It’s MAY! I can hardly believe how fast this year has flown. I know how lucky I am to be able to say that—because for many teachers, this year has been anything but smooth. If you’ve faced tough classes, tight resources, or just an overwhelming load, please know: I see you, and you’ve made it this far. That’s something worth celebrating.
Even with a few “tough cookies” in my own classroom, this year has been incredibly rewarding. We set big goals, and as I look back, I can honestly say—we did it.
🏆 Highlights & Wins from Our Year
One of my favorite experiments this year was a new approach to writing, and the results blew me away. Not only did my students grow as writers, but many became deeply aware of their own progress and goals.
Here’s what our year added up to:
🥇 6 students earned the IL State Seal of Biliteracy at Intermediate High
🌍 14 earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy at Intermediate Mid
📝 41 earned State Commendations toward Biliteracy at Intermediate Low
We had 33 students complete Spanish 4 and 48 complete Spanish 3—and together, we explored ADHD, gentrification, sustainable chocolate and banana production, healthcare access, veterinary science, free trade, and more. The year starts off feeling like an elephant… but we really did eat it one bite at a time.
📚 Wrapping Up with Reading
We’re closing the year with reader projects across levels:
Spanish 2 is reading Felipe Alou 2nd Edition and comparing it to the film Azúcar
Spanish 3 is reading Selena 2nd Edition and pairing it with the Selena biopic
Spanish 4 is doing a “Choice Read” project where the only rule is: anything but a slideshow—and honestly, that might have been the best idea I’ve had all year!
🎲 End-of-Year Games That Worked
We also tested two new games this week from the Felipe Alou Teacher Guide, and both were hits!
🔹 Dominó – A retell game using sentence strips with blanks and word clues from other sentences inspired by Keith Toda. Super low prep and a great way to recap plot events.
🔹 Decisiones – An adapted review game inspired by Cynthia Hitz. Teams earned playing cards for correct answers and used special “decisiones” cards to gain, give away, or sabotage points. Strategy + Spanish = big engagement!
(These are definitely staying in my rotation.)
⏳ Countdown Mode
With just 4 days left for seniors (and no exams for most!) and 12 for everyone else, we’re in the final push. It’s a busy, emotional, and often exhausting time of year—but the finish line is in sight.
If you’re looking to finish strong, try something fresh, or start planning ahead, now’s a great time to stock up.
🛍️ Teacher Appreciation Sale – THANKYOU25
Everything in my Somewhere to Share catalog is 25% off now through Thursday—including:
📦 All Bundles
🌍 Huellas 1 & 2 (for Spanish)
🇫🇷 Empreintes (for French)
🆕 New Spanish 2 unit: ¿Qué es un foodie? – perfect for end-of-year culture and identity conversations!
You can shop the sale on TpT or directly at SomewheretoShare.com.
Check out our product catalog to see what we have to offer! Thanks for all the love and trust you’ve shown this year. Want to know more about Huellas/Empreintes? Here’s a video intro to the curriculum. I’ve got some poolside PD and training videos coming this summer—hope you’ll join me! (I’ll bring the sunscreen.)