And Slightly Beyond!
This year I have a lot of eager, motivated students in my Spanish classes. I feel like I am constantly saying to them, “at your level and slightly beyond”. They probably are tired of hearing it! We practice Spanish with authentic texts as often as possible, and this means that we often encounter unknown words and structures. The benefits exceed the drawbacks: the students learn Spanish in natural contexts, they pick up structures without explicit teaching, they develop strategies for negotiating meaning, and they build confidence. This week I heard a student say, “That was hard but I liked it. It was just beyond what I know”. Mission accomplished!
As educators, how do we practice this in our own personal lives? It is easy to slip into familiar, non-taxing routines, or to rest on what we have already accomplished or learned, especially as we near the end of a school year and experience mental and physical fatigue.
Likewise, how do we encourage each other to stretch?
I am starting my summer goal list and considering what might go on it. The first, and most obvious, is a collection of books on a variety of topics (ask me for a copy of my 2026 Meaningful Reading Challenge, if you’d like). I also registered for a world language seminar. But I need to find some activities to stretch my learning: maybe it’s time to take music lessons, get my CDL license, or renew my CPR and first aid certifications.
What are your summer learning goals? What would you challenge me to learn? I’d love to talk with you more to share ideas and report progress. Feel free to contact me!
