Long time, no “see”! I’m pretty excited to be blogging again!
Summer is such a great time to relax, rest, and recharge for the next year. I’m starting that now. I’m a little behind schedule and here’s why…
Introducing… Mr. & Mrs. Smith
And I’m the reason Kara has been missing too! She was a busy bridesmaid with showers, bachelorette parties, and planning! She’s the best 🙂
Then, my wonderful husband (man, that’s weird to say!) took me on a surprise honeymoon to Aruba! I could get used to waking up to this everyday…
Plus, I got to calculate the “florin” currency while listening and learning a little bit of “Papiamento” – a local language used in Aruba, Bonaire, & Curacao. Have you heard of it? Here’s what I learned.
“Unique to the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, Papiamento evolved from a rudimentary pidgin language, utilized for the purposes of communication among peoples with different native languages, into the more complex language it is today. At its base, the language is an Afro-Portuguese Creole, which, over the years, has grown in syntax and lexicon with increased borrowings from Dutch, English and Spanish, but still possessing its own unique rhythm and meanings.” – See more at http://www.aruba.com/the-island/language#sthash.nKBKivJA.dpuf
Well, now you know! Thanks for letting me share my big adventure with you all!
Ahora te toca a ti… It’s your turn! How’s your holiday been? Any great travel adventures, book or Netflix recommendations, or Pinterest project successes? Now is the time to try/learn something new. If it’s great you can bring it back to the classroom. If not, that’s ok too! Even the frustrations or failures will help you be a better teacher. It’s good to be a rookie at something again so we empathize with new language learners this fall.
Enjoy every day off! We’ll be back before you know it!
Very nice, and congratulations!!!
Thank you!!
Congratulations! I’m getting married as well, in 18 days! =]
Wow! You have lots to look forward to then! I hope your big day is amazing!
Congratulations! You look beautiful! How exciting…
My summer has been busy immersing myself in tprs! Not so exciting as your summer.
Still that TPRS training will make going back a lot easier! Good for you!
Congratulations!
This summer I found out I was pregnant, bought a house & just got back from vacation in Puerto Vallarta. (We can call the Mexico trip “professional development”) I need to start getting back into the school swing and getting some new fresh ideas for next year.
Wow! That’s a lot of action! Congrats to you, too!
All very exciting!
¡Felicitaciones!
Gracias Alyson!
Congratulations ~ you both look so lovely! And I love the flowers!
Thanks Sra. Forrester! I figured hot pink was a little much for Kara’s bridesmaids dress but the flowers are fun 🙂
Congratulations, Mrs. Smith! You are a gorgeous bride!
I have spent the summer taking my seven kids to swim lessons and baseball games, and we’re getting ready to spend five days at Grand Lake in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. I hope it feels like a vacation.
Sometimes I think the school year is easier!
(I’ve also been brushing up on my Spanish… last year I taught only French and this year I’m doing 2 classes of each!)
Thanks!! The Rockies will be beautiful!! Keep up the good work on both languages – I can’t imagine teaching BOTH languages… I would be mumbling in Franglish all day confusing them! 🙂
Seriously, I mix languages with my kids and they just say “I don’t speak Spanish mom.” But my school was sweet enough to give me French one day, Spanish the next. We have a block schedule so they can do that. I can at least try to focus on one at a time!
Your web site has been my summer reading and PD. I love it, keep up the good work!
It looks like a beautiful wedding! I spent the first three weeks of my summer walking 220 miles of the Camino de Santiago. It was a great way to improve my language skills. I was able to speak lots of French (which I teach), but also some of my novice level Spanish.
That’s amazing! I did a 2 mile chunk of it when I was an exchange student, and I’ve always hope to go back and do more. I might be bugging you for some information!
I’d be happy to chat with you about it. I can’t wait to go back and “finish” next year. (And then maybe do some of the other routes)
Beautiful wedding pictures! We just celebrated our 20th anniversary and it was fun remembering our wedding day. My bridesmaids had pale pink dresses but I love the bright pink that you had for the flowers!
I’ve been decluttering my house and reading a lot! I love YA fiction! I also attended a PD on the workshop model. My school is moving to a modified block schedule next year, so they’re encouraging us to use the workshop model on the block days. If anyone has been teaching on the block I’d love some ideas and suggestions!
I’ll also be teaching both Spanish & French next year. I haven’t done this in about 3 years, so I expect I’ll be rusty at first. Still, I’m looking forward to the challenge and diversity!!
Congratulations and best wishes! The photos are beautiful.
I just wanted to tell you both thank you for your site. It made my last year of teaching so much more fun. I love your ideas and the work your district has done.
It almost made me not want to retire, but after 40 years I think it is time. I still plan on seeing what is happening on this incredible site!
Thanks again!
Congratulations! I took my first cruise ever, it was to Bermuda-fancy islands are super fun! Wishing I could get somewhere Spanish-speaking sometime to get some realia and practice Spanish, but I did find a stuffed Chihuahua in the gift shop that when you press the button it shakes maracas and sings La Bamba. I think my kids will all get a kick out of it this year =)
Congratulations!
Congratulations to a most beautiful bride! The family and I went to Universal Studios in Florida, which was so very fun. I also tracked down two of my junior-high teachers, and it was great visiting with them!
Thanks Ivonne! I love Universal! Glad you’re having fun over break and not working too hard 🙂
Congratulations! Beautiful couple. Beautiful wedding.
I have been keeping up with your blog for quite some time now. Thank you for the inspirational ideas when the rest of us are barely keeping our heads above water. Can’t wait to see what you ladies have to share in the new school year.
Thanks, Amy! We’re excited to get some new ideas on here too! We love sharing with others, and it’s even better when we hear back from you about something you used in class or something that inspired you!!
Wow! As a first year Spanish teacher to begin this September in my first classroom, your website/blog has been a blessing to me! What a wealth of ideas and resources! Fantastico!
I will be teaching in a private, special education school (with small size classes in the elementary, middle, and high schools) with a total of 105 students who have a variety of learning strengths. I am exploring through their current curriculum using Realidades, but since it is a small, private school, I have the unique pleasure to customize as I see needed. In my research to supplement the curriculum.
I came across the website http://www.teachersdiscovery.com for Spanish. On their website they list the textbook series called, Voces. I like that it is an e-textbook series so that students do not have to worry about leaving their books in their lockers. And they all have their own MacBook Air laptops (MS & HS) and they will always remember to bring them home and back to school. 🙂 And seems to include interactive activities using the SmartBoard. What are your thoughts about this e-textbook series? I welcome any and all soft/hard textbook series and other e-textbooks series that you may recommend.
Also, I welcome any and all ideas, resources, etc. on hands-on activities for sensory stimulation to maintain attention and focus. If anyone happens to teach Spanish for the special education population, I also welcome any and all ideas. Did I mention that I welcome any and all ideas…I’m a newbie and a sponge right now. Am I nervous, just a little, it’s a good nervous. 🙂
Felicitaciones al matrimonio!
I’m not familiar with the Voces e-textbooks. Maybe they will send you a sample if you ask. As a new teacher, following a textbook takes some stress off of you as you find what works and doesn’t work for your students and your teaching style. I have a set of Realidades textbooks and it is the best textbook I’ve seen. I’d suggest to focus on the communicative activities, culture and the projects they suggest that inspires you! Good luck!!
Congratulations! I just stumbled onto your blog and I am SOO grateful! I will be a first year secondary Spanish teacher this year and I am SO excited! I had a great mentor, but she has retired and is on vacation (GOOD FOR HER!!!!:):):)!!), so your shared ideas will be SO awesome!
Thanks!
Hailey,
I’m so excited for you. I remember my days in the classroom lie they were yesterday. Enjoy it. You are new and students really feed off your enthusiasm ( in a good way). Celebrate the little successes and brush off any difficult days. You’ve gotta fun year ahead of you. Good luck!
Felicidades! I’m a huge fan of your blog and getting excited for my second year of teaching!
Gracias, Nicole! Good luck this year!
Megan, I love following this blog! You all have inspired me in so many ways for more than a year now! Congratulations on your recent nuptials! Married life is fantastic and I wish you all the best! I have not only been following your blog but have attended some of your KWLA Conference sessions in the past. Will you be presenting again at this year’s session? Also, had a favor to ask of you ladies – I’m applying for a grant to attempt to get some iPads for my classroom this year. As this is a new endeavor and adventure for me – can you all give me some insight as to what apps are the most useful in your classes and other ways you use them in your classroom. I use stations weekly in my classroom – thanks to you all – and definitely plan to use them as a station each week. Just thought you all might be able to give me better insight as to what to include in my grant as to how I exactly plan to use them. Feel free to email me at abby.graves@bardstown.kyschools.us Thank you all!!!! You are amazing and an inspiration!