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August 16, 2020

World Language Syllabus Perfect for Distance Learning or Hybrid

2020 has been a hot mess for teachers, am I right? This back-to-school season has had my mind spinning.  With my district starting with distance learning, one of the things I couldn't wrap my mind around was how to create a syllabus and all of the expectations to go along with a completely known style of teaching given our remote learning scenario.

When I finally started drafting out my new syllabus, I realized that I wanted to:
  1. transition away from my infographic syllabus because I won't be distributing a piece of paper to families.
  2. create a more interactive syllabus experience. I loved the idea of using a digital notebook syllabus with the clickable tabs to move from section to section. 
  3. change my grading categories and my expectations to reflect a different style of teaching and learning. 
The result was my new distance learning syllabus, which could be easily converted for face-to-face for the remote learning expectations portions. This video shows most of it's features much better than I could describe them: 



The syllabus is available in two different themes: pink and blue. Each syllabus resource includes a choice of two different colors.

This syllabus, while editable, includes sections and ready-made content on:

  • About Me
  • Class Goals
  • Class Overview
  • Grading
  • Communication
  • Expectations
I worked hard to included proficiency-centered framing for any World Language curriculum and a standards-based grading scenario that describes the 3 modes of communication and 5Cs.



All you'll have to do is change your name, add your course info, and customize any details you want, but the whole framework and formatting is laid out for you. I even included instructions on how to share the syllabus in presentation mode so that students and parents can use the clickable interactive tabs to move from section to section. 


The graphic design, formatting, and usability to create this syllabus was seriously a labor of love and took me the better part of a weekend, but it will take you minutes to customize it for your use.

I hope it makes your back-to-school season just a little bit easier! If you're looking for another clutch, ready-to-go back-to-school activity, this ice-breaker will be perfect!

August 8, 2020

"Interpersonal" Mode Hacks for Distance Learning

I'm active on a large number of Spanish and World Language social media groups. One of the common, recurring themes I keep seeing is about how teachers will approach interpersonal mode in distance learning. There are always suggestions of how to approach it, but we all know it's not going to be the same as having those two-way exchanges in the classroom.

My students won't start school for another month and I'm already mourning the loss of speed-dating, class-wide interpersonal conversations, and watching my students crack up as they do their interpersonal speaking assessments as part of our IPAs. It's just so freaking sad! Don't worry though... I have a solution.

Yes, I know we can do breakout rooms in our Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc. and I definitely plan to do that for our twice a week synchronous lessons, but it isn't the same as actually being with people in person. P.S. if you haven't watch this amazing NECTFL video from the ACTFL 2020 Teacher of the Year, Rebecca Blouwolff, you MUST especially if you'll be doing hybrid or distance learning. She gives so many applicable instruction ideas for breakout rooms and more for synchronous instruction, that I'll be watching this video again in the weeks to come for more ideas.

What is interpersonal mode?


To be clear, usually I am extremely black and white about interpersonal communication. It has to be a two way exchange, it has to be spontaneous, and there has to be some sort of negotiation of meaning. If you're unfamiliar, see more about my ideas on interpersonal practice and assessment.

When it comes to asynchronous instruction, that whole spontaneous requirement kind of goes out the window; kids are going to prepare, which shifts what would usually be interpersonal activities into presentational mode because they're pre-planned, rehearsed, and memorized.

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to step off of my high horse this fall. I usually hate skits because I know they are actually presentational, but I'm going to have to be more flexible. I mean, if 2020 has done nothing else, it's definitely forced us to adjust, right? It's also made me more anxious, overweight, short-tempered, and lots of other things, but I digress.


What does interpersonal mode look like in 2020?


As I was saying, I'm going to have to be more flexible, which *may* mean that I will have to allow skits or conversations with yourself to suddenly be considered interpersonal tasks.  Last Spring, when schools shut down, I dabbled with having my 6th graders record skits on Flipgrid and it brought me so much joy to watch them. Here are some of the options they chose for their "interpersonal mode activities:

  • Some of my 6th graders recorded conversations with their family members, some of whom were older siblings I'd taught in years previous. 
  • Some uploaded Facetime videos talking with their with classmates. 
  • Others used stuffed animals or put different colored socks on their hands to make impromptu sock puppets. 
Their little conversations were adorable and creative and I got to see my students being silly and in their element, which was awesome considering I'd never met these students in person. I guess I forgot to mention that my school started a new quarter of kids in the middle of COVID lockdowns. Regardless, I let it slide that these conversations were prepared and rehearsed. They were speaking Spanish and that was enough for me.

What could interpersonal mode for Flipgrid?


When I saw Flipgrid's new features released in this video, I immediately knew that I just had to try out the "mirror screen" feature to simulate interpersonal mode. She does it at about 29:00 minutes, but I've made a quick demo of what it would look like here. No judgement please. I'm wearing no makeup, I haven't spoken Spanish to anyone in like 6 months, and I didn't even practice. I just went for it and didn't let myself rerecord. How's that for spontaneous?

So, what do you think of using the mirror screen option to simulate interpersonal mode. Can I work? I'd love to hear you opinions, thoughts, and suggestions in the comments below!

August 5, 2020

Mayan School Uniform Spanish Interpretive Practice


With the school year of distance learning looming, I'm working hard on digitizing all of my resources so that I can assign interactive activities to my students so I had to start with one of my absolute favorites: this Mayan School Uniforms Spanish interpretive practice.

Now, in addition to a PDF, you can assign this resource for remote learning to any LMS including (but not limited) to Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Edgenuity, and more.

This Mayan School Uniforms interpretive practice is perfect for any unit on clothing (ropa), school (escuela or colegio), personal identity, or indigenous cultures. I LOVE finding amazing, rich, cultural authentic resources and then creating ACTFL-aligned interpretive activities to accompany them and build proficiency and cultural awareness. The video is stunning and super-comprehensible and the activites are perfect for novice-mid to intermediate Spanish learners.

Check out this video to learn more about it's features:

This resource contains:

  • links to the authentic resource video
  • four interpretive activities
  • rubric, which can be used for teacher, self, or peer assessment
  • a self-reflection for interpretive listening to help students focus on skills they need to improve
Even better? This resource is part of a growing bundle of interpretive activities all based on engaging interpretive activities. The bonus of growing bundles is that when you purchase today, you'll have access to all of the resources I continue add. Good deal, huh?

Looking for more fun resources that connect to these AP themes?
  • This NY Times article about Mayan soccer teams wearing traditional outfits as uniforms
  • This article about students wearing indigenous outfits as school uniforms