State Superintendent Thurmond Launches Fundraising Campaign to Support Schools Affected by Wildfires

 The California Department of Education (CDE) is closely monitoring the ongoing wildfires in Southern California and our hearts go out to those impacted by this devastating event. The department’s Emergency Services Team is on hand to ensure schools receive the support they need to navigate this situation. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is urging Californians to come together to aid impacted students, families, educators, and school staff. Tax-deductible contributions can be made through the SupplyBank.org Disaster Relief Fund to help provide critical support such as housing assistance, food, clothing, and school supplies. Learn more about CDE’s emergency response and recovery efforts in the January 8, 2025, CDE news release.

Supply Bank:
https://supplybank.org/

New's Release:
https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr25/yr25rel02.asp

Incorporating Pop Culture: Using Bad Bunny's Short Film in the Classroom

Teaching cultural content through relatable and modern resources can make lessons more engaging and impactful for students. This week, I found more teachers on social media incorporting Bad Bunny's new short film into a lesson, and the results were fantastic. Aside from the palabrota that can be edited out, you'd might like to share with your class. Here's the short film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLSzEYVDads

Here’s how you can adapt this activity for your classroom:

1. Front-Loading with Context
Start with engaging, discussion-based questions in the target language to set the stage and activate prior knowledge. For a Level 1, you could use:

1. ¿Quién es Bad Bunny?

2. ¿De dónde es él?

3. ¿Cuántos años tiene él?

4. ¿Dónde está ubicada la Isla de Puerto Rico?

5. ¿Cuál es el animal nacional de los EE. UU.?

6. ¿Cuál es el animal nacional de Puerto Rico?

Use visuals to support these questions, such as a map of Puerto Rico, a photo of a coquí (Puerto Rico's national animal), and even a short video of a coquí at night to introduce students to its unique sound.

2. Viewing the Short Film
Play the short film, pausing at key moments to check comprehension and discuss the societal changes or themes portrayed. Encourage students to share their observations and reactions to deepen their understanding.

3. Connecting Culture and Identity
Discuss how the video reflects Puerto Rican culture and Bad Bunny’s perspective on identity and social issues. Compare and contrast these themes with those of other cultures to foster cross-cultural understanding.

4. Nostalgia
Here's a reflection from a friend of mine, Elda Acevedo, a Puerto Rican  teacher from Texas, explains why are Puerto Ricans and people alike are feeling nostalgic. Understanding Bad Bunny's "Debí tomar Más Fotos" short film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkCu9voo9-U

Why This Works:

Authenticity: Bad Bunny’s music and visuals reflect genuine Puerto Rican culture, offering an authentic learning experience.

Relatability: Using pop culture makes language and cultural lessons more relevant to students’ interests.

Engagement: Interactive discussions and novel resources keep students invested in the lesson.

Resources and interesting links below:

Rolling Stone:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bad-bunny-debi-tirar-mas-fotos-songs-stories-1235230482/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEoKWYAKCRC/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Bad Bunny Presentation by Cositas en Spanglish:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/u/1/d/1QD2OypP0XEtmpSDgoILYbI0vQCKpNlud2Zg6MKk_krg/copy?fbclid=IwY2xjawH1ZP9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXL8BFZvn8vSVO_xBHJKocllxthQUhIPk_ClghHj8-Cyfl3smOgeZemmyg_aem_K1CTOk6YDLwlP9XV8E4BiA#slide=id.g2d7ded926f9_2_75

Spanish & French Valentine's Day Activities

Spanish Poetry Writing Activities de Día de San Valentín o El Día del Amor y la Amistad

These six poetry templates are perfect for middle and high school Spanish classes, and can be adapted for any level! Great for bulletin board decorations as well -- get your students writing in Spanish and having fun!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spanish-Valentines-Day-Poetry-Activities-Dia-de-San-Valentin-2398765?st=5b981830adfe90b33712853cc59d30b5

Valentine's Day THIS OR THAT Jamboard Game in Spanish

Get ready to unleash engagement, talking, and interaction in the target language with your students with this THIS OR THAT Spanish Valentines Day game. I do this every year and it's an excellent way to spice up your class. THIS OR THAT helps students get to know each other and feel more comfortable participating. It also provides you the opportunity to connect with each one. This THIS OR THAT game is fully in Spanish

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentines-Day-Spanish-THIS-OR-THAT-Jamboard-Game-6556448?st=feb375834e5335631e2b9963be912bc5

Sant Valentin Vocabulary Activities en français

Love is in the air! Why not capitalize on all the festivities with a little sweet French Valentine vocabulary enrichment for your students?

This resource includes a list of 25 Valentine's Day themed vocabulary words in French with 7 different fun practice sheets. You can use all these versatile activities in a single instructional day, parcel them out as bell-ringers/morning work, or as a complete sub pan!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/French-Valentines-DaySant-Valentin-Vocabulary-ActivitiesEmergency-Sub-Lesson-10788181?st=e184430f31ab91af5e760e23b8ebee1b

La Saint-Valentin | French Phonics Board Games | French Vowel Sounds 

Do your French Immersion students need more practice with simple French vowel sounds? Are you looking for ways to provide extra practice blending and decoding French consonant/vowel patterns?

This set of French Phonics board games is perfect for working on "la conscience phonologique". Featuring 7 board games, each one has students practice blending consonants with the vowel sounds: a - e - i - o - u - é.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/La-Saint-Valentin-French-Phonics-Board-Games-French-Vowel-Sounds-9022413?st=0e99c86d2fde4530c6bb1228c72c4a9e

 A French Friendship Activity for Valentine’s Day

They love this activity and keep the papers for the whole year.

I give each student 10 peel off address labels. They come 30 to a sheet. I project a list of the names of students in the class on the screen.

On each label, each student writes the name of a student and a compliment in the target language for the 10 students whose names follow his on the list. Then they write a compliment for each of these 10 students and sign their name. You can practice ahead of time or have on the board phrases in the target language that they can use. “You have pretty hair.” “I like your eyes.” “I admire you because…” “You are very…” “I like you because…”

When the students have finished writing the compliments on the labels, they go to each person on their list, read the compliment, and then they stick the label on the student’s sleeve or back.

After they have all of the compliments distributed, I give each a colorful piece of paper where they can permanently stick their compliments. Some of the papers are pink and have Valentine designs on them and some are other colors and have other designs. The students who do Valentine’s Day usually will choose the Valentine design. Those who don’t do Valentine’s Day can choose another design. It’s a friendship activity and all students can participate. The paper is three hole punched so that they can keep it in their binders. They love this activity and keep the papers for the whole year.

Join us for an inspiring workshop focused on enhancing student engagement and reflection through purposeful assessments. Learn to design communicative tasks that help students understand why they are learning and how it builds their proficiency, particularly in Arabic. Incorporating reflection empowers students to monitor their progress effectively, boosting motivation and long-term language learning success.

📅 When: Sunday, January 19, 2025

🕘 Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (PST)

🥐 Light breakfast and lunch included

📍 Where:
Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa
3050 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(Free parking available)

Attendance Options:
In-person for Southern CA educators
Virtual for national and international participants

🎤 Guest Speaker:

Dr. Donna Clementi, a leading expert in world language curriculum, instruction, and assessment, will share her decades of expertise. Co-author of The Keys to Planning for Learning, Dr. Clementi has shaped language education nationwide through her work with ACTFL, Concordia Language Villages, and CARLA at the University of Minnesota.

Don't miss this opportunity to transform your teaching practices!

http://www.scaltc.com/upcoming-events

🎉 Nominate Someone for an Award!

Don’t forget, the deadline for SWCOLT 2025 Award Nominations is November 8th!

🎓 Apply for a Scholarship!

Need some support to attend SWCOLT 2025? Submit your scholarship application by November 8th!

📅 Join Our SWCOLT-CLTA Webinar Series!

Stay tuned for our upcoming webinars filled with valuable insights and tips!

🌟 News from Our SWCOLT States

Catch up on the latest happenings and updates from around the SWCOLT community.

✈️ Conference Registration is Open!

Mark your calendars for SWCOLT-AZLA 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, from January 23-25!

Click the link below to secure your spot and accommodation:

https://tinyurl.com/2tphd2v4

The Human Migration Institute (HMI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Riverside, CA, is dedicated to fostering inclusive communities and providing vital support to global and local refugee populations. HMI is actively seeking volunteers to help advance its mission.

There is a particular need for English as a Second Language (ESL) instructors. Additionally, retired foreign language teachers are warmly invited to contribute a few hours per week. Volunteers with Spanish language skills would be especially valuable in engaging with the communities HMI serves. HMI is also exploring partnerships with local institutions like Cal State San Bernardino, particularly within the College of Education. Senior students seeking work experience in ESL instruction are encouraged to consider volunteering.

At HMI, we work to empower refugees as they rebuild their lives, addressing the challenges they face with targeted programs such as:

Resettlement Support: Partnering with federal agencies, we assist newcomers by securing housing and providing essential support upon arrival.

Career Development & Training: Our Career Navigators help newcomers achieve their career goals through training, mentorship, and certificate programs, paving the way to self-sufficiency.

ESL Classes with Support: We offer comprehensive English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, complete with transportation and childcare, to enhance language proficiency and unlock new opportunities.

Riverside County Refugee Forum (RCRF): As proud hosts of the RCRF, we provide a vital platform for dialogue, collaboration, and advocacy to support our refugee community.

We believe that through collaboration, we can create a world where refugees not only find safety but also thrive with dignity and opportunity.

Your support—whether through partnerships, advocacy, volunteering, or financial contributions—can make a significant difference. We’d love the opportunity to explore how we can work together to empower refugees and strengthen our community.

For more information, please visit our website at HMIR.org or follow us on social media @humanmigrationinstitute. Feel free to reach out to us at volunteer@hmir.org or info@hmir.org to discuss opportunities or ask any questions.

Thank you for considering this invitation. We look forward to the possibility of partnering with you to make a lasting impact.

Flangoo is a subscription-based service for digital World Language readers available in Spanish, French, and German!! A sister company of Teacher’s Discovery®, Flangoo creates an affordable solution for World Language teachers who want to offer students a wide range of readers. One Flangoo account gives you and up to 150 students access to an entire virtual Free Voluntary Reading (FVR) library. Try it out! 

How about some quick, fun activities to do with your students in the target language! Let’s start with...

Who's telling the truth?

Have them fill out a survey telling something strange they did as a child. Choose several of those answers and display them on your board or presentation.

This can be played online. Call on 4 people in the class, including the person who wrote the sentence, to read the sentence as if they wrote it.

You ask each person two questions, and they answer, acting as if they wrote it. Then the students type in the chat who they think is telling the truth, but the students wait to send until you say, "Send".

After they send, you ask each actor if they wrote the sentence to reveal the truth-teller. The actor with the most votes gets extra credit. The students who got it right get extra credit.

This is a great game to play with your upper levels, especially now with the fun Among Us game, students have to try to figure out who the imposter is! Here’s an example:

Example: When I was little, I used to hide in the kitchen cupboards.
Questions: Why did you hide in the cupboards? (asked to all actors)
or How old were you when you hid in the cupboards? (asked to all actors)

Who knows you best?

Choose a volunteer and have them select a question to answer (#1-12).

The teacher asks the question, then all of the other students guess what the interviewee's answer is.

They type it in the chat but don't send it. When the teacher says "send", they send it.

The teacher then asks the interviewee to send their answer. Everyone who gets it right gets a point.

Here are some sample questions. You can adapt them to any level, any unit:

• What are you afraid of?

• Where do you like to go on vacation?

• What is it that makes you angry?

• What are you laughing at?

• Do you prefer to cycle, ride a horse, or drive?

• What do you prefer: doing the dishes, mowing the lawn, cleaning the bathroom, or vacuuming?

• At night, do you prefer to play a game, visit a relative, watch a movie, or read?

• Who would you like to be lost with on a desert island?

• Approximately how many pairs of shoes do you have?

• Which public transport do you prefer (plane, boat, train, bus, metro, etc.)?

• What is your favorite zoo animal?

• What is your favorite holiday: Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Easter, July 4th

Scavenger Hunt:

If you're online, ask students to find something that makes people happy/sad/frustrated etc and show it to the camera. Ask students to find something hard/soft/wet/round/square etc and show it to the camera. Great for all levels and another great way to start some fun, personalized discussions!