Making it work

     There have been several sources of inspiration for me as I move towards more Spanish in my Spanish classes.  The first is TPRS.  I like TPRS because it provides Comprehensible Input.  My students found it silly, though, and did not appreciate it at all.
     Two years ago I attended a workshop on making the 90% target, and I got some good ideas (though not many have stuck).  The next year, I decided to try to meet the goal.  I taught my students phrases to ask for help, and then proceeded to do everything the same, sticking to my textbook, except do it in Spanish.  I found out that you (I) can't make such a fundamental shift and keep everything else the same.
     Last year I attended an OWL workshop at OFLA, and there I got tools that made sense.  I know what my students need to know, and I don't have to rely on a text to guide me.  I am building a Spanish speaking community in my classroom, and using Spanish to do it.
     Today, my 8th grade students started to work in small groups on projects, and they worked together in English.  It sounded so odd!  I wondered if I should insist that they speak Spanish to each other even as they worked on their project and conducted research in English.  I think I can be comfortable with it this time.  I will definitely take time on Monday to talk to each other, review vocabulary, and add to our list.
     I visited Anne Weldon's Spanish II classes today also, and shared my experiences of the Camino de Santiago with them.  I shared two important lessons I learned on the Camino:  Trust (the arrow will be there!), and Pay Attention (you have to watch for it!).  Very important lessons that I carry with me and recall often, and need to be reminded of from time to time as well.  What a gift experience is, and what a gift we can make of it!
     I need to pay attention to what my students are doing, and how they are doing it.  I need to trust what I am seeing, and take appropriate action.  I am the one who gives me permission to try things in my class, and I can take responsibility for what works and have the responsibility to change what does not.  It is OK if I don't know everything now.  I am a learner, too.