Author Archives: bryankandel

Readings database

Posted on January 22, 2014 by bryankandel

Another site update is complete . . . ish.  I cleaned up and organized many of my past reading texts and created a database.  Each story is accompanied by a list of the emphasized structures and grammar focus.  Each title … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading | Leave a comment

The magical toad that changed my life

Posted on January 19, 2014 by bryankandel

Here are a couple of activities for comparing tenses with students.  We started with the following story script to be asked in class.  The emphasized structures were: tocaba la batería – used to play the drums era perezoso(a) – was … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Story activities, Story Scripts | Leave a comment

Adding a visual effect

Posted on January 12, 2014 by bryankandel

Here’s a simple trick to change things up just a bit and hold attention.  Utilize your projector to add visuals to a story with actors. Recently, we were working with this story (based on Mike Peto’s very creative original version) about … Continue reading →

Posted in Stories/Storytelling, Story Scripts | Leave a comment

We’ll know they are growing by their tweets

Posted on January 6, 2014 by bryankandel

Sub-zero temperatures have cancelled the next two days of school here in Ohio.  I took to twitter tonight to express my disappointment to students that we will have to wait a few more days to meet again in class.  Their … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Reflections | Leave a comment

Site Update: Story Scripts and Jokes

Posted on January 3, 2014 by bryankandel

For a long time, I’ve been wanting to have a better organized collection of my TPRS stories.  During the recent break, I created a database of several of my scripts.  The database includes a list of target structures, a link … Continue reading →

Posted in Stories/Storytelling, Story Scripts | Leave a comment

Keeping in touch

Posted on December 26, 2013 by bryankandel

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Google Voice.  Here’s a way I’m using it to keep in touch with students during a break. I created a Google Voice activity and used twitter to notify students about it. … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Communicative Activities, Reading, Speaking, Technology | Leave a comment

Reminded of the power of personalized reading

Posted on December 23, 2013 by bryankandel

Here are two readings that we used in different levels recently: La entrevista  Leonardo llegó tarde Both readings were received well, led to retention of terms and reiterate the idea that personalized reading is most effective.  As you read them, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Reflections | Leave a comment

A true friend always listens

Posted on November 23, 2013 by bryankandel

Here’s an idea that’s just quirky enough to work.  I wanted to do a quick retell/speaking practice, and  I wanted all students to speak.  I passed out little paper cutouts of the outline of a man and told students he … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom activities, Speaking, Story activities | 2 Comments

2 new story scripts

Posted on November 8, 2013 by bryankandel

Here are two recent story scripts that fit well together.  There are links for a script for asking the story in class and a link to a slide presentation for PQA. Los mensajes de texto: A story about sending text … Continue reading →

Posted in PQA, Story Scripts | Leave a comment

El día de los muertos – Movie Talk

Posted on November 4, 2013 by bryankandel

Maybe a bit late, but here is a screen shot presentation to use for Movie Talk with the video below.  The video is great for discussion, including cultural topics. Día de los muertos – Movie Talk screenshots 

Posted in Movie Talk | 3 Comments