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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 1d

Omg! Yay!!

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks for listening and reposting!!! (Will you be at ACTFL?)

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 2d

They then gifted me their writing sheet, where they wrote various student names and German words with their left hands. WITH THEIR LEFT HANDS!

Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 2d

Students in the front row: (giggling intermittently, looking away when I try to make eye contact)
Me, after a while: "Do I have something on my sweater, what's up?"
Them: "We're writing...WITH OUR LEFT HANDS 😂😂😂😂😂!!!!"
Me: "...aha!"

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 5d

Love seeing reviews from LLLAB, which is a reliable source on how different identities and issues are represented in language learner literature.

Leveled readers convey more than just comprehensible input, and it’s important for us to know what messages we are sending our learners!

LLLAB @languageboard.bsky.social · 5d

Das Haus Nummer 13

Das Haus Nummer 13 is a story of a teen girl living in a haunted house while grieving her father. The story explores processes of grief and access to mental health resources while opening up opportunities for intercultural discussions on these themes.

Das Haus Nummer 13

Das Haus Nummer 13 is a story of a teen girl living in a haunted house while grieving her father. The story explores processes of grief and access to mental health resources while opening up opportunities for intercultural discussions on these themes.

wearelllab.org

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 7d

Also just talking with her about assessment gets my brain WHIRRING. This has been so fun!!!

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 7d

I got back from a 3-day absence to unprecedented levels of work completion from my students. Subs noted that my student teacher got the kids started and humming along with work. What a blessing!

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 7d

I feel skeptical of the PACE model, but I had not considered that the "Extension" could be another input-focused task - checking off list items based on a text, marking true/false, etc. In my brain, I always bounced to producing the targeted form, which is just PPP all over again. #LangChat #SLAyyy

SLAyyy Pod @slayyypod.bsky.social · 17d

We are on to Chapter 4 of “Teaching Grammar for Proficiency”!

#LangChat #SLAyyy

Discussion prompt reading: “What’s something you read in this chapter that you realize you could improve, or that has been hard for you? It made you go oops! Or maybe you already knew that this is not your strong point, and that’s why you’re reading this chapter!”

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Reposted by Ben Fisher-Rodriguez

Ashley Eberhart @aggieashley.bsky.social · 8d

It's especially problematic in my content World Languages because language acquisition doesn't happen in that way at that pace. And it's still too textbook influenced even if no textbook is used. #EdChat #edusky

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 9d

How to differentiate when you have no time...listen in for how students felt about differentiated instruction in their language classes, and tips for how to make differentiation your default across the modes!

rss.com/podcasts/sla...

Ep. 26: SLAyyy Differentiated Instruction | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

SLAyyy: Second Language Acquisition for Everyone WebsiteGaslightChallenge and AccommodationThe Neverending RubricTime InvestmentStuck Between a Rock and a Hard PlaceGatekeep - Tajik, O., Noor, S. &am...

rss.com

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Reposted by Ben Fisher-Rodriguez

SLAyyy Pod @slayyypod.bsky.social · 9d

In our latest episode, we discuss how students felt about differentiated instruction, as well as tips for differentiating that don't suck up all your precious teacher time! #SLAyyy #LangChat

Ep. 26: SLAyyy Differentiated Instruction | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

SLAyyy: Second Language Acquisition for Everyone WebsiteGaslightChallenge and AccommodationThe Neverending RubricTime InvestmentStuck Between a Rock and a Hard PlaceGatekeep - Tajik, O., Noor, S. &am...

rss.com

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 11d

What are you doing planning everything from scratch?! Use a planning menu to make your life easier!

mrfishersays.com/why-i-use-a-...

Why I Use a Planning Menu to Increase Efficiency and Decrease Stress

Planning is often one of the most fun aspects of teaching. I tend to get lost in authentic sources or good stories, fantasizing about how to engage students with such interesting ideas, and getting…

mrfishersays.com

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 11d

Would love to hear about how this goes - I found that text to have some differences with “CI Teaching” and would be curious how the course navigates that

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 11d

Why I Use a Planning Menu to Increase Efficiency and Decrease Stress

Planning is often one of the most fun aspects of teaching. I tend to get lost in authentic sources or good stories, fantasizing about how to engage students with such interesting ideas, and getting more input for myself. I…

Why I Use a Planning Menu to Increase Efficiency and Decrease Stress

Planning is often one of the most fun aspects of teaching. I tend to get lost in authentic sources or good stories, fantasizing about how to engage students with such interesting ideas, and getting more input for myself. I fantasize about how units and lessons will go, and dream of the day I have "covered" all the things I mean to "cover" every year.

mrfishersays.com

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 11d

Excellent post on Bryce Hedstrom’s blog about what makes a strong language program/class:

www.brycehedstrom.com/2025/good-qu...

Good Questions! - Bryce Hedstrom - Comprehensible Input Materials & Training

These are some good questions that Alex, the lead teacher of a school I am working with, has asked: What habits have you observed in excellent Spanish programs? This is what has worked for me and wha...

www.brycehedstrom.com

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Reposted by Ben Fisher-Rodriguez

Chanea Bond @heymrsbond.com · 17d

Someone on Threads was going on about how schools don’t teach useful skills like how to email, so I figured I could share this graphic again.

How to Email
A step-by-step guide to sending an email

Subject line
Next to the word subject, write a 2-5 word summary of your email
"Missing grade"
"Assignment question"
"Absent today"
Begin with a greeting
(In the body of your email)
Hello!
Good afternoon!
Dear Teacher Last Name,
Make your point + add relevant details
"I am writing because..."
"I don't understand..."
'...I have already tried"
...I remember when you said.."
Closing
(One line below the body)
Have a good day!
Cheers!
Best wishes.
Regards,
Sign your name
This is a great time to let the recipient know the name you'd like to be called!
Send + Check for a reply
48-72 hours after you hit send, check for a reply (if a response is necessary!)
Reply if the sender expects a response from you.
- Chanea Bond

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Reposted by Ben Fisher-Rodriguez

Caitlin @teacherontopic.bsky.social · 18d

Trying to internalize the wisdom of Jake the Dog.

Two characters from Adventure Time on a white background with a quote at the bottom. Jake the Dog is telling Finn the Human, "Dude, sucking at something is the first step to being sorta good at something."

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 21d

Is something astrological happening today? The children are acting...in an interesting manner 🙃

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 21d

Always a must listen anyways, this podcast episode gives excellent food for thought. We language teachers can get obsessed with vocabulary - but how can we make it really stick for our students? It might not be how we’ve thought…!

Diane Neubauer 杜雁子 @dianeneubauer.bsky.social · 21d

On introducing vocabulary, new podcast episode: conversationsaboutlanguage.buzzsprout.com/2325378/epis...

Episode 33: Introducing Vocabulary - Conversations about Language Teaching

Episode 33: Introducing Vocabulary Show Notes Diane mentioned the book Vocabulary Myths by Keith Folse. Here is the publisher's site about it: https://press.umich.edu/Books/V/Vocabulary-Myths2

conversationsaboutlanguage.buzzsprout.com

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 21d

Same! I always want to do it all at once, but 2 separate passes at the material really lets students look at it with different eyes. Based on the statement about organizational features, etc. being so helpful with meaning-making, I think my first part should often be noticing overall organization...

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 21d

Yes! I think that could be a great scaffold. Sometimes "come up with it all" is too-open of a task for my students.

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 21d

I have updated my slides about Leo Neugebauer to include an English-video sub plan, and a short story in simple vocabulary about how he just won gold in the decathlon at the World Championships! German teachers - check it out!

docs.google.com/presentation...

Leo Neugebauer

Leo Neugebauer Ich heiße Leo Neugebauer. Ich wurde 2000 in Deutschland in Görlitz geboren. Meine Mutter kommt aus Deutschland, aber mein Vater kommt aus Kamerun. Ich wohne in Texas. Ich studiere an de...

docs.google.com

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 22d

Klett has uploaded the video recording of the presentation I gave on "Maintaining Momentum in World Language Classes" - check it out!

youtu.be/sRzWPiHxFZo?...

[WEBINAR] "Maintaining Momentum in World Language Classes" with Ben Fisher-Rodríguez

YouTube video by Klett World Languages

youtu.be

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Ben Fisher-Rodriguez @mrfishersays.bsky.social · 22d

What might an anti-racist pronunciation pedagogy look like? Take a listen to our latest episode for some thoughts!

SLAyyy Pod @slayyypod.bsky.social · 22d

How important is it to you that your students sound “native-like?” Take a listen to episode 25 for considerations when it comes to teaching pronunciation!

rss.com/podcasts/sla...

Ep. 25: SLAyyy Pronunciation Pedagogy | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

SLAyyy: Second Language Acquisition for Everyone WebsiteGaslightEverything Will Work Out in the End (Maybe?)The Critical PeriodRelationship to One’s Own AccentGatekeep - Vijay A Ramjattan, Imagining ...

rss.com

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Reposted by Ben Fisher-Rodriguez

Adrian Neibauer @mrneibauer.bsky.social · 22d

It is important to not mistake the demands of the job for your real work in the classroom. Show up for the students in ways that count the most and that the system can’t measure. That’s where your agency lives. Where your work matters most. #EdChat #EduSky

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