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Planning for a new school year can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to create a class centered on communication and proficiency, not grammar features. In this episode, I walk you through five intentional steps to help you map out your year with clarity and sustainability. You’ll learn how to prioritize compelling input, build a flexible curriculum map, and keep your students’ needs and your well-being at the center of your planning.

This episode will help you feel more grounded and confident heading into the school year.

Key Takeaways:

Start with the big picture. Use a year-at-a-glance calendar to identify your teaching windows, breaks, and celebrations you want to highlight.

• Let your communicative anchors lead. Plan around meaningful questions and content, not grammar structures.
• Reuse what worked. Bring back favorite units that felt joyful and effective.
• Fill in the gaps with purpose. Choose content that supports the required curriculum while staying rooted in compelling, comprehensible input.
• Plan for creativity. Schedule storyasking and one-word image sessions to provide rich, personalized input.
• Simplify. Step back and adjust your calendar to keep your plan flexible and realistic. Aim for sustainability, not perfection.

Resources Mentioned:

Episode 151: The 3 Pillars of a Sustainable Language Classroom

Episode 152 (Spanish): Cinco Claves para Prepararte Antes del Primer Día

Episode 131: Understanding ACTFL's New Proficiency Descriptors with Mary Hawkins

Episode 33 and 99: Featuring Dr. Karen Lichtman on Language Acquisition Research

Spanish Teacher Academy Trial Access: growingwithproficiency.com/trial

More about the Crescendo Curriculum and planning framework: growingwithproficiency.com/academy

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¿Tienes todo listo para un nuevo año escolar que no solo funcione, sino que se sienta bien? En este episodio te comparto las 5 claves esenciales para un regreso a clases intencional, humano y sostenible en tu clase de español.

En vez de empezar en modo “supervivencia”, este año te invito a comenzar con claridad, conexión y propósito. Estas estrategias están pensadas para adaptarse a tu contexto real y ayudarte a enseñar con más calma y más impacto.

Aquí están las 5 claves que exploramos:

1. Diseñar un espacio lingüísticamente rico que invite al uso natural del español desde el entorno.
2. Crear una estructura de clase efectiva que fomente el input comprensible y te libere del cansancio diario.
3. Conectar de forma auténtica con tus estudiantes, construyendo relaciones que potencien la motivación y compromiso.
4. Planificar con un marco claro y funcional que reduzca decisiones improvisadas y te sostenga todo el año.
5. Establecer sistemas simples pero poderosos que te den paz mental y autonomía en el aula.

Este episodio es para ti si buscas enseñar con pasión, sin sacrificar tu bienestar ni tu energía creativa.

🎁 Y no se te olvide: las puertas están abiertas para que vivas una prueba gratuita de 7 días dentro de Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy. Es el espacio que diseñé para apoyarte en cada etapa de tu camino como profe de español basada en comprensión.

✨ Regístrate hoy en: growingwithproficiency.com/trial

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As we step into a new school year, one word guides everything: sustainability.

In this first episode of a 4-part summer series, I’m breaking down the key to a successful and sustainable language class—one that doesn't run on exhaustion. You’ll learn about the 3 essential pillars that create a joyful, communicative, and manageable classroom experience—plus the one critical consideration teachers often overlook. Whether you're teaching Spanish or any world language, this episode will help you set up your routines, relationships, and planning framework so you can teach with energy and intention all year long.

This is not just about strategies—it’s about making them last.

Grab your cafecito and let’s get started. ☕💬

What you'll learn in this episode:

✅ Why sustainability isn’t optional—it’s essential
✅ The role of context and how it shapes your classroom decisions
✅ Pillar 1: How consistent routines support input, structure, and classroom management
✅ Pillar 2: Why relationships must come before content (especially in the first weeks)
✅ Pillar 3: A clear planning framework grounded in Second Language Acquisition
✅ What’s coming next in the Summer Series
✅ Sneak peek into the 7-day free trial of the Spanish Teacher Academy

Mentioned in this episode:

🔗 Join the waitlist for the 7-day free trial (starting July 7):
growingwithproficiency.com/academy

🎧 Related podcast episodes:

• Episode 11 – How to Plan a 90-Minute Class
• Episode 131 with Maris Hawkins – Understanding the New ACTFL Descriptors
• Episode 90 with AnneMarie Chase – Low-Stress Assessment for Proficiency
• Episode 52 on how to adapt your textbook with CI-based strategies

Let’s keep growing — with joy, clarity, and connection.
If this episode inspired you, please leave a review or share it with a fellow teacher. ✨