#230

It’s the start of new year and a chance to recharge our educator battery. Sometimes a little easier said than done, I know. In this episode, recorded at the NYSAFT Annual Conference in Albany, NY, we are going to look at ways to make sure that your teaching spark is still alive and well. Will Andersson joins me for this insightful conversation. He is a long time language teacher and language department administrator. He is now an Associate Dean at Hofstra University’s School of Education. Will shares practical and actionable ways to recharge our educator battery.

Topics in this Episode:

• The State of the Profession: the biggest factors that either drain or recharge educators today
• Sustainable Teaching: practical, everyday strategies teachers can use to sustain their energy and passion throughout the school year
• Mentorship and Renewal: the value of mentoring student teachers and how working with the next generation of educators can help seasoned teachers feel energized in their own practice
• Connection and Community: the role of professional communities (colleagues, conferences, online spaces) in recharging our educator batter
• Advice for Language Educators: how to stay connected to your “why” and keep your professional battery charged

Connect with Will Anderson:

• Email: William.C.Anderson@hofstra.edu

A Few Ways We Can Work Together:

• Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual Teachers
• On-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language Departments
• Self-Paced Program for For Language Departments

Connect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:

• Website: wlclassrom.com
• Instagram: @wlclassroom
• Facebook Group: World Language Classroom
• Facebook: /wlclassroom
• LinkedIn: Joshua Cabral
• Bluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.socia
• X (Twitter): @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#229

What do you do when there is a change in your schedule, like shortened class time because of a delayed opening? What if several students need to miss class because of a school event or responsibility? This is sometimes the reality of our teaching. We had a plan, but need to figure out in the moment how to best use the time we have. This is where sponge activities are useful. Jessica Hall, a Spanish teacher in Connecticut, joins me to talk about what we can do when we find ourselves in these situations.

Topics in this Episode:

• what sponge activities are and why are they such an important tool for language teachers
• how can sponge activities help teachers make sure that every minute in the classroom is purposeful and engaging
• strategies to adjust the same sponge activity so it works for beginners as well as more advanced learners
• how do you keep sponge activities fun and interactive while still ensuring that they support language growth
• simple low-to-prep sponge activities you can try right away
• PDF with all the activities that Jessica mentions in the episode

Connect with Jessica Hall from Miss Señorita:

• Instagram: @MissSenoritaTpt

A Few Ways We Can Work Together:

• Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual Teachers
• On-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language Departments
• Self-Paced Program for For Language Departments

Connect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:

• Website: wlclassrom.com
• Instagram: @wlclassroom
• Facebook Group: World Language Classroom
• Facebook: /wlclassroom
• LinkedIn: Joshua Cabral
• Bluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.socia
• X (Twitter): @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#228

Do you use stories in your classroom? Do you have some engaging ways for students to, well, engage with those stories? In this third episode of the CI Toolbox series, we look at storytelling and narrative-based activities that hook students through emotion, curiosity, and creativity. You’ll learn how to deliver compelling stories, co-write summaries with students, and use video clips as interactive narratives, all while keeping input comprehensible and student-centered.

Topics in this Episode:

• Stories provide context, emotion, and predictability. The foundation for language acquisition. They build engagement and allow us to recycle high-frequency structures meaningfully.
• Story Listening: Deliver rich input by telling stories live, with built-in visual and physical support.
• Write and Discuss: Reinforce and recycle the story language through co-created written text.
• Clip Chat: Turn short video clips into interactive storytelling experiences.
• Ep 218: 6 Activities for Interaction and Discussion in the Language Classroom
• Ep 222: 6 Reading and Writing Activities in the CI Classroom
• CI Toolbox

A Few Ways We Can Work Together:

• Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual Teachers
• On-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language Departments
• Self-Paced Program for For Language Departments

Connect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:

• Website: wlclassrom.com
• Instagram: @wlclassroom
• Facebook Group: World Language Classroom
• Facebook: /wlclassroom
• LinkedIn: Joshua Cabral
• Bluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.socia
• X (Twitter): @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.