Blog

A few weeks ago, the #langchat discussion centered on the details of implementing Backward Design in a World Language Classroom. Backward Design is a concept introduced in the book Understanding by Design and involves planning by establishing the goal first, then how students will show they have achieved the goal, and then the steps they […]

Happy Mom’s Day! We recently saw an adorable Mother’s Day “My mom and I” printable activity in English.  We love these activities and thought it was such a great idea we’d do something similar in Spanish. In ours, we’ve featured some of our Stories characters with their moms and grandmothers.  Here at Calico Spanish, we are moms […]

What do you get when you update a 100-year-old Spanish children’s ronda with a peppy country beat and lyrics related to time, the house, feelings, and activities?  We can’t wait to show you. I know we’ve been releasing a lot of new music lately (see Pañuelito, and Amiguito, and Así me gusta a mí, and Todo mi […]

#Langchat teachers held a discussion on appropriate and effective input to motivate low-engaged students. They shared useful strategies and advice for teaching the low-engaged student. – Follow the blog on Bloglovin – Engaging Forms of Input #Langchat participants began the conversation by sharing some of their most successful forms of input used to engage students. […]

We’re at it again!  We’re releasing another all-new music video for young Spanish learners, and this one has baila written all over it.  So, let’s dance! – Follow us on Twitter – (Side note: If you missed our other recent song releases, you’ll want to check them out: Move your body, find the pañuelito, and tell us what […]

Discovering how to create successful language based classroom projects was the topic of last week’s #langchat. Participants discussed how to guide learners in communication-oriented fun projects and the pros and cons of past project experiences used in their world language classrooms. – Follow the blog on Bloglovin – Grecian Urn Projects Last week, the #langchat […]

Work-life balance can be a challenge for many World Language teachers. Last week, #langchat participants shared some helpful tools, insights, and experiences that have helped them prioritize their time and make their work more efficient, truly, a balancing act. – Follow the blog on Bloglovin – How and When to Make Time to Step Away […]

Last week, #langchat participants dove into the complexity of interculturality in the world language classroom. The discussion covered everything from the definition of the term to how to allow students to discover new cultures, and how to assess intercultural competence. – Follow the blog on Bloglovin – What is Interculturality? According to #langchat teachers, interculturality […]

Incorporating successful input is an essential teaching function in a World Language Classroom. Last week, #langchat participants discussed factors for evaluating potential input, strategies to demonstrate student comprehension, grading and sequencing input activity techniques. – Follow the blog on Bloglovin – Factors to Evaluate Potential Input There are several factors that #Langchat teachers have used […]

Last week’s #langchat focused on how to incorporate thematic units in the world language classroom. Participants discussed inspiration for successful themes, prioritizing structures and vocabulary, and integrating instructional elements and assessments into successful thematic language lessons. – Follow the blog on Bloglovin – Inspiration for Successful Themes #Langchat teachers have found inspiration for successful themes […]