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In this re-released episode, I'm sharing one of the most powerful practices I started a few years ago—and yes, I still use it today! It's called the S.T.E.P. Forward Protocol, a simple yet transformative 4-step process to help you reflect, reset, and refocus your teaching at any point in the year.

In this episode, I break down each part of the S.T.E.P. process:

• S – Student Survey (Hear how I use surveys to gather meaningful student feedback)
  
  
• T – Teacher Reflection (Why starting with your wins matters more than you think)
  
  
• E – Explore Concepts (How to go deeper in the areas where you want to grow)
  
  
• P – Plan Ahead (Set one intentional goal—and a trick to make it stick!)

💡 Whether you're wrapping up your year, in the middle of a semester, or planning ahead, this episode will help you reflect with intention and move forward with purpose.

🛠️ Resources Mentioned:

✨ Free Reflection Guide (with survey link included):
https://growingwithproficiency.com/reflection

🎧 Curated Podcast Playlists based on your area of growth:

🎙️ Related Episode: Ep. 33 – How to Use Student Surveys in a CI Class

Growing with Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist

 “We need to do more of what’s working—but first, we need to know what’s working.”
 Let this be your reminder to pause and celebrate your growth—just like I encourage my students to do.

If this episode resonates, don’t forget to leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with a colleague 

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There’s nothing like a good game to bring life back into your classroom—especially when everyone (including you) is counting down the days to summer 🌞.

In this conversation, I’m joined by my friend and amazing teacher, Dahiana Castro, to talk about simple, low-prep, and super engaging games you can use right now—yes, even if you feel out of energy and your students are done.

You’ll walk away with:
 ✅ A fresh take on classroom favorites like Trashketball and Grudge Ball
 ✅ Easy movement-based tweaks to boost participation
 ✅ A brilliant twist on scavenger hunts that your students will love
 ✅ Game templates you can use tomorrow

Whether you’re looking for a last-week lifesaver or just need a break from your regular plans, this episode is packed with ideas to make your life easier and your class more joyful.

👉 What game are YOU going to try first? DM me or tag me on IG with your favorite!

🎧 Listen now to this special re-release of Episode 94 of Growing With Proficiency, the Podcast.

Get ready for an amazing episode with Dahiana Castro, an amazing Spanish and French teacher! Dahiana is sharing with us today three super fun games that will bring back the energy and excitement to your classroom. These games are like hidden treasures that you'll want to keep until the perfect moment. So, grab your popcorn and tune in to discover these awesome activities that your students will be dying to play!

What I love most about these games is how easily they can be adapted to any content, language, or level you teach.  If you're looking to spice up your lessons and inject energy into your classroom, this episode is a must-listen! Join us as Dahiana Castro spills the beans on these hidden gems.  Hit play, and let's get the party started!

Links & Resources
My Framework
Growing With CI FB Community
Blog
Teacher Pay Teachers Store
IG & Twitter: @claudiamelliott
GWP Spanish Teacher Academy Waiting List
Register here for CI Rebook 2025 Use code Claudia2025 to get $20 off
Hasta la cima template
Grudge Ball

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Are you looking for an interactive and engaging activity to boost your students' participation and build a strong classroom community at the end of the school year? In this episode of "Growing With Proficiency, the podcast," we explore a unique twist on the popular Card Talk activity that my students absolutely loved!

In this activity, I’ll share with you how to turn the simple drawings our students do in card talk into a pair-reading activity plus a gallery walk. 

Main Highlights:

• Introduction to Card Talk and its benefits for student engagement and comprehensible input.
• Detailed activity setup with the prompt: "The Best and the Worst in the School Year."
• Step-by-step process from drawing, writing, hallway gallery walk, and class discussion.
• Personal connection and community building through shared experiences.
• Extending Card Talk: Ideas for adapting Card Talk for different thematic units such as clothing, food, and travel.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Free Teacher Guide: "How to Shift to A Comprehensible and Communicative Teaching Approach" – growingwithproficiency.com/guide
• Episode 82: Previous discussion on Card Talk with Ben Fisher
• Follow Claudia on Instagram: @claudiamelliott
• Connect on Facebook: Claudia M Elliott
• Join our waitlist for Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy

Thank you for tuning in to "Growing With Proficiency, the podcast." Until next time, keep growing and keep teaching with passion. ¡Hasta luego!

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Are you ending the year feeling tired, disconnected, or wondering if all your hard work made a difference?

In this episode, I’m opening up about five things I wish I had known earlier in my teaching career — before burnout crept in. These aren’t just reflective lessons; they’re practical shifts that helped me move from survival mode to a place of clarity, confidence, and connection in the classroom.

Whether you're in year one or year twenty, this episode is a reminder that burnout doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong — it might just mean you're carrying too much without enough support.

💡 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why burnout is often the result of cognitive overload and decision fatigue
  
  
• How clarity in your “why” can reduce overwhelm
  
  
• Why collecting strategies isn’t enough without a framework
  
  
• What changed when I stopped trying to create everything from scratch
  
  
• And how finding a supportive community shifted everything

📚 Related episodes and resources:

• 🎧 Ep. 69 – The  Pillars of a Comprehensible and Communicative Driven Classroom
• 🎧 Ep. 111 – How to Plan a 90-Minute Class With Confidence
• 💻 Explore The Spanish Teacher Academy – 7-Day Free Experience

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Do your assessments reflect the full journey your students have taken with you this year?

In this episode, I reflect on how end-of-year assessments can do more.  They can be an opportunity to celebrate all the meaningful interactions, cultural insights, and personal growth that have happened in our classrooms.

Inspired by a powerful quote from Dr. Beniko Mason—“Assessments are more for me as a teacher than for my students”—I’m sharing three practical ideas to help you create assessments that honor what really matters in your class.

Plus, I’ll walk you through:

• Why we need to revisit the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages
• What happens when students don’t see relevance in assessments
• How reflection questions, gallery walks, and personal prompts bring connection back
• The importance of creating tasks aligned with ACTFL proficiency levels

And don’t miss the free end-of-year survey resource I use with my own students!

🌟 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why should assessments include more than one section of what we do in class?
• How the 5 Cs (Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, Communities) show up in class—and how to reflect that in assessment
• Tips for using personal questions at both novice and intermediate levels
• The power of student reflection at the end of the year

🔗 Resources + Links:

• 📄 Free End-of-Year Reflection Workbook: Click here
• 🎧 Episode 102 with AnneMarie Chase on Assessments: Listen here
• 🎧 Episode 110 with Cecile Lainé on Intercultural Competence & the 5 Cs: Listen here
• 🎧 Episode 138 with Maris Hawkins on ACTFL Updates & Proficiency Levels: Listen here

🎉 Don’t Miss This:

From May 12–22, you can get a FREE 7-day sneak peek inside Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy. No credit card, no commitment—just real support and strategy.

✨ Sign up here: growingwithproficiency.com/academy

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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

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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!

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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