The Keys to the Classroom

A concise "go to" guide for new language educators that provides basic practical information, suggestions, and templates, without going into the detail found in a more comprehensive methods textbook. Since the publication of the first edition in 2007, concepts of planning, instruction, and grading have evolved, proficiency-based NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements have been created, and, of course, the available tools and resources have changed a great deal. When this text was originally published, overhead projectors were common in classrooms, students rarely had their own cell phones, and social media were still relatively new. Today the instructional environment is different, as are the tools and resources available to teachers.

Amid all the ways in which teaching has changed, much remains the same. Learners still need to be meaningfully engaged with the language. Educators must plan opportunities for learning that are relevant for learners. Students must believe that teachers care for them as individuals. Language and intercultural skills are increasingly important in our global society. Teaching is difficult, and educators new to the profession need support and guidance.

New teachers must learn a great deal, regardless of the amount of preparation they need before entering the classroom. This second edition of The Keys to the Classroom captures the changes and additions that meet the needs of language educators in today's rapidly changing environment.

Dr. Leslie Baldwin is the World Languages Director for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in Winston-Salem, NC and the Executive Director of the Southern Conference on Language Teaching. Dr. Baldwin received her doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she is also an adjunct instructor. She is the author of Keys to the Classroom (2nd edition), a handbook for beginning World Language educators. Dr. Baldwin is a frequent presenter at state, regional, and national conferences on a wide range of topics related to language instruction and language immersion programs. She is passionate about facilitating meaningful learning experiences for students and educators.