Here is a cool report from Katie:
Hi Ben,
I spent the summer studying your site and reading the Stepping Stones book, trying to learn more about CI. I haven’t taken any classes yet, but I’m going to a Blaine Ray conference next month. I waffled until the first day of school about whether I would really try it. I wanted to, but it was super scary to venture out. I was a 2nd grade teacher for a long time, and only changed to Spanish after living overseas, learning Spanish, and returning to find that teaching high school Spanish was the only job I could get.
I disliked high school students so much that I have tried everything to get out of it for 4 years. But I decided last spring that God had placed me here for a purpose, and that I could be miserable until retirement, or I could learn to enjoy it. CI is exactly what I needed!
I told my husband after the first week that this is like magic. The students are engaged. I enjoy them so much now . We are having fun and learning at the same time. I love to just watch from the front and see their eyes focus as they try to listen and see the moment that they understand.
I didn’t write at first, because I didn’t think the magic would last. But today is a Friday, the 25th day of school and I am still excited about it.
I know I have so much more to learn and have made a lot of mistakes. But the times that I have gone out of bounds have been good reminders, because I can see the eyes glazing over. Even when I waver not knowing what to do next, I know that my students are learning so much more Spanish than I ever taught them before.
Thanks for the forum and all of the help that you and others give to new people.
Katie Holder