Welcome!

Click on the links above to view tips for studying languages, explore online resources, and learn about me. I have taught and tutored Spanish and ESL to students of widely varying ages, backgrounds, ability levels, and needs for several years. My experience and professional development history are on the right.

As you can see below, during my first year of teaching I kept a blog of what we did in class each day starting in December. If you click on Older Posts below or a date or month under Blog Archive on the right, you'll get an idea of how I taught during my first year of teaching middle and high school Spanish, although my teaching methods have greatly improved since then. The About Me page above is a more current snapshot of my methodology.

I plan to continue the trend of posting daily assignments in the upcoming year using Edmodo, this blog, or another platform so that students can more easily review what they've learned and see what they miss when they're absent. For K-5 students from the 2015-2016 school year, please go to tinyurl.com/bestk5 to review during the summer.

11 Wednesday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Demonstrate my proficiency with a final exam

Assignments

• Final exam

Have a great summer!

10 Tuesday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Assess my readiness for the final exam with a practice exam

Assignments

• Go over practice exam

9 Monday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Assess my readiness for the final exam with a practice exam

Assignments

• Practice exam

5-6 Thursday - Friday

Spanish 2

I can

• Demonstrate my Spanish proficiency with a final exam
• Identify vocabulary and grammar in spoken Spanish

Assignments

• Final exam
• Movie (TBD) with listening activity

 

4 Wednesday

Spanish 2

I can

• Use the present and preterite progressive with regular and irregular verbs

Assignments

• Scavenger hunt
• Review of estar in the present
• Notes on present progressive
• Speaking practice
• Copy irregular verbs on page 171
• Rewrite sentences given using the present progressive and direct object pronouns
• Worksheet 68
• Review of estar in the preterite
• Notes on preterite progressive
• Practice using present and preterite progressive

Resources

• Present Progressive
• Music Video (no vosotros)
• Practice
• Video
• More Practice

2-3 Monday - Tuesday

Spanish 2

I can

• Use affirmative tú commands with regular and irregular verbs

Assignments

• Write directions from English between any two places with at least five steps.
• Review chapter 3B vocabulary
• Take notes on regular tú commands
• Replace the underlined words with a direct object pronoun at the end of a command:
• 1. comprar los zapatos de tenis
  2. bañarse
  3. llamar a tu amiga
  4. olvidar lo que dije
  5. despertarse (e → ie)
• Simon Says with the verbs abrir, cerrar, sentarse (e → ie), levantarse, guardar, and sacar
• Copy the box with irregular tú commands on page 168
• Worksheet 66
• Write the bellringer in Spanish
• Direction poster
• Listening and speaking practice with maps
• Activity 16
• Write directions explaining how to do an activity of your choice

Resources

• Tú Commands
• Irregular Tú Commands

30 Friday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Talk about traditional Mexican food, or
• I can use what I've learned to create and act out a dialogue

Assignments (7-1 and 8-2)

• Make a menu in Spanish showing what each dish has
• Review vocabulary from 3A and 3B
• Talk about the food and how much everyone likes it
• Class conversation in Spanish

Assignments (8-1)

• Class conversation in Spanish
• Guided dialogues
• Create and act out a group dialogue

Spanish 2

I can

• Assess my readiness for the final exam with a practice exam

Assignments

• Finish going over the study guide
• Practice exam
• Blog entry in Spanish using each concept at least once

29 Thursday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Use a cumulative review packet to review what I've learned this year

Assignments

• Go over the study guide

Spanish 2

I can

• Use a cumulative review packet to review what I've learned this year
• Present a topic that I'm struggling with

Assignments

• Using your cumulative study guide, answer the following questions.
  1. Ser and estar both mean “to be.” When is each used?
  2. In which form(s) do stem-changers not change?
  3. Saber and conocer both mean “to know.” When is each used?
  4. Reflexive verbs are verbs that end in “se.” What do you do with the se? When can reflexive verbs be used non-reflexively?
  5. What are the three spelling changes in the preterite? In which form(s) do these changes take place?
• Go over the study guide
• Student-led stations (as time permits)

28 Wednesday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Use a cumulative review packet to review what I've learned this year

Assignments

• Cumulative study guide (see Class Materials on the Resources page)

Spanish 2

I can

• Use a cumulative review packet to review what I've learned this year

Assignments

• Cumulative study guide (see Class Materials on the Resources page)

 

27 Tuesday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Conjugate jugar in the present tense

Assignments

• Warm-up: Write what the following mean in English; remember that ir = to go
  1. Voy a comer muchas galletas.
  2. Vamos al parque a las cinco.
  3. ¿Vas a jugar al fútbol americano?
  4. Ella no va a bailar con él.
  5. ¿Qué vas a beber en el almuerzo?
• Copy the forms of jugar
• Tell me who plays which sport based on what I write or say
• Open activity: choose one of the following
• Make flashcards of the six forms of jugar with their English translations on the back and study individually
• Write individually or say with a partner who is playing the sports in the pictures on page 256
•  Worksheets 22/24

Resources

• Jugar Conjugations (focus on the present)

Spanish 2

I can

• Use a cumulative review packet to prepare for the final exam

Assignments

• Cumulative study guide
• Study for irregular preterite quiz on Thursday

23 Friday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Say what I'm going to do

Assignments

• Arrange the six forms of ir into their groups and write what each means in English
• Copy the examples of ir being used with verbs on page 252
• Say what I'm going to do based on what I say in Spanish
• Say what you're going to do in Spanish like I did
• Activity 18 on page 253
• Activity 19 on page 253
• "Ir a" poster with a form other than voy and with an action instead of a place

Resources

• Forms of Ir (see present tense)
• StudySpanish
• Quizlet with Previous Verbs

Spanish 2

I can

• Give directions using vehicles and objects as points of reference

Assignments

• Copy the words under "to talk about driving" on page 180
• Make a hint chart or flashcards for the terms
• Tell me where objects on pages 158-159 are using prepositions
• Draw an imaginary city using today's new vocabulary and label the terms in Spanish
• Copy the words under "to ask for and give directions" on page 180
• Make a hint chart or flashcards for the terms
• Name the vehicles that are drawn as quickly as possible
• Listen as I give examples of giving directions
• Copy my drawing and trace a path as I give directions
• Follow directions as they're given in Spanish
• Write directions to and from any places of your choice using at least five steps
• Worksheets 62-63

Resources

• Chapter 3B Vocabulary
• Quizlet
• Discover Spanish

22 Thursday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Make invitations that include time, days, and dates

Assignments

• Read Explocación del lenguaje on page 249
• Copy the paragraph and underline words that are borrowed from English
• Activity 13 on page 250
• Write an invitation time and either a day or a date
• Activity 15 on page 251

Spanish 2

I can

• Describe where things are
• Say which method of transportation I use to get there

Assignments

• Write the correct form of ser or estar in the preterite in the sentences given
• Copy the terms on page 154
• Put a pen or pencil in various places based on the prepositions given
• Tell me where the marker is in relation to other objects
• Write a sentence for each vehicle based on the picture on page 154
• Go to the corner to express how often you go to the method of transportation given 
• If you were absent, write nunca (never), a veces (sometimes), mucho (a lot), or siempre (always) next to each one
• Draw objects on page 152 in relation to each other and describe where they are in Spanish
• Write down the irregular yo forms of salir, decir, and venir
• Say the form of the verb that I say in English
• Activity 3 on page 154
• Worksheets 60-61

Resources

• Quizlet
• Prepositions Practice

21 Wednesday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Present a dialogue from memory

Assignments

• Present the 4B dialogue with a partner or alone for extra credit
• Listen to ¿Qué vas a hacer? and write down as many words as you can identify

Spanish 2

I can

• Navigate a challenging dialogue in Spanish

Assignments

• Irregular preterite worksheet
• Read the dialogue on pages 132-33
• Take notes about plot, setting, characters, and unknown words
• Answer the questions at the end
• Worksheet 53
• Fourth block: read the handout on Colombia and write a short story in English that takes place in a Colombian city

 

20 Tuesday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Say at what time I do various things

After a review of telling time with es la and son las, I introduced the use of a la and a las to say at what time something happens. Students did activity 12 on page 249. We practiced with speaking and writing and finished with worksheet 79.

Step by Step
StudySpanish
Dialogues with Explanations
Time Game 

Spanish 2

I can

• Conjugate hacer, tener, estar, and poder in the preterite

After a warm-up involving writing about a past event in Spanish, I assessed students' ability to conjugate regular verbs, ser, and ir in the preterite. Students were given different assignments based on the data from this assessment. I then introduced the four new verbs for today in the preterite. Students practiced with activities 19 and 20 and worksheet 57.

Practice - Choose Verbs
Advanced

19 Monday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Memorize a dialogue using the new vocabulary

Students were given worksheet 78 and more class time to practice the dialogue. We finished with activity 9 on page 248.

Spanish 2

I can

• Conjugate ir and ser in the preterite

Students rewrote sentences using direct object pronouns to review. I handed back tests, which students must use make corrections for a classwork grade. I reviewed regular verbs in the preterite and introduced ser and ir, which share the same forms. Students practiced with flashcards, a poem by Pablo Neruda, a three-step interview, trivia, activity 18 in the book and worksheet 56.

StudySpanish
Practice

16 Friday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Memorize a dialogue using the new vocabulary

Students worked on activity 6 on page 246 and were then given a dialogue to memorize and practice with a partner. These will be presented for a grade next week. We finished with activity 10.

Spanish 2

I can

• Recognize and use direct object pronouns

After reviewing reflexive pronouns, I introduced direct object pronouns by explaining them in English, giving examples, and having students copy them in Spanish. Students were shown sentences with reflexive pronouns or DOPs and tried to guess which one was shown. They practiced with activity 13, worksheet 55, speaking, and writing.

StudySpanish

15 Thursday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Use the vocabulary from chapter 4B

Students began worksheets 76-77 as a warm-up to be turned in. We went over the paragraphs on pages 240-241 and did activity 5.

Spanish 2

I can

• Produce the new vocabulary via writing and speaking

Students copied and translated two paragraphs that heavily use the chapter's vocabulary and then worked on activities 1 and 6 on pages 134-135.
 

14 Wednesday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Recognize the second half of the vocabulary in chapter 4B

After the warm-up, we played charades and reviewed emotions by tossing a ball. I introduced the second half of the vocabulary on page 266.

Quizlet

Spanish 2

I can

• Talk about errands and use related expressions

After the bellringer, I introduced the second half of the vocabulary on page 152. Students practiced by playing Simon Says in Spanish, drawings with expressions as captions, and worksheets 51-52.

Quizlet

13 Tuesday

Spanish 1A

I can

• Recognize the new verbs and emotions in chapter 4B

After introducing or reviewing the vocabulary on the left side of page 266, students made word wall entries and participated in a competition to see who could be the first to say the words.

See Friday's post to review the vocabulary.

Spanish 2

I can

• Talk about what I bought and where

We reviewed yesterday's vocabulary with a competition like the one mentioned above. I introduced the vocabulary on page 152 and reviewed present and preterite affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences. Students practiced with speaking and a chart with categories Tengo, Quiero, and No tengo ni quiero.

Quizlet
Quia