The Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers

Volume 32 Number 4

Affiliated with the Southwest Conference on Language Teaching, the Central States Conference and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

IN THIS ISSUE
Presidents Letter
Board of Directors Spring Conference Flyer CCFLT Awards Nomination Form Spring 2014 Presentation Proposal Form German Embassy Teacher of Excellence Fall 2013 Conference Flyer

ou dont know what you dont know until you hear something you didnt know! We just finished with our first CCFLT Mini-Workshop on SB 191 and what it means for World Language teachers. I thought I knew what SB 191 was about and what it means for me as a teacher and my evaluation. Anna Crockers presentation was chocked full of inside information on SB 191. It was an informative morning spent with 12 others who want to be able to prove that they are great teachers to those who evaluate them. CCFLT is here to help you be the best teacher you can be. We want to be the people you go to in order to get informed about world language teaching and related issues. In that vane, we, the CCFLT Board, are trying to reach as many Colorado language teachers as possible by helping to facilitate MiniWorkshops. We would like to offer Mini-Workshops all over Coloradobut to do so we need your help and expertise! We are looking for Board Ambassadors to step-up and help coordinate MiniWorkshops throughout the state, especially in areas not on the Front Range. We realize it is often hard for the teachers who live more than an hour away from the Front Range to make it to our events. We want to help you organize events in your area! contd...

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Why Serve?
State Advocacy Team Update Essay Contest Form Video Contest Form Teacher Tips Technology World Language Day

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2014 Central States Conference Flyer

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Register Online for the Spring Conference beginning October 6

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Presidents Letter contd...

What is a Board Ambassador? A Board Ambassador is someone who:

is passionate about collaborating with other World Language teachers. is willing to present on a topic they are comfortable with or help find a presenter. can secure a location to hold a Mini-Workshop (a school library or classroom works great). will be the on-site contact for the event prior to and on the day of (if a CCFLT Board member cannot be present). will receive a special certificate acknowledging the time spent on helping to promote professional development for other teachers!

CCFLTs commitment to the Board Ambassadors is to:

help reach-out to teachers in your area to invite them to the Mini-Workshop. advertise the Mini-Workshop to all our membership. handle the registration and paperwork. provide certificates of attendance and CDE certificates.

support in anyway possible to make the event successful.

If you are interested in being a Board Ambassador, please contact me at bleessccflt@yahoo.com and lets get something going! And, by the way, these Mini-Workshops are in addition to our annual Fall and Spring Conferences! See page 6 if youre interested in submitting a session proposal for our Spring Conference! We hope to see you a lot this year!

Sincerely, Cristin Bleess CCFLT President bleessccflt@yahoo.com

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Officers Cristin Bleess, President Debbie Cody, Past-President Diana Noonan, President-Elect
Congress of Foreign Language Teachers Published Quarterly August, October, January, April www.ccflt.org Julie Doyle, Editor julieannedoyle@live.com Have a question about dues? Please email Kristen Boehm CCFLT Executive Secretary: execsec@ccflt.org Advertising rates and policies: You are invited to advertise in the CCFLT Newsletter. Commercial ads, which support the mission of CCFLT and are of interest to the profession, including tour and book ads, are accepted for the following rates: Size of ad Charge Size of Copy Full Page $250 (7 X 9) Half Page $125 (7 X4) Half page $125 (3 X 9) Quarter Page $75 (3 X 4) Prices indicate a one-time submission in the newsletter. If you have questions regarding appropriate software or design files for ads, contact the Editor at julieannedoyle@live.com Advance payment is appreciated. Make checks payable to CCFLT and send to: Kristen Boehm, CCFLT Executive Secretary P.O. Box 270065 Louisville, CO 800279998 If you would like to pay for your advertising using a credit card, use the following link and passcode http://www.regonline.com/ newsletteradvertfees Code: ccfltadvert For questions on advertising costs, email execsec@ccflt.org

Castle View HS South HS Denver Public Schools

bleessccflt@yahoo.com codydebbie@hotmail.com diana_noonan@dpsk12.org

Elementary and Secondary Representatives Jenny Beltman Lisa Bloomer Amy Flynn Becky Loftus Deborah Ormsby Kristy Swartwood Heather Witten Post-Secondary Representatives Fawzia Ahmad Alice Meyers Courtney Fell* At-Large Representatives Teresa McNeil* Jian Lin Non-Voting Appointed Members Kristen Boehm Julie Doyle Susan Murray-Carrico Executive Secretary Newsletter Editor Web Master execsec@ccflt.org julieannedoyle@live.com susan.murray@asd20.org Colorado Springs District 11 Denver Language School teresa.mcneil@d11.org jianlin1231@yahoo.com USAFA/DCSD US Air Force Academy CU Boulder fawzia.ahmad@ucdenver.edu Alice.Meyer@usafa.edu courtney.fell@colorado.edu East Grand Middle School jbeltman@egsd.org Pine Creek HS Bear Creek HS Oberon MS lisa.bloomer@asd20.org aflynn@jeffco.k12.co.us rloftus@jeffco.k12.co.us

The International School deborah.c.ormsby@adams12.org Englewood MS Elizabeth HS kdswartwood@gmail.com hwitten@esdk12.org

*Replacing Board members who resigned after one-year of a two-year term.

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Register Online for the Spring Conference beginning October 6

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CCFLT 2014 Spring Conference Awards Program

We want to make it even easier for you to acknowledge a fellow teacher with a special recognition award. The person in your department who goes above and beyond! The one who always develops innovative and exciting activities for students! The teacher who has increased enrollment and has led the way to academic excellence! Express your appreciation, your admiration, and your gratitude by nominating him or her for a CCFLT Special Recognition Award that will be presented at the Spring Conference next year. Only teachers who have been CCFLT members for a full year prior to nomination may qualify for an award; members of the Board of Directors are not eligible.

The Genevieve Overman Memorial Service Award Presented to a world language educator for dedicated and long service to the teaching profession, as well as commitment and leadership in serving CCFLT. The New Educator Award Presented to a world language educator in the first five years of teaching, who exhibits a great deal of potential in developing ideas for world language education. The Kris Wells Memorial Creativity Award Presented to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional creativity and innovation in the field of world languages, whether teaching, administration, or materials development. The Excellence in Teaching Award Presented to a world language educator who has excelled in classroom instruction.

The Friend of Foreign Languages Award Presented to an individual or group from outside the world language teaching profession who has made significant contributions to the teaching and learning of world languages. New Teacher Scholarship 2 scholarships will be awarded to new World Language teachers (in their first 3 years of teaching) to attend the CCFLT Spring Conference in February, 2014. Program Leadership Award Presented to a world language educator who has provided exceptional leadership and innovation in programs beyond the classroom level.

Please create one Word document in which you include the following: 1. a cover page with the required information given below 2. a letter of nomination of two pages or less 3. a maximum of three letters of support of one page each. The cover page must include the following information:

About the nominee: Nominees name, Award category, School, Years of teaching experience, Phone (H), Phone (W), Address, City, State, ZIP, Email About the nominator: Nominators name, Phone (H), Phone (W), Address, City, State, ZIP, Email About the nominees supervisor: Supervisors name, Title, Phone (W), Email address, School, School address, City, State, ZIP, School district name

Combine these components into ONE document and send it as an email attachment to The CCFLT Grants and Awards Committee at grants_awards@ccflt.org. In the message line, write: CCFLT Awards Nomination and attach the electronic copy of your nomination packet. Winners will be presented a plaque at the 2014 Spring Conference Awards Luncheon. Applications must be received by December 1, 2013.

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Submit a Proposal to Present a Session at the 2014 Spring Conference

In order to have a successful conference, we need YOU to present a session! Our conferences have always been great due to the wonderful teachers in Colorado who are willing to share their ideas and successes with world language teaching. We are accepting proposals in the following areas: Methods/Techniques, Assessment, Culture, Technology, Curriculum and Articulation, Language for Specific Purposes/Using Spanish in the Real World, and Research. Proposals must be submitted by November 15th. Weve made it easier than ever for you to submit a proposal with a new online form (or go to http://tinyurl.com/session-proposal) to become a presenter! All presenters will receive a certificate acknowledging their contribution to the professional development of world language teachers in Colorado. If you have questions, please contact Cristin Bleess at bleessccflt@yahoo.com.

Call for Student Volunteers for the CCFLT Spring Conference

Do you work with undergraduate or graduate students in the foreign languages?

Encourage them to volunteer at the CCFLT Spring Conference Friday, February 21st and Saturday, February 22nd, 2014

Duties for student volunteers include everything from setting up booths and materials to greeting conference guests. In exchange for their assistance, the volunteers attend the conference and 2+ conference sessions on that day at no charge. Contact the CCFLT Volunteer Committee Chair (Courtney.Fell@colorado.edu) for more information!

Student volunteers do not have to be members of the CCFLT, but we do encourage them to take advantage of the discounted annual student membership price of $20/year http://www.ccflt.org/newmember.htm

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my Flynn, German teacher at Bear Creek High School has been awarded the German Embassy Teacher of Excellence Award. The German Embassy Teacher of Excellence Award is given by the German Embassy Washington, in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut and the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG). It recognizes up-and-coming teachers who employ modern teaching methods, use learner-centered instruction, communication-based instruction, new media in instruction, intercultural connections and proficiency-based assessment. The award is given to only 3 U.S. teachers each year. The prize includes a 2 week stay in Germany to take a professional development course and a trip to the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Convention in Orlando this November to accept the award.

Be sure to visit ACTFL Awards page and read about their numerous awards!

ACTFL Edwin Cudecki Award for Support for Language Education ACTFL-MLJ Emma Marie Birkmaier Award for Doctoral Dissertation Research in Foreign Language Education ACTFL Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Instruction Using Technology with IALLT (K-12) ACTFL/Cengage Learning Faculty Development Programs Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Instruction Using Technology with IALLT (Postsecondary) ACTFL-NYSAFLT Anthony Papalia Award for Excellence in Teacher Education ACTFL-MLJ Paul Pimsleur Award for Research in Foreign Language Education ACTFL Florence Steiner Award for Leadership in Foreign Language Education (K-12) ACTFL Wilga Rivers Award for Leadership in Foreign Language Education (Postsecondary) ACTFL Melba D. Woodruff Award for Exemplary Elementary Foreign Language Program

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Onsite Registration still available for the Fall Conference

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CCFLT 2013 Fall Conference

Are you on Target? How to Maintain 90% Target Language in the Classroom

CTFL set an ambitious goal for teachers and students to use the target language in the classroom 90% of the time. This goal is supported by current research on the value of using the target language almost exclusively; however, attaining this goal can certainly be challenging for both students and teachers. This full-day, interactive workshop will be filled with engaging and effective strategies to help all teachers and students maximize their use of the target language and reach or exceed the 90% mark. This workshop will address a variety of topics including teacher strategies for staying in the target language, encouraging students to use the target language, approaches to grammar instruction in the target language, reconsidering curriculum design, using technology to stay in the target language, differentiation, and assessment. For each topic, participants will learn proven strategies that they can use immediately in their classrooms. By the end of the workshop, over 50 strategies will be presented!

The goal is that teachers will feel empowered to increase their use of the target language and will leave with a specific plan for how they can reach this goal.

Participants will have ample opportunity to discuss the strategies and ideas as well as address concerns or questions. A focus of this workshop will be how participants can realistically apply this information in their classrooms. The goal is that teachers will feel empowered to increase their use of the target language and will leave with a specific plan for how they can reach this goal. About the Presenter Rebekah Stathakis is a National Board Certified Teacher, author, and awardwinning presenter. She has taught immersion classes for children as young as 12 months old and currently works with college students; however, Rebekah particularly enjoys teaching at the middle-school level. She has been honored with many educational awards including a 2006 national Disney Teacher award, which recognizes creativity and innovation in teaching. Previous attendees have commented on Rebekahs warm and comprehensive presentation style and the wide variety of games, activities and ideas provided. Onsite Registration still available for the Fall Conference

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Are you interested in serving on the CCFLT Board of Directors? Do you know a colleague who might be? Serving on the Board provides great opportunities for networking, collegiality, giving back to your profession, and most of all, FUN. To express your interest in running in the next election, to nominate a colleague, or to get more information, please contact: Fawzia Ahmad : (fawzia.ahmad@ucdenver.edu) I look forward to hearing from you.

Why Serve on the CCFLT Board?

The Board of Directors positions, which last for two academic years, give members the opportunity to: Practice Communication skills in at least two languages Promote Connections at state, regional, and nations levels Make Friendships all over the state Gain Leadership and professional growth opportunities Share Teaching tips, experiences and concerns

The responsibilities include:

Serve for two academic years (beginning the May after you are elected) Attend monthly meetings from August to May Attend fall retreat in August (2 days, 1 overnight) Work at the Spring Conference Serve on a minimum of two committees; one Standing and one Spring Conference committee Chair a committee in your second year

Reimbursements and benefits include:

Up to twelve hours CDE recertification credit All phone calls Mileage at 25 cents per mile Spring Conference registration and two luncheon meals Fall Conference registration Certificates for volunteer hours Easy to nominate yourself Build statewide networking connections

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CCFLT and ACTFL State Advocacy Team Update Last November, at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Assembly of Delegates ACTFL Executive Director Marty Abbott asked state representatives to be part of a nationwide advocacy effort by serving on a state advocacy team. Several Colorado teachers present joined this effort including CCFLT Past-Presidents Anna Crocker & Debbie Cody, current CCFLT President Cristin Bleess, Mary Vogel, Beth Brown, Liberty Husky, Maureen Richards, Noah Geisel, Jian Lin, Diana Noonan, and 2013 ACTFL President Toni Theisen. Throughout the year, the team members participated in quarterly conference calls with Marty Abbott of ACTFL and Dan Davidson from the Board of Directors of the Joint National Committee on Languages (JNCL). The January call had 97 people registered with 47 participating live during the call. The participation has increased and the interest is helping build a force for language advocacy across the country. There are contacts from all 50 states. As a result of these calls, there have been positive communications from staff members of senators and representatives. Your representatives on the CCFLT Board of Directors to the Advocacy / Outreach Committee are Amy Flynn and Kristy Swatwood. They represent CCFLT on all levels of advocacy. Due to my past involvement with ACTFL having served on the Board of Directors for 8 years and as the 2009 President I am in close contact with ACTFL and their efforts to advocate on behalf of CCFLT. My position is an appointment and non-voting and I will work with Amy and Kristy. Our job is to stay abreast of and report on legislative actions affecting world language education. We will work together to move our language agenda forward in the state of Colorado. Please contact Amy or Kristy with your questions or concerns. I encourage everyone to go to the ACTFL website Advocacy tab and follow up with the latest Action Alert. ACTFL has made it very easy and helpful for you to reach out to our state legislators using the Take Action button. There is a form letter that you can either just sign or you can customize the letter as it fits your school or district needs. You just add you zip code and it automatically is sent to the offices of Colorado U.S. Senators and Representatives. You will receive a reply indicating receipt of your letter and a promise to read your email (or letter) do their best to get you a timely response addressing your thoughts and concerns. Janine Erickson, Colorado State Advocacy Team Leader

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18th Annual CCFLT Student Essay Contest

Students are our best voices for world language education! CCFLT is seeking student essays in the students target language for the annual student essay contest. Winning essays will be posted at the CCFLT Spring Conference and may be shared with representatives and senators to make them aware of the voices of their young constituents. Each sponsoring teacher must be a current member of CCFLT. Each teacher may only submit up to three (3) essays. Elementary and middle school/junior high winners will receive $25, while high school and university winners will receive $50; winners also receive a certificate commemorating their accomplishment. One winner will be selected for elementary, middle school/junior high, high school and university levels. The teachers of the winning students will be invited to attend the 2014 Spring Conference Awards Luncheon to accept the award on behalf of their students. The topic reflects the theme of the CCFLT 2014 Spring Conference The Real World of Real Languages Elementary and Middle/Junior High: Write a story or essay in your target language that exemplifies/illustrates the importance of knowing another language in the real world. High School and University: Write an essay in your target language that reflects on a personal experience that exemplifies/ illustrates the importance of knowing another language in the real world. Deadline for submissions is December 1, 2013. Length and presentation: One page maximum, typed, double spaced Times New Roman font, 12-point font size Written in the target language with attention to the rubric below Cover sheet to include: Students name Students grade level (i.e., French, 3rd grade) Students age Students address, phone number Sponsoring teachers name Name of school School address Send essays to grants_awards@ccflt.org Essays must arrive by December 1, 2013 By entering the contest, all participants acknowledge that CCFLT has their permission to edit and use their entries as deemed appropriate to the purpose of the contest.

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18th Annual CCFLT Student Essay Contest Rubric

Strong
Ideas and Content (development) Clear and focused, holds readers attention. Relevant anecdotes/details enrich central theme. Organization enhances/showcases central idea/ theme. Order, structure/ presentation of information is compelling/moves reader through text. Writer speaks directly to reader in individual, compelling and engaging way. Crafted with awareness/respect for audience/ purpose Conveys intended message in precise, interesting and natural way. Words are powerful/engaging Easy flow, rhythm and cadence; strong varied structure Spelling, grammar, punctuation have few errors Form/presentation enhance message

Developing
Writer is beginning to define the topic, even though development is still basic or general Organizational structure is strong enough to move the reader through the text without much confusion.

Not yet
Paper has no clear sense of purpose. Details are sketchy or missing, Requires much inference Writing lacks clear sense of direction. Ideas, details or events seem strung together in loose or random fashion; no identifiable internal structure. Writer seems indifferent, uninvolved, or distanced from topic and/or audience.

Students Assessment S D NY

Organization

NY

Voice

Writer seems sincere but not fully engaged or involved. Result is pleasant or even personable, but not compelling. Language is functional but lacks energy. Easy to figure out the meaning on a general level. More pleasant than musical; more mechanical than fluid. Errors are distracting and impair readability Message is understandable in format

NY

Word Choice

Writer demonstrates limited vocabulary.

NY

Sentence Fluency

Choppy, incomplete, rambling or awkward

Conventions

Presentation

Errors repeatedly distract reader and make text difficult to read Garbled message relating to presentation

NY

NY

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CCFLT 2014 STUDENT VIDEO CONTEST FORM:

This is a fantastic opportunity for your students to create a 2-minute video of themselves in a conversation with another student. The conversation should reflect the theme of the 2014 CCFLT Spring Conference The Real World of World Languages. Pairs of students will create, present, and record an original conversation. They may determine the topic of their conversation, but they should demonstrate ACTFLs Communication standard: the use of language for communication in real life situations, "what students can do with language rather than what they know about language. A certificate and a $10 gift card will be awarded in each language at each level of language and school to students who create the best video according to the rubric. All students will receive a certificate for participating. Only teachers who are members of CCFLT may submit entries. Each teacher is allowed to send 1 video per language, per level of school (elementary/middle/high school/university). We are only able to accept presentations in a digital format (e.g. DVD or a file sent via email). *New this year a student permission form (available on the CCFLT website) is required from each student participating to allow the CCFLT to showcase the student videos at our spring conference. Please fill out the entry form below and attach it to your DVD or via email. Date________________________ Teacher Name & Contact Information (email and phone) _________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ School & District _________________________________________________________________________________ Students Names ________________________________________________________________________________ Students Level of School (circle) elementary | middle/junior high | high school | university Language __________________________________________________________________ Title of Video _______________________________________________________________

Please submit this form along with your video entry AND student permission form (on CCFLT website) to the CCFLT Grants and Awards Committee at grants_awards@ccflt.org Deadline: December 1st, 2013 In the message line, write: CCFLT Awards Nomination
DVDs can be picked up at the close of the Spring Conference

For further information see the following on the CCFLT website: Checklist Scoring Rubric Student Release Form (to play videos at spring conference)

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How to Write Learning Objectives

I would like to use Stiggins words as the statement in the Learning Tips of this week -- Students can hit any target that they can see and holds still for them (2010). What learning targets are and how to use them with students in class are not new topics to educators. According to Paul Black and Dylan William, students will gain significantly through learning if teachers provide them with clear learning goals (1998). This concept is as simple as a driver who begins with a destination in mind before going. That is what we always talk about when planning backwards. Backward Design requires teachers to know their students learning destinations or learning targets before teaching. Learning targets reflect what students should know, understand, and be able to do as desired outcomes in each lesson daily. At the beginning of this school year, I asked all teachers to write daily learning objectives/targets on the board for students and themselves. Based on my observations, many of my teachers have done a good job in displaying the learning targets/objectives everyday in their classes. However, some of them still do not quite understand why Students can hit any target that they we need to write learning targets, how to write and use can see and holds still for them. learning targets with students in class, what are the differences between standards and learning targets, etc. I would like to share my understanding here in supporting our teachers to create daily learning targets for their instruction. What are the differences between standards and learning targets? Standards are provided by the state and derived from the National Standards (new Common Core State Standards CCSS). They indicate what our students should be able to know and do at the end of any given time. Learning targets are developed based on state standards and are used in student- friendly language tied to specific lessons for the day. Learning targets are also directly connected to formative and summative assessments.

Figure 1: Standards vs. Learning Targets

Standards 1.1.a: Count by ones for war d and backwar d from 1 to 120, and count by 2s, 5s, and 10s to 100 Learning Targets (Daily) I can count by 1s forward from 1 to 100 I can count by 1s backward from 50 to 1 I can count by 2s to 100

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How to Write Learning Objectives contd..

Before writing learning targets, teachers should examine relevant state standards related to the unit and understand the correlations between standards and skills. When writing learning targets, teachers should use student-friendly language in written-lines on the board, and verbalize and model exactly what students should know, understand, and be able to do by the end of each day (See Figure 1: Standards vs. Learning Targets). Once students understand their learning targets, they will be more actively engage in learning. Teachers should allow students to monitor their learning and hold them accountable for it. Since learning targets must align to the standard, they should be consistent and modified based on the needs of students. As I mentioned earlier, learning targets should be designed daily instead of posting unit learning targets for a couple of days or a week. Learning targets should be specific and focused on the learning for that day to check for student understanding. The goal of sharing learning targets with students is to empower every student and ensure each one becomes a full learning partner. Jian Lin References: Black, P. & Willam, D. (1998). Assessment and Classroom. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice. (5) 1, p.7-74 Stiggins, R., Arter, J., Chappuis, J. & Chappuis, S. (2009). Classroom Assessment for Learning: Doing it right using it well. Columbus, OH: Allyn and Bacon

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OPEN DOORS TO OPPORTUNITIES!

Earn a Masters degree in French, German or Spanish at COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY Our Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures offers three options of M.A. degrees:
1. Literature, Language, and Culture (2-year program); 2. Interdisciplinary course of study, along with language concentration (2 -year program); 3. Joint M.A.s, one in Foreign Language and Literatures and one in English (TESL/TEFL) (three-

year joint program). Teaching assistantships available For highest consideration, please submit applications by February 1 Visit our website: http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/FLL/graduate.html

2013 Annual Convention and World Language Expo

November 22-24, 2013 Orlando, Florida (Pre-convention workshops, November 21) The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Annual Convention and World Languages Expo, where learning comes alive, features over 600 educational sessions covering a wide spectrum of the language profession addressing the theme New Spaces, New Realities: Learning Any Time, Any Place. More than 250 exhibiting companies will be showcasing the latest products and services for you and your students. The ACTFL Convention is an international event bringing together over 6,000 language educators from all languages, levels and assignments within the profession.

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Blogs: Powerful Reflection and Sharing Tools by Heather Witten

Three years ago, when I began flipping my Spanish classroom, I also began another project a blog. With a new classroom format, new students and all of the craziness that comes with the beginning of the school year, I realized that if I was going to keep track of my successes and failures in the classroom, I needed to start documenting them right away. I love my paper and pencil as much as anyone, but I wanted an electronic method to keep track not just of what was going on in my classroom, but online resources I found along the way. With very little knowledge about actual blogging, I jumped right in. I looked at a few other blogs for some ideas on the basics and set up a blog website. My writing was for my own reflection and documentation of my classroom when I began, so I just wrote without regard to anything else. I did not write on any set schedule, I wrote when I had something I wanted to get out and had the time. Frequently, while writing about the day-to-day of my classroom, solutions and ideas would reveal themselves. Blogging has also allowed me to vent my frustrations from the classroom in a productive way.

Frequently, while writing about the day-to-day of my classroom, solutions and ideas would reveal themselves

After a couple of months, something surprising happened. I received a comment on one of my posts! I was shocked. Someone was actually reading what I was writing? Now of course I knew that what I wrote was on the Internet, but honestly did not think that anyone would find what I had to say interesting enough to be bothered reading, let alone making a comment. With newfound purpose, I began to write more regularly and share my blog on websites and with other teachers. I write and share about sessions I attend at conferences such as CCFLT, ACTFL, AATSP and others so that teachers that are not fortunate enough to attend these great events can gain some insight into all of the great ideas shared at these events. As a result, not only do I have an archive of my day-to-day classroom and conference notes, I have a huge cadre of teachers that have helped me and/or been helped by what I have written.

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So now I issue the challenge to you, my fellow CCFLT members. Start a blog! Keep track of your ideas, successes and challenges, not because we have been mandated to reflect, but because we want to. We all want to continue to improve as teachers, and taking the time to share our classroom stories is a great way to do that. You will be surprised how helpful it can be, and I am sure when you start receiving comments and realizing that people from around the world have read your blog, it will empower you as it has empowered me. Where to begin Choose a platform I use Blogger which is a Google product, but WordPress is also another very popular platform. I am sure there are many others as well, but these are very user friendly. Set up a website for your blog It doesnt have to be anything fancy, but it should be something easy to remember and share. Look at other blogs for inspiration and ideas. Start writing Just write that first blog post. Write about what is going on in your classroom or what you are planning. Just dive in and get started. Share your blog We all learn so much from one another. Take your time to share what you are doing and what you have learned. Share on Edmodo, Edutopia, and other websites as well as in person. Read and follow other blogs Once your blog is up and running, you will see how easy it is to follow other blogs. Read and keep up with what other teachers are doing. Dont be afraid to reference their blogs in your posts. Reflection on what we as teachers do in our classroom is very important. Utilizing technology to help keep your reflections documented and organized is almost a necessity today with all of the demands of the classroom. A blog is a great tool not only for your reflections, but to share them with others. Please feel free to check out my blog at http://www.spanishflippedclass.blogspot.com/ and send me a link to your new blog. I cant wait to start sharing and learning with you!

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University of Northern Colorado WORLD LANGUAGE DAY April 16, 2014

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADOS DEPARTMENTS OF MODERN LANGUAGES AND HISPANIC STUDIES HOST WORLD LANGUAGE DAY
This daylong event includes competitions, workshops, cultural presentations and many other language immersion activities in which high school students throughout Colorado and Wyoming may participate. UNC has sponsored World Language Day for over 40 years and last year they welcomed over 1200 students and teachers. Competitions are scheduled for high school students in grades 9 through 12 in Spanish, French, German, and Chinese while cultural activities and entertainment are open to all attendees. The University of Northern Colorado will also award Outstanding World Language Teachers in recognition of their language teaching accomplishments. These awards will be presented at the teachers luncheon by the Departments of Modern Languages and Hispanic Studies to honor professional excellence among teachers of world languages in secondary schools. Please visit the WLD website at http://www.unco.edu/wld for additional information and to view photo galleries and videos of previous events.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

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