Re: Daniel, do you find Descubre to be for high school students?

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Recommend Spanish textbook

by Linda Endow Hall

Aug 30, 2016

This is my year for a Spanish textbook review with adoption coming next year. I have not purchased a new Spanish text in 9 years so am looking for recommendations. I want to go paperless in my classroom so need a text that is interactive.

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Monica :D When we looked at it, they looked like a series for college students. Do you think it's good enough for high school?

On 8/30/16, Daniel Hanson wrote: > I have been reading book recommendations for years on this > online teacher forums. Last Spring our district piloted > Realidades, Avancemos, and Descubre. Our district is now >...See More

Sep 12, 2016

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Daniel Hanson I think it's the best out on the market in terms of technology. Yes, it was designed from college textbooks. However, I think that is a plus because it prepares them for that level better than the other textbooks I have seen. Plus, it is more thorough. I have learned to adapt the textbook for my students and make it work.

On 9/12/16, Monic...See More

Sep 13, 2016

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Lola Descubre is too difficult and has too much grammar for high school students. I do not think it helps with proficiency. The super site is too hard. Poor students get frustrated with the super site...activities too difficult. But teachers like it. Easy to grade.

On 9/12/16, Monica :D wrote: > When we looked at it, they looked like a serie...See More

Sep 22, 2016

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Daniel Hanson I agree that the text is based off of college-level
curriculum. However, I have been able to use it just fine.
For the vocabulary, I focus more on the first 4 sections
of the vocabulary from each chapter because that is truly
the active vocabulary of the chapter. The other vocabulary
sections are for passive vocabulary to be able to ...See More

Sep 23, 2016

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Lisa Are there any workbooks you recommend for high school 9 and 10 graders?

On 9/23/16, Daniel Hanson wrote: > I agree that the text is based off of college-level > curriculum. However, I have been able to use it just fine. > For the vocabulary, I focus more on the first 4 sections > of the vocabulary from each chapter because that...See MoreAre there any workbooks you recommend for high school 9 and 10 graders?

On 9/23/16, Daniel Hanson wrote: > I agree that the text is based off of college-level > curriculum. However, I have been able to use it just fine. > For the vocabulary, I focus more on the first 4 sections > of the vocabulary from each chapter because that is truly > the active vocabulary of the chapter. The other vocabulary > sections are for passive vocabulary to be able to do the > short films, literature and culture readings. > > As for the grammar, I like that it has a more thorough > grammar approach that most high school Spanish textbooks. > To me, En Español's grammar was watered down a bit and > Realidades had barely any grammar (although the kids found > the grammar clips from Realidades corny and somewhat > engaging). So far, for the grammar in my Spanish 3 classes > (using Descubre level 3), the grammar concepts have been > more review than anything. We are doing the first three > chapters for the first quarter. (Our district does 4x4 > block schedule.) > > I like the amount of online helps and resources Descubre > has. I also am liking that I can assign partner chats, > etc., online whenever I want. This gives students more > opportunities to use more spontaneous language as well as > helps them to stay focused during speaking activities > during the class period because they have to record > themselves. It is a great management tool for teachers as > well. > > This semester is the first official semester that our > entire district (5 high schools) is using the textbook. > The staff seems to like it over all. There is no book that > is going to be totally perfect. You must tweak things here > and there. Over all, I am satisfied with the text > (although the culture readings and stuff can be a little > hard in the Descubre Level 3 textbook). And I think it is > the best out there right now in term of preparing students > for AP Spanish Language and Culture and for the company's > Temas textbook, which is the top recommended textbook for > AP Language. > > On 9/22/16, Lola wrote: >> Descubre is too difficult and has too much grammar for >> high school students. I do not think it helps with >> proficiency. The super site is too hard. Poor students >> get frustrated with the super site...activities too >> difficult. But teachers like it. Easy > to >> grade. >> >> On 9/12/16, Monica :D wrote: >>> When we looked at it, they looked like a series for >>> college students. Do you think it's good enough for high >>> school? >>> >>> >>> >>> On 8/30/16, Daniel Hanson wrote: >>>> I have been reading book recommendations for years on >> this >>>> online teacher forums. Last Spring our district piloted >>>> Realidades, Avancemos, and Descubre. Our district is >>>> now using Descubre. The materials are very good at >>>> preparing students for the caliber of AP Spanish >>>> language. There are lots of authentic materials as well >>>> as film. The online materials are the best I have seen >>>> up until now and the >> tech >>>> support line has been very helpful, much better than >>>> Realidades. >>>> >>>> Avancemos was pretty much the same as what our district >>> had >>>> the past 20 years (En Español) and their online >>>> material >> was >>>> lacking. The Realidades material was very watered down >> and >>>> the tech support wasn't as good as Descubre. It also >>>> felt like the material wasn't rigorous enough for >>>> preparing students for AP. There were lots of errors >>>> and problems >> with >>>> the online material. There were a lot of PDFs instead >>>> of >> more >>>> interactive materials. >>>> >>>> On 8/30/16, Linda Endow Hall wrote: >>>>> This is my year for a Spanish textbook review with >>>>> adoption coming next year. I have not purchased a new >>>>> Spanish text in 9 years so am looking for >>>>> recommendations. I want to go paperless in my >> classroom >>>>> so need a text that is interactive.

Sep 25, 2016

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