Summer days are perfect for splashing in the ocean or pool. But what do you do with the kids during those scorching hours when it is not good to be outside? Help them learn some Spanish! These tips are fun and easy to implement. They are also a very natural way to acquire a language. […]
10 COOL WAYS TO HELP YOUR KIDS LEARN SPANISH THIS SUMMER. Read More »
In the past couple of years, I have developed a true love for podcasts. I listen to them to learn new skills, to find spiritual inspiration, to enjoy stories with my son, and to teach! These below are my top five favorite Spanish podcasts for kids. You can enjoy them with your young ones at
My favorite Spanish Podcasts for Kids Read More »
What is in you is yours and nobody can take it. We all have a unique gift that makes us special. It also guides us on pursuing our purpose and passion in life. When we put this gift to the service of others, we are not only enhancing our stay in this planet, but we
What is your superpower? Read More »
It can be really challenging to engage your students in meaningful reading and writing activities, especially if you teach virtually. Here are some tips that might help: Make sure the content is relevant. Focus on student’s personalities, lifestyles and preferences to choose books and writing prompts. Use music as prompts. They can listen to a
Thursday Tips 8- Ten tips to get your students to read and write. Read More »
I know many teachers are raking their brains trying to come up with activities to teach a language online. The most natural approach is question-answer on screen or worksheets to complete and submit. This is quick and easy but not so engaging for our kids. Here are a couple of suggestions/prompts. I added the possible
Thursday Tip 1- “Virtual classes” doesn’t mean all the activities have to be on screen. Read More »
Traditional teaching is usually one of compliance. Students need to BE QUIET, LOOK at the teacher, LISTEN, and then respond to the teacher’s questions. This usually leads to disengagement because the student is basically PASSIVE. No wonder, during virtual teaching, the disengagement is even more evident. Being away from school and separated from the teacher
Thursday Tip 2- Give students voice and choice Read More »
It was Friday. I was in a faculty meeting when we heard that schools were closing due to COVID-19. We had to recalculate our direction and plan to start virtual teaching the following Tuesday. I was teaching six Spanish classes to middle school kids. Great kids. I had been using a lot of technology in
Thursday Tip 3- You can’t just transfer your in-person class to virtual. Read More »
When conducting teacher webinars, I often ask: “So, tell me about your class diversity. How do you address it?” To my surprise, many educators don’t know what to say. Some believe that their class is “not so diverse”. Or I hear comments like “I don’t see color. I treat everyone the same way”. How come?
Thursday tip 4- Embrace and address your student diversity. Read More »
This is hard to do during virtual or in-person classes, but of course, the former emphasizes the challenge. Many times, as teachers, we make many assumptions and think that our kids got it. Probably, they didn’t. Here are some things you can do to ensure comprehension: Focus on one set of directions at a time.
Thursday Tip 5- Don’t assume your students understood your instructions. Read More »
This tip’s name actually comes from the title one of my favorite books about teaching by Robyn R. Jackson. She argues that the secret is not a specific strategy or technique, nor it is endless hours of prep time. It’s developing a master teacher mindset—rigorously applying seven principles to your teaching until they become your
Thursday Tip 6- Never work harder than your students Read More »
