You have done your research and planned your year with lessons and activities that are guaranteed to help your students make forward progress on the path to proficiency. Your planned lessons are input-rich and you know how to keep it comprehensible. You can't fail! ...except, you are failing. You're a few days in...a few weeks in maybe...and … Continue reading Practical advice for classroom management
Reading and listening are the core components of comprehension based language classes. We know that students acquire language when they hear and read messages that they understand--so read and listen they will! Sometimes, we share short, easily digestible texts with students. Other times, we need to read a text of a significant length in order … Continue reading Best Brain Breaks
Thank you so much to Virginia Browne for translating the slideshow that I shared yesterday into French. I am still a wee baby French speaker, so please let me know if I made any errors while re-typing the file! Click here to download it and click here to learn why I created it. Also, in light … Continue reading La paix commence par toi – PPT for French classes
I met Jon Cowart for the first time at iFLT 2014 in Denver, and his passion for teaching kids in urban, low-income settings was apparent from our first conversation. He has been committed to using language teaching as a way to connect with and empower his students. Specifically, he uses comprehensible input strategies to empower his … Continue reading Teaching languages in Urban schools – Guest post!
On the last morning of iFLT16, I decided to visit the language labs one last time. There were many great sessions that I would have liked to attend, but I figured that I could read about the content of most of them online or interrogate a friend that was able to attend. I wanted to … Continue reading Elementary Spanish with Annabelle Allen
Do you ever just need a day? You look at your lesson plans and think, “I…just…can’t”? A few days ago, I had a day. I got some news that knocked me out emotionally, and since I was 39 1/2 weeks pregnant (now 40 weeks pregnant...come on girl!....)…I just needed a day. I’m not teaching, but I had my three … Continue reading 10 CI Activities for when you just can’t
Here in Alaska, we just wrapped up an incredible conference. Bill VanPatten of MSU and Scott Benedict of Teach for June were our Keynote speakers, and they joined with World Language teachers from across the state to inspire and challenge my ideas on language teaching and acquisition. I tweeted like a maniac, so check out #afla15 … Continue reading How to grade class participation?
Because we know that students acquire language through comprehensible input, finding make-up work for students that miss class that actually helps them to make up what was missed is a HUGE challenge. I'm going to share some things that I have done, and I ask that you would add what you've done in the comments!! The most important … Continue reading What to do when they miss class?
Thank you to everyone on Twitter, Facebook, and email that helped me to compile this list! I shared it at a workshop that I gave in sunny Southern CA on Saturday, and I hope that all of y'all will get lots of use out of it! I traditionally get my students' attention with this Call and Response … Continue reading Call and Response Signals
It's a new semester for many of y'all, and if you used Fast Finisher activities in the fall, you probably have a few students that are chomping at the bit, ready for more. Martina to the rescue! I finished up a new pack of 15 Fast Finisher worksheets (purchase it here), and even better I have started … Continue reading Fast Finisher Resources
