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¿Quieres planear tu próxima unidad sin caer en el “más de lo mismo”?

En este episodio te llevo paso a paso por cómo diseño una unidad comunicativa, usando el idioma como vehículo para explorar el mundo, no como el objetivo en sí.

Te comparto el marco de Creciendo con Competencia que utilizo —un enfoque que va más allá de enseñar estructuras sueltas— para ayudarte a crear experiencias con sentido, con intención y con propósito comunicativo.

Este episodio nace de una sesión de Planeando Juntos en la Academia, donde una profe preguntó:
¿Qué puedo hacer con mis estudiantes de Español 3 y 4 en mayo?

Usamos el 5 de mayo como ejemplo, pero lo que verás aquí aplica a cualquier unidad cultural o temática que tú quieras explorar en clase.

🔍 En este episodio descubrirás:

• Cómo partir de una idea poderosa (no de una lista de vocabulario)
• Por qué es clave definir el lenguaje funcional, no solo palabras temáticas
• Qué significa tener un can-do realista y comunicativo
• Cómo estructuro mi ciclo de instrucción para mantener el input al centro
• La importancia de cerrar con reflexión y conexión, no solo con actividades finales

📣 ¿Y la sorpresa?

Del 12 al 19 de mayo abriré una experiencia gratuita de 7 días dentro de la Academia.
Podrás explorar una unidad completa del currículum Creciendo, ver cómo la aplico paso a paso y obtener ideas prácticas para cerrar tu año con intención.

🎟️ Únete a la lista de espera → http://growingwithproficiency.com/academy

Más recursos:

📕 Recurso de Cinco de Mayo

🏪 Tienda de TPT

🎧 Episodio 145: Read and Draw with a Twist: How Hieroglyphics Can Boost Comprehension

Looking for a Text about Cinco de Mayo for Your Class? 🎉

Are you looking for a compelling, engaging text to teach your students about Cinco de Mayo, along with ready-to-use activities? I’ve got you covered!

Head over to growingwithproficiency.com/cincodemayo and grab your copy today!

✅ Simple, high-quality text
✅ Activities that will keep your students engaged
✅ Perfect for

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In this episode of Growing with Proficiency, we dive into a creative twist on the classic Read and Draw activity that takes student comprehension to the next level! We share an innovative classroom strategy that transforms how students engage with texts, using hieroglyphics-inspired symbols to boost memory, collaboration, and creativity. Learn how this activity, backed by research showing drawing nearly doubles recall, encourages students to replace words with illustrations, fostering deeper text understanding without the pressure of artistic skills.

From group challenges to lively peer discussions, discover how students reimagined a story from the Creciendo curriculum, swapping symbols and retelling narratives with enthusiasm. Packed with practical tips, this episode is perfect for educators looking to refresh reading activities while keeping comprehension and engagement front and center. Tune in for actionable ideas.

Resources

🏫 Join our waitlist for Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy
👩🏽‍💻 Our Blog: Growing With Proficiency
📥 Free Lesson: Animales en Desastres Naturales
📲 Join our free FB Community: Growing With CI
📳 Follow us on social: IG @claudiamelliott | FB @claudiamelliott
🖇️ TPT Store: Growing With Proficiency

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AI tools are popping up everywhere — but can we use them in a way that still aligns with second language acquisition and communication-centered teaching?

In this episode, I’m walking you through how I use AI — especially ChatGPT — in my Spanish classroom without losing the heart of what we do as CI teachers. I’ll share the 5 tools I actually use (and how I stack them), plus the mindset I bring into every lesson to make sure my students get compelling, comprehensible, and connected input.

Whether you're new to AI or already experimenting with it, this episode will give you ideas, inspiration, and lots of teacher-to-teacher encouragement.

💡 Here’s what you’ll hear:

• Why AI can support (not replace) your teaching
  
  
• How I use Voice Control for ChatGPT to co-create texts that are meaningful and level-appropriate
  
  
• My exact workflow for stacking 4 AI tools to save time and still create quality input
  
  
• Tips for using Gamma, Mote, Quizziz, QuestionWell, and Diffit
  
  
• Why your voice, experience, and connection with students matter more than any tool

🛠️ Tools & Resources Mentioned:

• Free story: Los animales en los desastres naturales
  
  
• Gamma (Slide Deck Generator)
  
  
• Voice Control for ChatGPT (Chrome Extension)
  
  
• Mote for Voice Support
  
  
• Quizziz Game-Based Review
  
  
• QuestionWell AI Quiz Builder
  
  
• Diffit – AI Resource Builder for Teachers

📣 Let’s Stay Connected

If this episode was helpful, share it with a language teacher friend or tag me on Instagram @claudiamelliott.

💌 And if you’re a Spanish teacher, don’t forget to join the waitlist for Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy at growingwithproficiency.com/academy — so you’re the first to know when doors open again!

🎙️ Do your students love animals?
Yeah… I already know the answer.
Because if there’s one thing that gets every single one of my students to say “aww” or light up with a smile… it’s animals. 🐶🐱🐘

Now imagine combining that universal love with a real-world topic like natural disasters—and boom 💥—you’ve got a compelling, ready-to-use lesson that sparks curiosity and builds empathy.

At

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Welcome back to Growing With Proficiency The Podcast! In today’s episode, we’re diving into Picture Talk—a classic strategy that many of us use occasionally… but what if it became part of your weekly routine?

When reimagined as a sustainable and student-led practice, Picture Talk can provide meaningful input, spark student curiosity, and support communication—all with one powerful image.

In this episode, I’m sharing exactly how I use one image across different levels and for multiple days, all while keeping prep simple and language use at the center of my classroom.

Whether you’re in a season when energy is low or you’re just looking for something consistent and effective, this episode will guide you through step-by-step ways to make Picture Talk work for you and your students.

Highlights:

What Is Picture Talk?
A quick overview of this input-rich strategy and why it fits all levels.

Why Picture Talk Works Year-Round
From September to April, there are always stretches when engagement drops—Picture Talk helps keep the conversation going.

5 Ways to Stretch One Image Across the Week
From co-creating stories to reusing texts, these strategies help you build routines without more planning.

Tips to Keep It Student-Led
Use questioning, retelling, and real-world connections to invite students to do the heavy lifting.

Differentiation Made Simple
Use the same image with different language supports for novice and intermediate learners.

🎁 And yes—there’s a free resource ready for you:
Download the Animales en Desastres Naturales Picture Talk lesson
Perfect for Earth Day or any time you want to connect language to real-world themes.

Resources

🏫 Join our waitlist for Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy
👩🏽‍💻 Our Blog: Growing With Proficiency
📥 Free Lesson: Animales en Desastres Naturales
📲 Join our free FB Community: Growing With CI
📳 Follow us on social: IG @claudiamelliott | FB @claudiamelliott
🖇️ TPT Store: Growing With Proficiency

More Podcast Episodes to Support You:

🎧 Episode 47 – Ignite Curiosity With Images (with Chelsea Lawrence)
🎧 Episode 95 – What Is Story Asking and Why It Works

Don’t miss this episode—especially if you're looking for a way to simplify your week, provide rich input, and let students guide the learning process.

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In this episode of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I’m joined by three brilliant educators—Donna Tatum-Johns, Justin Slocum Bailey, and Erika Peplinski-Burge—for a real, honest, and insightful conversation straight from the heart of CI Mitten.

Together, we answer 6 of the most common questions world language teachers ask, like:
🎯 How can I get my upper-level students to actually speak in class?
🧠 How do I juggle multiple preps without burning out?
🎭 What if I’m tired of feeling like a performer?
🧩 How do I support neurodiverse learners in a CI classroom?
🤝 What if my department isn’t on board with CI?
🌍 How can we advocate for our programs when cuts are everywhere?

You'll leave with tangible strategies, mindset shifts, and a deep reminder that you’re not alone in this work. 💛

Whether you’re new to CI or a seasoned teacher, this episode is packed with inspiration, practical ideas, and lots of love for our community.

Resources:

GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List

Growing With CI FB Community

Blog post

IG

TPT Store

Looking for a Text about Cinco de Mayo for Your Class? 🎉

Are you looking for a compelling, engaging text to teach your students about Cinco de Mayo, along with ready-to-use activities? I’ve got you covered!

Head over to growingwithproficiency.com/cincodemayo and grab your copy today!

✅ Simple, high-quality text
✅ Activities that will keep your students engaged
✅ Perfect for

Send us a text

¿Sientes que el fin de año escolar viene lleno de cansancio y falta de energía? 😮‍💨 En este episodio, te comparto dos estructuras que han transformado mis clases en esta época: las estaciones y las rotaciones.

Te explico cómo implementarlas paso a paso, qué tipo de actividades funcionan mejor, cómo organizar el tiempo, y cómo usar tu contenido existente (¡sin tener que crear todo desde cero!). También te doy ideas concretas para fomentar la autonomía, la colaboración, y el compromiso real de tus estudiantes.

Además, te cuento cómo las rotaciones pueden ayudarte a cerrar tus unidades o consolidar todo lo que han aprendido durante el año.

🎧 Si quieres escuchar más sobre estaciones, no te pierdas el episodio en inglés. Haz clic acá.

💻 ¿Quieres las plantillas para hacer estaciones? Haz clic acá para bajarlas.

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Last week in Episode 139, I shared the 4 biggest takeaways from SCOLT — and today, I’m showing you how those ideas come to life with 4 powerful classroom strategies grounded in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research. 💡

In this episode, I’m breaking down 4 engaging, easy-to-implement strategies that are already working right now in my classroom — and they might be just what you need to re-ignite joy and purpose in yours!

Here’s what you’ll hear:

✨ “No me digas” – The reading game that sparks connection and joy

🧠 Story Mapping for Deeper Comprehension. This flexible strategy from Kaleb Hayat helps students re-read, organize meaning, and work together with intention.

📊 Let Students Choose Their Rubric. Learn how Liza Hyatt and Joanna Jiménez are letting students self-select rubrics based on ACTFL proficiency levels — without lowering the bar.

🌎 Calendar Talk with Purpose. I share 3 specific ways to level up Calendar Talk and build global knowledge in the TL. From Earth Day to National Poetry Month, you’ll get concrete ideas you can use this week.

🎁 Mentioned Resources:

• Episode 139: The 4 Big Takeaways
  
  
• Episode with Maris Hawkins on ACTFL Descriptors
  
  
• AnneMarie Chase on Low-Stress Assessments
  
  
• Full Calendar Talk Episode
  
  
• My April 2025 Calendar Talk
  
  
• 7 Natural Wonders YouTube Video
  
  

🧡 If this episode helps you, please share it with a language teacher friend or tag me on Instagram @claudiamelliott. And if you’re a Spanish teacher, join the waitlist for Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy to be the first to know when doors open again!

Let’s keep creating joyful, communicative classrooms — one strategy at a time. 🙌

🎉 FREE RESOURCE FOR LANGUAGE TEACHERS!

“10 Ready-to-Use Station Activities to Keep Students Engaged!”

✅ Reading & Easy Tasks – Print & go!
✅ Engaging & Interactive – Keep students focused!
✅ Low-Prep & Time-Saving – Less work!

Perfect for those moments when students seem more distracted than ever.

👉 Grab Your Free Resource Now!

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Have you ever needed a reminder of why this work matters? In this episode, I’m sharing the powerful moments from SCOLT 2025 that filled my teacher heart — and why what we do in the classroom matters just as much as how we make students feel.

From hallway conversations to keynote quotes that made me tear up, this episode goes beyond strategies and into the why behind the work. And yes, I’m also sharing two easy, movement-based activities you can try with your students tomorrow! 😉

Key Takeaways:

🔥 Passion = "I pass on" – everything we do ripples
💕 Love is the foundation for a safe classroom
🌟 Joy is an intentional choice
💪 Growth takes consistency, discipline, and community
🕺 Try a silent PQA with movement & connection
👯‍♀️ Turn & Talk with a twist: talk = movement, listen = freeze!

🧠 Looking for a great resource for Día de la Tierra?
📖 Grab this class story about los animales en desastres naturales – perfect for comprehension and discussion!
👉Here

Resources & Links Mentioned:

📌 Learn more about the Spanish Teacher Academy:
https://growingwithproficiency.com/academy

📸 Instagram: @claudiamelliott
📘 Facebook: Growing With CI Community

If this episode spoke to your heart, please leave a review and share it with another language teacher who might need the reminder: you're not behind — you're becoming. 💛

🎧 Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where I’ll share many strategies I learned at SCOLT!