From Best of Texas 2021 Presenters: 

Fluency + Fun=5: Takeaways to Improve Fluency, Have Fun, and Make a 5 on the AP IV Exam

This session will focus on engaging activities that improve and fine tune fluency while preparing students for a 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) exam. Activities will be provided for each task and will pay attention to both native and non-native speakers. The activities can be used in lower and higher-level classrooms as they work towards building proficiency wherever the student is at. Participants will experience what a "Glow and Grow" peer review is and how to play the culture game. They will be shown a variety of ways to not only prepare students for the AP exam but create a classroom culture of collaboration and community. In addition to engaging in the activities, attendees will be provided with guides and samples to use the next day in any level language classroom.

About Carolyn

I’m originally from Wisconsin but studied abroad in Puebla Mexico where I fell in love with the Spanish language and culture. In my seventeen years of experience in the classroom, I have taught all levels of Spanish and ELL and developed curriculum for my district.  I have also presented best practices at TFLA, SWCOLT and ACTFL.  I am currently Department Chair and teach upper-level Spanish at George Ranch High School in Lamar CISD. In my classroom I believe it’s important for my students to engage with Spanish daily in structured ways that allow them to play with the language and acquire practical skills for real world usage.  I also share my passion for culture with students through educational trips abroad to Spain, Costa Rica and other Spanish-speaking countries. I am married to another educator and together we have two beautiful daughters.

About Stacy

I am a native Texan, my passion for Spanish language and culture was sparked on mission trips in high school.  I received my Bachelor’s in Spanish from Texas A&M and studied abroad in Costa Rica for one semester.  I have taught all levels of Spanish but I have always taught Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1 and 2 and Spanish 4 AP. I have been the LOTE department chair for 12 years.   This is my 15^th year in the classroom and I have been at B.F. Terry High School in Lamar CISD for all of those years.  I am married to Tito, a Colombian who jokes that I am getting my Ph.D. in Colombian Spanish with him. We have two fun-filled kids.