Inside the Classroom: Elizabeth Palma Tripp - Eaton High School
Inside the Classroom: Elizabeth Palma Tripp - Eaton High School
Inside the Classroom is a series that visits Northwest ISD campuses throughout the year and highlights the magical moments that happen between teachers and students each and every day across the entire 234 square miles of NISD.
For our next edition of Inside the Classroom, Eaton High School students stepped out of their desks and into a mock art gallery – but this wasn’t an art class.
Instead, the experience was part of a Spanish IV Advanced Placement course, where Elizabeth Palma Tripp is getting creative to help students apply their learning and prepare for the rigorous AP exam.
As students arrived for fifth period, they were greeted by more than a dozen pieces of artwork displayed throughout the collaboration space outside the classroom. Before diving into the gallery, Ms. Palma Tripp began with a warmup activity.
As an Advanced Placement course, Spanish IV is equivalent to an intermediate-level college class, and expectations are high. Much of the instruction is delivered entirely in Spanish – and the warmup was no exception.
Students analyzed pieces of art and conversed with a partner in Spanish, discussing which image didn’t belong and why. The activity highlighted what sets AP Spanish apart: it’s not just about learning vocabulary or grammar, but about using the language to communicate ideas in real-world contexts.
The AP exam also has a stated goal of testing a student’s understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures, and that is where Ms. Palma Tripp’s simulated art museum came into play.
After the warmup, students entered the mock gallery, moving from piece to piece while recording observations – all in Spanish. Even when asking questions, conversations between students and their teacher remained fully immersed in the language.
Back in the classroom, students used their notes to complete a written reflection on their favorite piece before transitioning to conversation practice on their Chromebooks.
In this assignment, students listened to prompts in Spanish, recorded responses, and engaged in a simulated back-and-forth conversation – mirroring the format of the AP exam. Ms. Palma Tripp later reviewed each recording, providing feedback to help students refine their skills.
From gallery walks to in-person and digital conversations, each activity is intentionally designed to prepare students for the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam, which challenges them across four areas: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
By blending creativity with rigorous practice, Ms. Palma Tripp is doing more than preparing students for a test – she’s helping them build the confidence to communicate in another language beyond the classroom walls.
Check back regularly all year as we continue to visit students and teachers throughout Northwest ISD and offer a rarely seen look Inside the Classroom.