Pav D 
Centering Culture in the Core French Classroom through Routines

Thanks to the pandemic, this BC teacher has spent the last two years teaching significant parts of the school year with 0 prep. Classroom routines have not only saved my sanity, but they are also THE way to centre cultures and to increase proficiency in the language classroom. And you know what? It doesn't have to be complicated!

About Pav: 

Hey there! I am a fifth year Core French teacher from British Columbia, Canada. I am passionate about making cultures the main meal in Core French. I am also the face behind FLE avec MmeD where I help teachers go beyond the textbook in the French classroom. Social justice and diversity are my goals!

Jessie Feliz
Spanish S.W.A.G. en la Clase de Español

In this workshop we will collectively learn, laugh and grow together as we learn how to utilize Spanish S.W.A.G.™ as a mnemonic device and accountability tool for cultivating a classroom culture of feedback for increasing near-native fluency in the target language and investment in the language learning process.

About Jessie:

Jessie Feliz is a Spanish Language Edutainer and Instructional Coach with 14+ years of classroom experience. Jessie seeks to address the inequities in second language instruction by equipping teachers and learners with Spanish S.W.A.G.™. She is an bilingual activist for the Black American Community.

Jocelynn Hubbard
Game Changer: Three Top Tips for Creating an Inclusive & Welcoming World Language Class

In this presentation Jocelynn will share three game changing, but easy to implement practices for creating an inclusive and welcoming world language class. She shares each practice along with ideas for implementation of daily and weekly routines/activities that encourage academic confidence, engagement, and achievement for students.

About Jocelynn:

Jocelynn is the founder of Custom Teaching Solutions and host of The Culture-Centered Classroom podcast. She has a passion to see the diverse people of our world welcomed and affirmed. She provides training on becoming and remaining culturally competent. Her joy is her husband and five children.

Amy Marshall
Daily Check-Ins - Connecting and setting the tone in every class

Every person comes to class with a wide variety of feelings for a wide variety of reasons. Checking in with students at the beginning of class can help you to get a read on how the class is feeling and their needs for that day and to let them know that you really care and that they really matter. You can do all of this while using the target language. I will share how I do daily check-ins with my classes, what it looks like at the beginning and how it grows as the year progresses.

About Amy:

Amy Marshall is a dynamic and energetic Spanish teacher who teaches with a variety of techniques that fall under the umbrella of comprehensible input. 

Elizabeth Porter 
Language with the Five Senses
The science behind the method and how our brains are naturally wired for language acquisition.

About Elizabeth:

Elizabeth Porter is a National Board Certified Teacher with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s in French and Applied Linguistics (ELL).  Elizabeth is the author of “Pathways to Language Fluency: Changing How We Think About Language in the United States."

Sherry Sebesta - World Language Café
25 Ways to Dramatically Improve Student Fluency

Do you feel like you're putting tons of effort into your teaching, but your students still struggle to communicate effectively?  Learn 25 tried and true ways to improve the various aspects of your students' language skills: speaking, reading, writing, listening, grammar, and cultural knowledge.  These teacher tricks and tools will make the classroom learning experience come alive so students learn more, gain confidence, and dramatically improve their communication abilities.

About Sherry:

Sherry Sebesta is a veteran HS French and Spanish teacher and creator of World Language Café. She blogs about best teaching practices and creates innovative resources to engage students based on her experiences raising her own kids bilingually and watching how they naturally acquire language skills.

Angie Torre 
13 Ways to Incorporate Comprehensible Input into your Lesson

Students acquire language through compelling comprehensible input. What does that look like and how do I make it fun? There are so many ways to provide CI and I will show you some of the strategies, activities, and resources I used in my classroom to guide my students to proficiency. 90-100% TL? No problem!

About Angie: 

I am Angie Torre. I taught Spanish & French in CA for 31 years. As a Consulting Teacher, I helped teachers with curriculum development, TPRS strategies, and classroom management.

I teach with an emphasis on comprehensible input. In this workshop, I describe many ways to incorporate CI into a lesson.

Jenniffer Whyte
Daily, Monthly, and Yearly Routines that Incorporate Afro-Descendants in the Spanish Classroom

Most textbooks do not include the correct representation of the students we have in the classroom. One of the poorly represented groups in Spanish class are the Afro-Descendants from Latin America. Explore the daily, monthly, and yearly routine that Jenniffer Whyte shares from her Spanish Classroom, "The Sloth Forest". 

About Jenniffer: 

Jenniffer Whyte teaches Spanish at The Donoho School for levels 1, 2, and 3 in the high school and teaches Pre-K and Kindergarten Spanish classes at the elementary school. Her keynotes, conference sessions, and conversations are a demand for many world language instructors today. 

Allison Wienhold - Mis Clases Locas
Sustainable Routines

This session will focus on classroom routines for any World Language class to save your sanity. Daily routines to help with classroom management, while providing comprehensible input. The presenter will show how planning many preps can be greatly simplified with daily, weekly, and yearly routines. See how classroom routines can streamline your planning, while also bringing joy and fun to your classes again.

About Allison:

Allison Wienhold of Mis Clases Locas has 9 years of experience as a #deptof1 secondary Spanish teacher. She has a passion for using novels, CI-based stories, music, and movement in a #deskless class. Allison loves to save busy teachers time!

Erin Coleman 
Going For It: Making the Leap to More Proficiency Oriented Grading and Assessment

A few years ago I followed the lead of my colleagues and made the switch to a proficiency focused gradebook breakdown. I was terrified to "go for it," but I'm so glad I did! In this session I'll reassure you that you can make the change too! You'll quickly see how changing your approach to grading will also change your approach to lesson planning.

About Erin: 

Erin is in her tenth year teaching high school Spanish in MA. She loves to incorporate games, digital activities, and culture into her classroom and lessons. Erin recently made the switch to proficiency based grading and planning, and she loves sharing as she learns! 

Bertha Delgadillo 
The Power of Social Emotional Learning in the World Language Classroom Then & Now

Wondering what effective SEL can look like in the secondary world language classroom? The good news is that you are probably already practicing some type of SEL activities with you classes, and in this zero fluff session, you will explore a repertoire of SEL strategies that will guide your teaching throughout the entire academic year!

About Bertha: 

Bertha Delgadillo, NBCT is a HS Spanish teacher in Savannah, GA. Originally from Tampico, Tamaulipas, México, she  empowers world language teachers & learners through sharing practical engagement & student agency strategies all while placing students at the center of the learning experience.

Meg Fandel Vernon 
Fostering Empathy and Relationships through CI Basics (Circling, TPR and Reading)

New to CI teaching or need a reminder on the basics? Meg is presenting on effectively delivering instruction via circling, TPR and reading materials. She will explain and demo the following: circling technique, taking total physical response (TPR) to the next level and how to personalize materials and novels to build relationships in your classroom. Examples/materials in Spanish.

About Meg: 

Meg teaches Spanish in Des Moines, Iowa & mentors world language teachers. She uses Comprehensible Input & TPRS strategies and is passionate about teaching middle school. She organizes Comprehensible Iowa conference each June. Meg was 2017 Iowa World Language TOY. 

Devon Gunning 
Reclaim Your Teacher Joy (or at Least Your Sanity)

Ready for the ultimate key to student success? Time after time, study after study, the TEACHER is the #1 most influencing force in a student's learning outcomes. In this session, we'll examine the your role in the learning environment, how to utilize the science-backed principles behind positive psychology that will transform your relationship with teaching, and how 3 simple daily practices can help you through difficult teaching seasons.

About Devon: 

Welcome to Practical and Comprehensible 2022: Foundations!

My mission is to help world language teachers discover a practical, teacher-friendly approach to best practice and true community in your classroom: through the power of CI and meaningful social justice resources & PD.

I work with teachers & districts in curriculum work, self care planners, French & Spanish resources, and the Practical Proficiency Network - a PD membership and community to connect you with like-minded, health-conscious and CI focused teachers.  

Maria Jernigan 
The secret to unlocking student motivation (especially to SPEAK in the Target Language!)

CI readers and movie talks just not doin’ it for ya? Students talk in the TL when…. they actually want to. Crazy, I know. Listen to Maria share how you can harness immersive games to inspire widespread (read: equitable) TL participation in middle/high school Spanish classes.

About Maria: 

Maria Jernigan teaches high school Spanish and is the Founder & CEO of Redshift Education -- the indie game studio that creates immersive, quest-based video games for students learning Spanish. In Redshift Education's immersive worlds, students speak aloud to work together and solve real-problems using the target language.

Yanina Jimenez 
Brain-Friendly Teacher!

Why do my students forget what I teach when class is done?
How do I know if a trend on social media really works or if it is just a fun thing to do?
How do I bring information to my students’ long-term memory?
Does the way I decorate my room have an effect on my students’ learning process?
All the strategies here are based on the true science of teaching and learning. They are divided by brain-friendly classroom design, instructional strategies, and classroom atmosphere based on how they can engage/energize, focus, and calm your students’ brains.

About Yanina: 

 Yanina is a mom, teacher, speaker, researcher, and writer. She is currently working on her Ph.D. She loves sharing brain-friendly tips for classroom design, instruction, and classroom atmosphere in her Brain-friendly Teacher Academy. 

Allison Litten 
Clip Chat: How to develop activities and routines for successful language acquisition

Using short videos in class is captivating and lends itself to easy personalization. I will show you specific steps that will engage your students and and lead to organic output.

About Allison: 

Allison, 2019 VFLA TOY, has been teaching French at the Marion Cross School in Norwich, VT, for 19 years. She enjoys working with multiple age groups, playing with stuffies, and encouraging risk-taking. She loves presenting and sharing at conferences, both virtually and in-person.

Tia Parnell 
Proficiency Through Project-Based Learning

Have you ever wondered how to keep your students engaged while also learning skills that can help them in the real world? Join me as we explore how Project-Based Learning can transform your teaching into an exciting and meaningful experience - no matter what language it is in!

About Tia: 

Tia is an elementary French Immersion teacher from Ontario, Canada. She is also the owner of Parfaitement Parnell, a small business where she creates modern & engaging resources for French teachers and parents. 

Benjamin Tinsley
Centering Black & Brown Voices in the Modern Language Classroom

Low-prep practices to diversify the language classroom in authentic and equitable ways.

About Benjamin: 

Ben has dedicated his professional and personal life to the pursuit of substantive diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom and beyond. Ben leverages language acquisition and language education toward developing global literacy and 21-Century competencies.

Dr. Kami J. Anderson
Walking in Authenticity Through Language

A powerful interview about Dr. Anderson's personal journey through language and unlocking the ancestral language available to students when we empower them to walk in authenticity. 

About Dr. Anderson: 

Dr. Kami Anderson is an interculturalist, scholar & language advocate. She is the founder and CEO of Bilingual Brown Babies, a revolutionary online program for Black families and bilingualism. She’s a passionate life-long teacher and the go-to girl when it comes to language, Blackness and identity. 

Jennifer Degenhardt

Helpful routines when teaching a CI novel - starting from scratch

Getting started with the comprehensible novel: a primer. In this session, you will be exposed to concrete techniques and activities to get you on your way to using a comprehensible novel as a whole-class read. Examples of two different novels will be given, one in French and one in Spanish.

About Jennifer: 

Jennifer Degenhardt taught high school Spanish for over 20 years and now teaches at the college level. At the time she realized her own high school students, acquired language best through stories, so she began to write ones that she thought would appeal to them. She has been writing ever since. 

Theresa Marrama

Helpful routines when teaching a CI novel - starting from scratch

Getting started with the comprehensible novel: a primer. In this session, you will be exposed to concrete techniques and activities to get you on your way to using a comprehensible novel as a whole-class read. Examples of two different novels will be given, one in French and one in Spanish.

About Theresa: 

Theresa Marrama is a French teacher in northern New York. She's been teaching French since 2007. She is the author of many Comprehensible Input novels.

Bertha Delgadillo 
Unleash Magic with Songs as Authentic Resources in Our Classroom

An exciting guide on how to use songs as authentic texts to spark engagement in your world language class! 

About Bertha: 

Bertha Delgadillo, NBCT is a HS Spanish teacher in Savannah, GA. Originally from Tampico, Tamaulipas, México, she  empowers world language teachers & learners through sharing practical engagement & student agency strategies all while placing students at the center of the learning experience.

Devon Gunning 
Your Roadmap to Proficiency: What Practical Steps to Take & When to Transition to CI 

Does CI feel like you've all the sudden taken on a new part-time job? This presentation will walk you through the common mistake that many teachers make when moving to proficiency-oriented practice. There's a simpler, practical approach that allows you to streamline your effort, ditch unnecessary work, and get home faster with better classroom engagement! 

About Devon: 

Welcome to Practical and Comprehensible 2022: Foundations!

My mission is to help world language teachers discover a practical, teacher-friendly approach to best practice and true community in your classroom: through the power of CI and meaningful social justice resources & PD.

I work with teachers & districts in curriculum work, self care planners, French & Spanish resources, and the Practical Proficiency Network - a PD membership and community to connect you with like-minded, health-conscious and CI focused teachers.  

Bryce Hedstrom
Comprehensible Input and Grammar-Based Instruction: Can They Get Along? 

When should you teach grammar, how and why? How will your students fare when they go on to classes that use legacy methods of teaching grammar?

About Bryce: 

Bryce has taught elementary to college level students for more than 30 years. He now teaches and coaches teachers full time. His teaching emphasizes proficiency and includes storytelling, authentic culture, reading, music, student engagement… and plenty of laughter.

Margarita Pérez García
Read one, Write one: From StoryListening to StoryWriting with Easy-to-Read Novels

Discover a no-planning approach to teach novels in two steps: with StoryListening as a bridge to reading and StoryWriting to create parallel narratives on immigration, disability and self-constructed identities using 3 Easy-to-Read novels for level 1 students.

About Margarita: 

Margarita Pérez García is Venezuelan author of Easy-to-Read literature and a language teacher with over 25 years of experience. Margarita is passionate about supporting students with reading difficulties. She writes fiction and non-fiction that beginners and struggling readers can really read. 

Rachel Nye
How to make your toughest student the MVP!

We all have that ONE student that acts out, is the class clown, or simply doesn't do anything in our classrooms. This class will teach you how to make that kid your MVP to change their behavior from disruptive to positive!

About Rachel: 

Rachel is a special education teacher with certifications in elementary education & child and adolescent trauma. She strives to support educators with practical behavior management strategies through online education courses and her Behavior by Design Membership.

Tracy Rucker 
Interculturality, Diversity, and Engagement in Our World Language Classrooms

Authentic materials provide a glimpse into other cultures and they allow language learners to explore cultures creatively. In this session, teachers will learn about Yabla and other authentic resources that immerse students through interactive videos in the target language. Authentic videos, when combined with other materials, help learners develop stronger communication skills. The purpose of the session is to provide teachers with resources that they can use to teach language and cultures from different regions as they focus attention on interculturality.

About Tracy: 

Tracy Rucker incorporates interpersonal communication and global awareness into the classroom through authentic resources and technology. Rucker creates meaning by discussing real-life topics, like body positivity and harassment in schools as skill-building strategies.