iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Join me and the @slayyypod.com team tonight on Substack to discuss chapters 1 and 2 of Learner Feedback for Language Growth. 8pm EST for live chat, or join us later asynchronously.

The cover of Learner Feedback for Language Growth by Budke, Nickel, and Strauss.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Authentic Resource for French teachers. Photographed in metro Detroit, March 2025.

Photo of a billboard. Background is green. Text is white and in English and French: TARIFFS ARE A TAX. LES DROITS DE DOUANE SONT UNE TAXE. Paid for by the government of Canada. Payé par le gouvernement du Canada.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Busco amigos de correspondencia (email o videollamada) para mis estudiantes de 11-14 años. Envíame un mensaje para mas detailles. Favor de compartir. 😊

Foto de un gato con un libro. El título del libro es El escape cubano. El gato tiene un hocico blanco y ojos verdes.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Latin teachers how many of you need this t-shirt?

Photo of a grey tshirt with black text in latin:

CERTAMEN GLADIORUM
PRO HUNC
CONVENTUM
SUBSTITUI POTUIT.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The more I read about students using AI to cheat because the grade is valuable to them but the learning is not, the more I think we need to rethink grading. I’m reading Learner Feedback for Language Growth this summer and getting ready to discuss it with my friends at @slayyypod.com

Photo of OP in summer mode with no makeup and hair in a messy ponytail holding a book and grinning at the camera like a fool on summer vacation. The book is Learner Feedback for Language Growth by Budke, Nickel, and Strauss

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

What was the last book that made you cry? Me: crying right now as I listen to this audiobook about the Korean war

The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War by David Halberstam, read by Scott Brick

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

We finished reading Mata la piñata so of course we had a piñata party with churrumais and coca cola. I had the perfect zombie piñatas: slightly damaged leftovers from years ago when I taught elementary Spanish! I filled them with fruit and toothpaste. 😉 @placidolanguage.bsky.social

A teen girl wearing a blindfold hits a tiger piñata with a stick.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

How meta is it to read Arepas by Adriana Ramirez while eating arepas? Will the Colombian author forgive me for choosing a Venezuelan restaurant?

Photo of a small table showing an arepa stuffed with cheese, fried yucca, a brown beverage with a straw, and the book Arepas by Adriana Ramirez

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

What I learned from this morning’s session at @cslang4all.bsky.social: native Spanish speaking teachers call this game “el juego de la torre” because the brand name sounds too much like a word that’s NSFW. 😂

Jenga game of stacking wooden blocks and removing them

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

@senorwooly.com My Spanish 2 class spent 2 weeks on El antídoto del dragón and ended with a celebration where students illustrated the parallel stories they wrote while singing along to the song and sipping 3 kinds of “jugo” (and one kind of “veneno” 😉) 10/10 loved this unit.

Photo of a classroom. There are four large bottles of juice on a desk. Grape, guava, pineapple, and Clamato

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

As she handed me the book, my English speaking wife said “I have no idea what the title means, though.” I told her it was a Bad Bunny lyric and reminded her of the graffiti we saw in Puerto Rico.

Photo of graffiti on a cream colored wall with weeds growing in front. Text says “⭐️ P FKN R se representa” and “gringo go home” and shows lines that suggest the head of a bird

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

My sweetie got me this for Valentine’s Day. I’m looking forward to reading it.

Photo of the cover of the book P FKN R by Vanessa Díaz and Petra R. Rivera-Rideau shows a stylized illustration of Bad Bunny wearing a straw hat and holding a microphone before a background of a Puerto Rican flag.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

My Spanish 1 students made posters after they read Llama en Lima. I no longer grade this type of activity, but kids loved making them anyways. I used this as a springboard to a reading activity (read each others posters and find the quote) and later assessed with a speaking quiz.

A student made poster on green construction paper. A student drawing of a monkey with claws riding a surfboard. Text in Spanish includes “Mi personaje favorito es Mono porque es cómico.”

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Spanish 2 students playing the Es Posible game to review the book Peter va a Colombia. I love this game. Students are so engaged. I got the template from Comprehensible Classroom and I write my own questions for each novel.

A group of at least three middle school girls sit around a table with papers on it. They talk, smile, and gesture with their hands.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

I’ve been listening to the audiobook Mexican Gothic. I’m only in chapter 4, but whew, equal parts creepy and intriguing. What are you reading lately?

Cover of Mexican Gothic by Silvia More o Garcia shows a woman from her nose to her knees. She is wearing a purple party dress in front of a dark green background.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

I was looking through my files today and saw this old document 😬 I used to send this home with elementary kids. What was good about it: I was promoting a home-school connection. What was bad: They needed a LOT more input, until they didn’t need the cringy “how it sounds” column on the right.

Chart with three columns and 8 rows. Top row reads: English, Spanish, How it sounds. Second row reads: backpack, mochila, mow-CHEE-la

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

How am I supposed to write a quiz on Peter va a Colombia like this?

A grey cat with yellow eyes sits on the keyboard of a laptop. She has her tongue out as if mocking the laptop owner.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

More middle school student reflections. Señor Wooly is one of the most divisive elements of my class. Some students, like this one, say earning nuggets is very helpful. Others mention it as something that wastes their time.

Pink paper. Typed questions and handwritten responses:

Q: What has Mrs. Witkowski done that has really helped you learn Spanish?

A: She has inturduced (sic) us to spanish websites such as senor willy.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Mid year self-reflection and goal setting in middle school. What did your teacher do that helped? Many students mentioned the gestures I use, inspired by TPR. How about you? What is working or not for you this year?

Pink paper with typed questions and student handwritten answers

7. What has Mrs. Witkowski done that has really helped you learn Spanish?

she did show is hand jasters (sic) so wen we talk about it we know what she’s talking about.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

It’s too cold to go outside. School is closed and I’m spending the day playing my kitten. What are you doing today?

Photo of small grey cat pouncing on toy, slightly blurry.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

New semester; fresh start. How is your year going?

Altered panel from Tintin cartoon. Captain Haddock, with dark circles under his eyes, leans on his elbow and says “what a year, huh?” Tintin replies, “Captain, it’s ENERO.” A small white dog drinks the captain’s beer.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

I’m a fan of Duolingo. I think it’s a good tool for language learners. I’ve spent 90% of my time on this app learning Korean, except for a few weeks spent learning Catalan and Hawaiian.

Graphic from Duolingo shows the iconic green owl transformed into an orange phoenix. Text says I’m on a 1500 day learning streak.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Up early for a bike ride to the best bagel shop in metro Detroit. Now full of bagel and coffee, working on my slide deck for #MiWLA25. Today’s topic: Grading in the 21st Century Language Classroom. @miwla.bsky.social

Photo of morning sky shows dark blue grey fading to light blue and yellow on the horizon behind trees, with a few thin clouds.

Photo of glass door with icon of New York Bagel, “born and bread in Detroit”

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

Student: Miz Witkowski! Someone wrote in this book! Me: Yes, of course they did. 😮‍💨

Photo of a page from the book Arlo by Mira Canion. Black and white illustration of a squirrel. Text in Spanish:
“Arlo corre t salta por 4, 5, 6, 7 minutos.”
Circle drawn in pencil around 6,7

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Another reason I love teaching middle school kids: I only have one Ava in this class 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Photo of Blooket entrance screen with 6 kids named some version of Ava.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Lol food for thought. Now I’m hungry for romanesco.

Two heads of romanesco brocoli, one cut in half

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

My son convinced me to let him stay for the Varsity game (he’s on JV) so I’m getting a head start on chapter 4 of Proficiency Based Instruction while he watches the game. It’s a beautiful night to sit under stadium lights and read about teaching grammar. @slayyypod.bsky.social

The book Proficiency Based Instruction: Teaching Grammar for Proficiency by Catherine Ritz and Mike Travers is visible with a soccer field where a game is in progress in the background.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

I’m excited for tonight’s @actfl.bsky.social webinar with @traversteach.bsky.social and Catherine Ritz. I wish I were attending from a bench overlooking a lake, but alas, I am home in my kitchen.

Photo of the book Proficiency Based Instruction held by someone sitting outdoors. Also visible in the background is a lake

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

It has been a very hectic start to the school year (isn’t it always?) so I’m enjoying a weekend away. Sitting on a big front porch, looking over a lake, listening to gentle rain, sipping mint tea, and reading Proficiency Based Instruction. #langchat @slayyypod.bsky.social

Photo of book Proficiency Based Instruction and trees.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

I am loving Card Talk as a sponge activity at the end of every day in Spanish 1. Without prompting the kids used all high frequency words: I have, I play, I like. This is helping me match names and faces as we all start to learn about each other. 🥰

3X5 card with text written in pencil and small illustrations:
1. I have 5 siblings.
2. I play bassoon.
3. I LOVE Train to Busan.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

I’m from the midwest of the US, specifically the suburbs of Detroit. I speak American English. A cat is supposed to say “meow.” My cat says “mao.” And occasionally “maowow!”

A tabby cat walks towards the person holding the camera, mouth slightly open as he is meowing.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Variation on Card Talk! Day 1, Spanish 2 kids drew 3 things they did last summer. Today, I picked a card and wrote 4 sentences on the board about what he did. 3 were true, 1 was false. The class had to guess which was which. Then I showed the drawings. They all wanted me to pick their card next!

3x5 card with pencil drawings of a football, baseball, bike

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Today I asked students to write me a note telling me anything they needed me to know. I got some heavy ones: my sister who lives with me just had a baby and he wakes me up, I have anxiety, my parents got divorced this summer, I have a glass eye and can’t see out of the right. But I also got this:

Handwritten note in pencil:
ms witkowski you are awesome today

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

First day of school done! I always get nervous the day before but then I meet the kids and remember why I like this job.

Photo of Op is a selfie. Stacy Witkowski is a middle aged woman with shoulder length brown curly hair, glasses, and a big smile.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Wish me luck on the first day of school tomorrow! I don’t feel ready but at least my classroom is looking good. This year’s goal: leave time in my plans for catch up time for the inevitable interruptions and students who need more time.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

My copy of Proficiency Based Instruction: Teaching Grammar for Proficiency was waiting here for me when I got home from my summer travels. I’m looking forward to reading it and sharing my thoughts with all of you and with the SLAYYY crew 😎

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

I spent 2 weeks studying Hawaiian on Duolingo before my trip and it was cool to see words I recognized on signs.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

End of the year field trip follow-up lesson! Spanish 1 classes went to Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine in Detroit. The next day I lead a write-and-discuss to write class thank you letters. ☺️

Letters in simple Spanish signed by dozens of students.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

End of the year field trips! Spanish 2 went to Los Galanes restaurant, La Gloria bakery, Xochi’s gift shop, and walked around Mexicantown in Detroit.

Me and lots of smiling kids outside Los Galanes restaurant. Large mural shows skeletons on a picnic.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

It’s the last week of school and my Spanish 2 class is playing a variation on Mafia with a @senorwooly.com twist. The evil wizard tries to poison civilians, the dragon tries to sniff out the wizard, and the princess tries to save us by sharing her blood. I’m narrating in Spanglish. 🧙‍♂️🐉👸🏻

Photo of whiteboard with amateur sketches of:
wizard = Ace card = el mago,
dragon = King card = el dragón,
princess = Queen card = la princesa.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Happy Pride month! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Display of books celebrating LGBTQ+ characters and authors for Spanish class

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

This concludes tonight's discussion of #HoningOurCraft chapter 12, the final chapter. Thanks to everyone who commented as I read this book and shared my thoughts each week. I don't know about you, but I learned a lot. Let me know what you're reading and how it's changing your perspectives.

Iconic closing screen from Warner Brother's Cartoons shows white script over red concentric circles. The text reads: That's all Folks!

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

There are more detailed descriptions of these “dimensions” on p. 231 of #HoningOurCraft #LangChat

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

Hey, that’s not Stacy’s cat! No, it’s not, but what a good cat! Doesn’t the sight of it make you want to chat about #InterculturalCitizenship and chapter 12 of #HoningOurCraft here at 8:00pm tonight? #LangChat

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

I don’t eat them myself, but as a native of Michigan, I gotta say, this is wrong. A regular hot dog here just has ketchup, maybe mustard. But a Coney Dog has some gross chili, mustard, and raw onions.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Coming Soon! 8:00 EST join me here for a #LangChat style discussion on #HoningOurCraft ch 11: Translanguaging in the World Language Classroom. What better image to accompany a discussion of translanguaging than Rivera's History of Mexico murals? Power struggles, cultures blending... it's all here!

The History of Mexico is a mural in the stairwell of the National Palace in Mexico City by Diego Rivera. Produced between 1929 and 1935, the mural depicts Mexico's history from ancient times to the present.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

If you see this, post a beach photo from your phone. (My son and I on the shore of Lake Michigan before a storm.)

Sandy beach, 2 distant people looking at grey water that reaches the horizon, sky is cloudy with rays of yellow light.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Takeaways! We've had time for Ruggiero's ideas to cook a bit. What flavor are you left with? What have you learned about World Languages for Specific Purposes (WLSP) or Community Service Learning (CSL) from #HoningOurCraft chapter 10 or from tonight's discussion? Include #LangChat in your response

Photo of a hand stirring a pan on a stove. In the pan is a brown mixture. The student is making Mexican Hot Chocolate.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

If your specific purpose is the medical field, but your TL happens to be Korean, I have some recommendations! Start with #HospitalPlaylist Korean medical terms I learned from this show: scalpel, anesthesia, operating room #LangChat

Hospital Playlist poster shows 5 Korean actors as doctors wearing white gowns and eating with chopsticks while smiling.

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Stacy Witkowski @stacywitkowski.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Your turn! What questions do YOU have about #HoningOurCraft chapter 10, about World Languages for Specific Purposes (WLSP), Community Service Learning (CSL), or all three? Include #LangChat in your response.

The cover of the book Honing Our Craft: World Language Teaching Today

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