We are all so busy and it’s hard to keep up with blogs, social media. Many of you told me that you liked the weekly blog summaries I started last year and you missed reading them. It’s a new year and a new attempt at keeping up, even though I’m not making it my goal for 2017. In order to last longer than April this year, I need your help. What are your favorite language teacher blogs? Comment here or send me a message. See a post that is a mind grenade, let me know via social media so that I can include it in these summaries. Here are the posts that caught my attention over the past couple of weeks.

  • Resolutions (Systems!) 2017: Become Officer Hopps

    We still can’t escape all the New Year’s teacher posts. Spanish educator, Sara-Elizabeth Cottrell, got in on the game and provided her own unique spin on it and reminding us that “the difference between a good and a bad teacher is not the presence of mistakes, but whether they are OLD or NEW.” Read Sara-Elizabeth’ post –> 

  • ACTFL16 – Big Idea

    Spanish teacher, Jennifer Kennedy, continues her reflection on the learning at the 2016 ACTFL Convention and shares her big aha moments and what it means for her classroom. What’s the big idea? “Two presentational statements do not make an interpersonal conversation.” ‪Read Jennifers’s post –>

  • The Hard Truths

    It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been on the path to proficiency or if you are still considering making those changes in your classroom. French teacher, Megan Sulewski, declares her five hard truths about why making that shift is so important. “Not because I think I have all the answers, or because I want to shame anyone who doesn’t think this way, but because I once believed all of these things below to be false until someone else took the time to help my viewpoint evolve.” ‪Read Megan’s post –>

  • Breaking out: Vector novel style

    A couple of years ago one of those “Breakout” game rooms popped up not too far from my house and I’ve been wanting to go for some time. While I haven’t had the chance yet, it’s so much fun to see all the teacher adaptations being shared. Spanish teacher, Carrie Toth, explains “a little about our breakout and the feedback I got from my class.” ‪Read Carrie’s post –>

  • From the Path 2 Proficiency: But first Let me take a selfie

    Many teachers were headed back to school after the winter break and for many, it meant the start of a new semester and maybe even new students. What a great opportunity to bring back some proficiency language for students. Spanish teacher, Meredith White, explains how that happens in her classroom in her first post of the new year. Read Meredith’ post –>

  • From the Path 2 Proficiency: Joining Forces

    It’s easy to get lost in your own professional world and feel isolated. Spanish teacher, Paul Jennemann, reminds us that “In our departments, in our schools, in our districts, we’re not meant to hoard what we’ve learned about performance and proficiency within the four walls of our classroom, but to lead the charge within our departments and to share what we’ve learned with others.” Read Paul’s post –>

Published by Thomas Sauer

Thomas Sauer is the Director of Design and Communication for AdvanceLearning and an independent consultant. He previously held positions as world language specialist in the Fayette County Public Schools and Jefferson County Public Schools for almost ten years and taught German at the University of Kentucky, Georgetown College and Kentucky Educational Television. He has directed a variety of state and federal grants, most recently as program director and consultant for several successful STARTALK programs. Thomas has served as President of the Kentucky World Language Association as well as on the Board of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, the National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages and the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Named the 2011 Pearson/NADSFL Supervisor of the Year and a 2010 Global Visionary by the World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana, Thomas is passionate about helping educators making the shift from teaching to learning.