Ben Fisher-Rodriguez
@mrfishersays.bsky.social
HS German and Spanish Teacher / Blog at MrFisherSays.com / Co-host of SLAyyy at https://slayyypod.com / NEA Foundation Teacher of Excellence 2024 / PNCFL Teacher of the Year 2023 / WAFLT Teacher of the Year 2022 / he/him
It often feels like our podcasts are in conversation with one another, enriching the conversation - what a pleasure to see Reed and Diane at #ACTFL25!
Look! Our podcast buddies from “Conversations About Language Teaching”!
conversationsaboutlanguage.buzzsprout.com
conversationsaboutlanguage.buzzsprout.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:12 AM
It often feels like our podcasts are in conversation with one another, enriching the conversation - what a pleasure to see Reed and Diane at #ACTFL25!
Reposted by Ben Fisher-Rodriguez
If you're heading to #ACTFL25, I hope to see you there! In the podcast, I give the wrong time for my ACTFL presentation. I'll be presenting with Esme Mora and Kristi Lentz of @languageboard.bsky.social on Friday at 4:30 in room 213. Our topic: Curating Diverse and Inclusive Classroom Libraries.
This week’s episode is a wrap up of the book study we just completed - with special guest @stacywitkowski.bsky.social ! Take a listen on your way to #ACTFL25…!
rss.com/podcasts/sla...
rss.com/podcasts/sla...
Ep. 29: SLAyyy "Teaching Grammar for Proficiency" Book Study with Stacy Witkowski | Podcast Episode on RSS.com
SLAyyy: Second Language Acquisition for Everyone WebsiteGaslightGrammar as a ConceptDo ACTFL levels describe language development?Use of the L2 in Grammar ExplanationsBalancing Authentic/Found Resourc...
rss.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:34 AM
If you're heading to #ACTFL25, I hope to see you there! In the podcast, I give the wrong time for my ACTFL presentation. I'll be presenting with Esme Mora and Kristi Lentz of @languageboard.bsky.social on Friday at 4:30 in room 213. Our topic: Curating Diverse and Inclusive Classroom Libraries.
Loved chatting with @stacywitkowski.bsky.social about this book study. Learning is so much fun with friends!
This week’s episode is a wrap up of the book study we just completed - with special guest @stacywitkowski.bsky.social ! Take a listen on your way to #ACTFL25…!
rss.com/podcasts/sla...
rss.com/podcasts/sla...
Ep. 29: SLAyyy "Teaching Grammar for Proficiency" Book Study with Stacy Witkowski | Podcast Episode on RSS.com
SLAyyy: Second Language Acquisition for Everyone WebsiteGaslightGrammar as a ConceptDo ACTFL levels describe language development?Use of the L2 in Grammar ExplanationsBalancing Authentic/Found Resourc...
rss.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Loved chatting with @stacywitkowski.bsky.social about this book study. Learning is so much fun with friends!
Reposted by Ben Fisher-Rodriguez
If you're headed to ACTFL this year, I am moderating an ACTFL SideBar titled "Supporting LGBTQ+ Students and Colleagues" on Saturday from 11-11:45. Would love to see you there, and dream of better schools for us all. ❤️🌈
November 19, 2025 at 1:56 AM
If you're headed to ACTFL this year, I am moderating an ACTFL SideBar titled "Supporting LGBTQ+ Students and Colleagues" on Saturday from 11-11:45. Would love to see you there, and dream of better schools for us all. ❤️🌈
Reposted by Ben Fisher-Rodriguez
just learned we won an award for our blog post about Tom Holland and stormwater management.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
What Tom Holland’s historic lip-sync showcase taught us about stormwater management
Grab your umbrella and your tights.
neorsd.medium.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 AM
just learned we won an award for our blog post about Tom Holland and stormwater management.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
If you're headed to ACTFL this year, I am moderating an ACTFL SideBar titled "Supporting LGBTQ+ Students and Colleagues" on Saturday from 11-11:45. Would love to see you there, and dream of better schools for us all. ❤️🌈
November 19, 2025 at 1:56 AM
If you're headed to ACTFL this year, I am moderating an ACTFL SideBar titled "Supporting LGBTQ+ Students and Colleagues" on Saturday from 11-11:45. Would love to see you there, and dream of better schools for us all. ❤️🌈
Reposted by Ben Fisher-Rodriguez
This is how I have felt learning coding. There are so many people answering questions on reddit and stackexchange, posting youtube tutorials and blog explanations, etc.
If you want to learn to make art, there are countless people out there willing to help you. The only thing is, you have to be willing to try. The AI pushers want what they perceive is the kudos for having made the art, but they don't want to try.
November 18, 2025 at 9:50 PM
This is how I have felt learning coding. There are so many people answering questions on reddit and stackexchange, posting youtube tutorials and blog explanations, etc.
One of my (very delightful) students had moved away, but his family just moved back and he's back in my German 2 class! Bringing my total number of students up to 166 across 5 classes! (nervous laughter)
November 18, 2025 at 12:45 AM
One of my (very delightful) students had moved away, but his family just moved back and he's back in my German 2 class! Bringing my total number of students up to 166 across 5 classes! (nervous laughter)
Reposted by Ben Fisher-Rodriguez
My new post. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2025/11/cogn...
Cognitive Load Theory for language teachers
Gognitive Load Theory was famously described by Dylan Wiliam as "the single most important thing for teachers to know". This post is all abo...
frenchteachernet.blogspot.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:40 PM
My new post. frenchteachernet.blogspot.com/2025/11/cogn...
Who’s all headed to ACTFL this week???
If you see me, let’s take a picture together!!!
If you see me, let’s take a picture together!!!
November 16, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Who’s all headed to ACTFL this week???
If you see me, let’s take a picture together!!!
If you see me, let’s take a picture together!!!
Took 23 students (and my student teacher) to the Washington State German Student Convention yesterday and we had a blast! I’m pooped today, but it was worth it for all the fun and connections made. ❤️ 🌈 🇩🇪
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Took 23 students (and my student teacher) to the Washington State German Student Convention yesterday and we had a blast! I’m pooped today, but it was worth it for all the fun and connections made. ❤️ 🌈 🇩🇪
Husband's out of town, you know what that means???
Order an insane amount of Indian food and watch some weird German program that he has no interest in!!!
Order an insane amount of Indian food and watch some weird German program that he has no interest in!!!
November 15, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Husband's out of town, you know what that means???
Order an insane amount of Indian food and watch some weird German program that he has no interest in!!!
Order an insane amount of Indian food and watch some weird German program that he has no interest in!!!
One thing I've been trying to be better about is telling students very explicitly why we're doing something. "We're doing this so we can get better at _." "We're doing this because when you talk to a German speaker, you might want to _."
Doing this before anything new helps students invest quicker.
Doing this before anything new helps students invest quicker.
November 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM
One thing I've been trying to be better about is telling students very explicitly why we're doing something. "We're doing this so we can get better at _." "We're doing this because when you talk to a German speaker, you might want to _."
Doing this before anything new helps students invest quicker.
Doing this before anything new helps students invest quicker.
I had my level 2s do a retell from a Movie Talk using screenshots, partners alternating talking for 30 seconds per screenshot. Had worked with the text a lot. First class struggled staying in German, but also said it wasn't a crazy challenge. I was like hmm...how can I make this work better?
November 13, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I had my level 2s do a retell from a Movie Talk using screenshots, partners alternating talking for 30 seconds per screenshot. Had worked with the text a lot. First class struggled staying in German, but also said it wasn't a crazy challenge. I was like hmm...how can I make this work better?
I didn't manage to eat breakfast or get coffee ready for myself before I left this morning, and was like yeah, I'll be okay until lunch if I just get a lil snack from my classroom!
Right about the middle of 3rd period I was like...am I...turning into a werewolf? Is this what it feels like?
Right about the middle of 3rd period I was like...am I...turning into a werewolf? Is this what it feels like?
November 13, 2025 at 11:52 PM
I didn't manage to eat breakfast or get coffee ready for myself before I left this morning, and was like yeah, I'll be okay until lunch if I just get a lil snack from my classroom!
Right about the middle of 3rd period I was like...am I...turning into a werewolf? Is this what it feels like?
Right about the middle of 3rd period I was like...am I...turning into a werewolf? Is this what it feels like?
I have been struggling with the thought that the ACTFL Performance Descriptors / Proficiency Levels may not actually describe language acquisition? Like...they might just describe language for use in specific situations, but not how the brain actually acquires language... #LangChat #SLAyyy
November 10, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I made a Structured Input task a couple of years ago based on my reading of "Common Ground" (Henshaw/Hawkins) to introduce the use of different auxiliaries in the Perfect Tense in German. Based on my reading of this chapter, it still holds up! (See next post for the link!) #LangChat #SLAyyy
November 10, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Reposted by Ben Fisher-Rodriguez
„Nicht Hitler, Göring, Goebbels, Himmler und wie die alle hießen, haben mich verschleppt und geschlagen. Nein, es war der Schuster, der Nachbar, der Milchmann, der Postmann, die eine Uniform, Binde und Soldatenmütze bekamen... und dann waren sie die Herrenrasse."
-Karl Stojka-

-Karl Stojka-

November 9, 2025 at 9:49 AM
„Nicht Hitler, Göring, Goebbels, Himmler und wie die alle hießen, haben mich verschleppt und geschlagen. Nein, es war der Schuster, der Nachbar, der Milchmann, der Postmann, die eine Uniform, Binde und Soldatenmütze bekamen... und dann waren sie die Herrenrasse."
-Karl Stojka-

-Karl Stojka-

This has been a personal planning principle for a long time - little victories go a long way in helping kids gain and maintain momentum!
We tend to measure academic success by the big wins: Passing a test with flying colors, for example, or earning top grades in a demanding course.
But it’s the small wins that motivate students to keep going amid the inevitable academic struggles, new research shows.
🧵1/6
But it’s the small wins that motivate students to keep going amid the inevitable academic struggles, new research shows.
🧵1/6
November 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
This has been a personal planning principle for a long time - little victories go a long way in helping kids gain and maintain momentum!
"Hey Herr Fisher, do you want to try the mac and cheese I made in Food and Nutrition?"
"Omg, yeah! That's awesome, thank you so much! ...is that fork clean?"
"...maybe? I thinks so?"
"..."
"..."
"...I have my own forks I could use."
"Yeah that's probably a good idea."
"Omg, yeah! That's awesome, thank you so much! ...is that fork clean?"
"...maybe? I thinks so?"
"..."
"..."
"...I have my own forks I could use."
"Yeah that's probably a good idea."
November 6, 2025 at 11:56 PM
"Hey Herr Fisher, do you want to try the mac and cheese I made in Food and Nutrition?"
"Omg, yeah! That's awesome, thank you so much! ...is that fork clean?"
"...maybe? I thinks so?"
"..."
"..."
"...I have my own forks I could use."
"Yeah that's probably a good idea."
"Omg, yeah! That's awesome, thank you so much! ...is that fork clean?"
"...maybe? I thinks so?"
"..."
"..."
"...I have my own forks I could use."
"Yeah that's probably a good idea."
Interaction is good for language acquisition - did ya know? 😊
In this episode, we discuss the Interaction Hypothesis, and the potential effects of making class more interactive!
rss.com/podcasts/sla...
rss.com/podcasts/sla...
Ep. 28: SLAyyy Interaction Hypothesis | Podcast Episode on RSS.com
Artists:Ben Fisher-Rodriguez, Bill LangleyMain PointsSLAyyy: Second Language Acquisition for Everyone WebsiteGaslightParking on New VocabularyAllowing for Negotiating MeaningTalking Ourselves Out of U...
rss.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Interaction is good for language acquisition - did ya know? 😊