Category: My Philosophy

Running Reflection Series 2: My Experience with Mike Peto’s Brazilian Portuguese Classes ~ Post #6 – My Final One 

On By GaryDibiancaIn Beginning of the Year, Classroom Routines, Conferences and Training, Curriculum, Learning Portuguese, My Philosophy, Semester Reflection, Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III, Spanish IV, Teaching Strategies, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I must thank Mike Peto for the amazing experience this summer learning another language. As I posted in my first post about this class, I have been waiting for an opportunity like this for quite some time. This was a perfect summer experience for me and I am going back to the classroom re-energized and recharged for a great school year. Thanks again Mike for being such a wonderful teacher and inspiration. Now for One Post More!  

Running Reflection Series 2: My Experience with Mike Peto’s Brazilian Portuguese Classes ~ Post #5 

On By GaryDibiancaIn Beginning of the Year, Classroom Routines, Conferences and Training, Learning Portuguese, My Philosophy, Semester Reflection, Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III, Spanish IV, Teaching Strategies, UncategorizedLeave a comment

These five+ “AHA” Moments and Teaching Tips from my Portuguese classes this summer are helping get me mentally prepared for this school year. Check out my other posts for this series

Running Reflection Series 2: My Experience with Mike Peto’s Brazilian Portuguese Classes ~ Post #3

On By GaryDibiancaIn Assessments, Beginning of the Year, Classroom Routines, Curriculum, Learning Portuguese, My Philosophy, Semester Reflection, Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III, Spanish IV, Teaching Strategies, UncategorizedLeave a comment

During this reflection series, I am noting an “AHA” moment from each day of Mike Peto’s 2024 Brazilian Portuguese Classes, which are available on his CI Master Class Site.   “AHA” Moment ~ Day 6: The Weekend Review in the Past Tense  Today’s class started in a terrific way reviewing what was discussed from Friday’s “What …

Continue reading Running Reflection Series 2: My Experience with Mike Peto’s Brazilian Portuguese Classes ~ Post #3

Running Reflection Series 2: My Experience with Mike Peto’s Brazilian Portuguese Classes ~ Post #2

On By GaryDibiancaIn Beginning of the Year, Classroom Routines, Conferences and Training, Curriculum, Learning Portuguese, My Philosophy, Semester Reflection, Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III, Spanish IV, Teaching Strategies, Uncategorized2 Comments

I've decided to give this topic its own post. It takes me back to my first day of learning Brazilian Portuguese with Mike Peto this summer and I have not stopped thinking about his clickable Song Activities for the past 25 days. In fact, we are still using these activities daily in our classes, and I still love them.  I feel like this post should also say: Feeling accomplished!

Running Reflection Series: My Experience with Mike Peto’s Approach, My Teacher Struggles, and Next School Year ~ Post 1

On By GaryDibiancaIn Beginning of the Year, Classroom Routines, Conferences and Training, Curriculum, My Philosophy, Semester Reflection, Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III, Spanish IV, Teaching Strategies, Uncategorized3 Comments

I have now been teaching for 23 years, and it is still amazing how I feel every year I continue to learn more as I hone my craft. This past school year was no different as there were some new “old” challenges thrown at me that have happened about every 3 years when I teach …

Continue reading Running Reflection Series: My Experience with Mike Peto’s Approach, My Teacher Struggles, and Next School Year ~ Post 1

Conferences and Trainings, Oh My – Some Thoughts from MITTEN CI and Upcoming Summer Trainings

On By GaryDibiancaIn Coaching, Conferences and Training, My Philosophy, Teaching Strategies1 Comment

The thought and dedication that go into putting this conference together are remarkable. This world language conference focuses on teaching using ADI: Acquisition-Driven Instruction/Comprehensible Input/Comprehension-Based Communicative Teaching, with the philosophy of teachers using language that is comprehended by students to help them acquire language. Again, I am left with a feeling of fulfillment. It is exactly what I needed in mid-April to provide me with the strength, wisdom, and energy to finish out this sometimes tough school year. 

Being in a New World Language Class is like a TRIP 

On By GaryDibiancaIn Beginning of the Year, Classroom Routines, My Philosophy, Uncategorized1 Comment

While traveling this summer in Rome, Italy I had an “AHA Moment:” the student experience in my world language classroom is like a trip in a big city that is foreign to someone. Let’s delve into this crazy metaphor that I thought about while walking through the “_________” neighborhood in search of a market that bears that same name (umm, I cannot remember its name for the life of me as I am writing this), and frankly that is perfect because it really makes this metaphor even better. Here are my 10 reasons why I am making this claim.

Spanish IV Reflection 2022-23 ~ Finding the Balance 

On By GaryDibiancaIn AP World Language, Assessments, Curriculum, My Philosophy, Semester Reflection, Spanish IV, Teaching Strategies, Uncategorized2 Comments

Teaching Spanish IV, which in my district consists of mostly students in their Junior year, is a magical experience for me as an educator. I feel the class can be a great turning point for students in terms of their proficiency growth as they approach proficiency levels of Intermediate-Mid and High.