Teaching and Assessing for Acquisition - Kansas City, MO 2025

Join our Director of Training, Elicia Cárdenas, for a two-day* workshop in the Kansas City area of Missouri! We are thrilled to support teachers in their journey toward teaching for proficiency.

The transition away from designing language courses based on a traditional grammar syllabus requires a shift in thinking as well as a shift in instruction. In this workshop, attendees will consider both the theoretical basis for Proficiency Oriented, Comprehension Based™ teaching and its practical application. Attendees will explore these concepts through interactive demonstrations .

On our second day, we will take a deep dive into standards-based assessment practices for a comprehension based classroom, examine and discuss relevant research pertaining to language acquisition and assessment, see examples of practical assessment solutions, and delve into grading practices that increase motivation, decrease bias, and promote equity. There will be additional opportunities to build your confidence in a skills lab with coaching.

Friday, September 26, 2025:
- Registration: 8:30
- Workshop: 9:00 - 5:00 Introduction to Acquisition Driven Instruction

Saturday, September 27, 2025:
- Check in: 8:30
- Workshop: 9:00 am -1:30 pm Assessment for Acquisition, Optional Skills Lab 2:30-4:00

St Teresa's Academy, Windmoor Center
5600 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64113

• World Language teachers interested in learning about teaching for language acquisition with a focus on comprehension
• World Language teachers who are already using Comprehension-based methods of teaching language
• World Language teachers who are currently using a Comprehension-based curriculum such as Somos or Nous sommes
• World Language teachers who are looking to incorporate more acquisition-focused methods into an existing scope and sequence
• World Language teachers who want to learn what assessment looks like in an acquisition-focused teaching model
  

• Friday workshop attendance
• Friday boxed lunch

• Saturday morning workshop attendance
• Saturday optional Skills Lab
  Travel and lodging are NOT included.
  

Graduate credit (1-2 credit hours) can be earned by completing additional reading and classwork outside of sessions.

Please note:

To register for graduate credit, you must register with the University of the Pacific and pay an additional fee.

For more information and to see the credit requirements, please visit our partners at the University of the Pacific and select the course "In Person 2 Day Training: Teach for Acquisition and Assess for Acquisition." https://bit.ly/comprehensibleclassroomcredit

Syllabus for In-Person Teach and Assess for Acquisition with The Comprehensible Classroom: https://bit.ly/tfa-afa-syllabus

Check back for lodging information.

You can connect with other teachers to find a roommate within the Somos Curriculum Collaboration Facebook Group.

*Workshop will be conducted in English with demonstrations in other languages.

*Workshop is not geared toward elementary levels, nor ELL/MLL teachers, though all are welcome!

No refunds after September 11. In the event that you need to cancel prior to September 11, please email us to request a refund. Eventbrite processing fees are non-refundable.

If you are tax-exempt, please contact [email protected] for registration instructions and payment.

What is a Skills Lab?  What is Coaching?

In a skills lab, group members will have the opportunity to practice specific skills related to communicating successfully in the target language with students, with the guidance and support of a trained coach.  Participants engage in the skills practice in a variety of roles, including teacher, observer, or student.

Is this suitable for Elementary?

This workshop will be focused on secondary classrooms (middle and high school), but elementary teachers are welcome to join us.

Is this workshop suitable for me if I don't teach Spanish?

Yes! All are welcome! Elicia has experience working with teachers of a variety of different languages, including Mandarin Chinese, and the content of the workshop will be relevant.

Is this workshop suitable for me if I don't teach with Somos, Nous Sommes, or Sumus?

Yes! Elicia will be using demonstration lessons from a variety of free and created resources rather than demonstrations from the Somos family of curricula.

Is this workshop suitable for me if I currently use or want to learn how to teach with Somos, Nous Sommes, or Sumus?

Yes! All the demonstration lessons can be applied directly to any resource from the Somos family of curricula. However, please keep in mind that this workshop will not address Somos-specific questions or resources. 

Can I earn credits or hours for attending this workshop?

Yes, workshop attendees will receive a certificate of participation for 11- 13 hours of Continuing Education. Attendees will also have the option to register for 2 Graduate Credits through University of the Pacific. Attendees may choose to register for the credits after they have registered for the workshop and for an additional fee of $62.00 per credit. Note: this course is

EDUP 9411.     https://bit.ly/comprehensibleclassroomcredit 
Syllabus for  In-Person Teach and Assess for Acquisition with The Comprehensible Classroom: https://bit.ly/tfa-afa-syllabus

Host or Publisher Martina Bex, The Comprehensible Classroom