When I am planning and teaching lessons, I must ask myself .....Who am I doing this for?

The students who want to learn enough to test out of a language at the college level?

The students who want to learn enough test into a higher level so that they can take as many upper level courses as possible at the college level?

The students who have to pass the course in order to graduate from high school?

The students who have to pass the state test in order to graduate from high school?

The students who want to put this class on their college applications?

The students who may have the opportunity to use high school Spanish after graduation in their "real" lives?

The students who love language and linguistic studies?

The parents of the students above?

The others in my department so that when my students are in their classes those students will be successful?

The administrators who evaluate me?

The administrators who need "successful" data?

The administrators who are deciding how to allocate funds and resources in the district?

Those who think that studying a second language is an academic, personal and social growth experience?


No.

When I am planning, and teaching, I am thinking about the minds, hearts and souls in the seats in my classroom, who may, or may not, fall into one of the categories above.  But when I teach to a category, I reach no one.  When I teach to the individuals in my room, I reach, at least in some small way...everyone.

Why do I choose an activity?

In order to drench, dip, decorate, dunk, drape and dust their minds, hearts and souls in Comprehensible Language by creating situations that involve all their senses...including sense of humor.. 

I don't want the language and the class to be tolerable or funny or easy. 

I want it to be irresistible.

with love,
Laurie