook- it still lingers. People write a recipe, you talk about your daily routine etc.

We get lots of new ideas at a conference. Try ONE AT A TIME, and judge on two things: Did it impact student engagement? Did it impact student learning? If no/no, dump it. If kind of, adapt it. If YES, keep it. Then move on to the next one. @grahnforlang.bsky.social #NECTFL25

Today with my second graders, I cut up a lot of the words that we had been using to discuss our imaginary trip and let them recombine them to create new sentences. I had a discussion about what el and las mean. And syntax. And how we may use 2 words in English but in Spanish it is one word…

Remember, self censoring your curriculum and teaching is still censorship. FYI. #edusky

Here’s a simple teaching idea from @ditchthattextbook.com that I love! (thread, 1/2) #EduSky 1) Tell students you’re going to ask an AI assistant a question about what they’re reading. 2) Students anticipate what the AI assistant is going to say.

Language Educator friends: Here are resources in 8 languages that enhance your meaningful feedback by providing TL examples to students: www.grahnforlang.com/feedback.htm...

Now that we are starting to see the policies of the current administration enacted, I wanted to reshare this recommendation from @ujuanya.bsky.social and @clemonsaris.bsky.social on how we can reframe “diversity” as “accuracy” #EduSky #DEI

Happy Black History Month to all who celebrate. A speaker at a World Language conference (I wish I could remember who) once said “If your curriculum changes in February, you’re doing it wrong.” Afro-Latinos belong in the Spanish curriculum all year long. 1/3🧵

You probably already know about the red cards that are great for students and their families. You can get them here : www.ilrc.org/red-cards-ta...

Reading the latest ACTFL Language Educator- and @jaybeekay518.bsky.social has an amazing piece about social justice in the classroom. Everyone should check it out.

Here what has been inspiring me recently! marishawkins.wordpress.com/2025/01/30/m...

This was an excellent episode! Great reflection on the updated ACTFL proficiency guidelines and what we should reasonably expect from our students. growingwithproficiency.com/understandin...

Don’t comply before you even get a directive; keep your books on your shelves!

My fellow teachers near me and I LOVE these Nerd Gummy Clusters and help us get through January and February! Finish lesson plans?! Time for Nerds! What gets you through January and February? #langchat

There is nothing more exciting after winter break than watching the news when it is supposed to ❄️!

Each year, I simplify and combine some horoscopes for my students. They love it! Check out the post here: marishawkins.wordpress.com/2024/12/30/h...

When all you have left in the Trader Joe’s Jingle Jangle are the m&ms and the mini peanut butter cups and your son asks if you have gotten a new one yet…

Before we leave for break, I have been trying to reflect on the small things that make me grateful. Today- my students who organized the marker box better than it was when they found it ❤️

Thanks 🥰🥰

If you are like me and had to deal with getting a preschooler ready for school this morning- I recommend drinking a mocha with heated seats while listening to Janet Jackson’s Got til it’s gone.

My newest Pinterest board: Authentic resources for multiple languages on the topics of empathy and compassion: www.pinterest.com/grahnforlang...

We have discussed how many people may have missed this donation that came to light a few years ago. Amplifying for people who may not know.

Starting a thread with my favorite takeaways from #ACTFL24 - the 4th P from Cécile Lainé

Post #ACTFL24- I want to do all the things I learned about- I also want a nap. One of my favorite simple idea but I think it will be a game changer was seeing Cecile Laine do picture talks. She added multiple choice questions to help novices discuss it. 🤯 Would ❤️ to hear other people’s takeaways!

It’s hard to develop empathy for a product, so Cécile Lainé added a fourth P to the ACTFL cultural framework: PEOPLE! #actfl24

“Do not pre-comply. Do not pre-obey.” -Dr. Uju Anya We do not kowtow to the fascists; we wait for them to bring the fight to us. #actfl24

It was so exciting to see everyone last night ❤️