A good teacher is always looking for ways to vary his or her assessments. Administering varied assessment types allows for differences in student strengths and weaknesses and provides novelty. Novelty is important because it makes the assessment feel less like an exam and more like an activity, which reduces anxiety and lowers the affective filter, … Continue reading What did I say?
Category: Listening
Q & A Match-up – Interpretive activity for language classes
I'm always on the hunt for new and different tasks for students to complete when listening to songs or other authentic resources, and this activity shared by Sharon Birch is a great one! Its flexible design allows it to used as a reading activity as well. What is Q&A Match-Up? In a Q&A Match-up, students … Continue reading Q & A Match-up – Interpretive activity for language classes
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Madres de la Plaza de Mayo Interview
If you haven't guessed it yet by some of my recent posts, I am working on a unit about Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo. And, if you can believe it, it is for students in Spanish 1!! Usually, heavier topics like this are not tackled until upper-level courses when students have the vocabulary … Continue reading Madres de la Plaza de Mayo Interview
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Authentic Listening Texts
If you haven't noticed, I've been trying to use more authentic listening texts lately 🙂 Well, I was, until the school year ended. While I was out on maternity leave, my awesome substitute was a native speaker from Puerto Rico. My students were overwhelmed (and discouraged) listening to her speak in Spanish, and became whiney … Continue reading Authentic Listening Texts
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Story Elements Glove
Here is a fun idea that I learned at a 'Stellar Strategies' workshop with Liz Warner several years ago here in Anchorage. It was a great workshop, and I walked away with many ready-to-use strategies for teaching vocabulary and language in general. THE STORY ELEMENTS GLOVE The Story Elements Glove was one easy-to-implement strategy that … Continue reading Story Elements Glove
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Great Resources
Cynthia Hintz posted a link on her blog to one of Mr. Tejeda's Podcuentos. These videos are awesome! He has some in Spanish and some in French. He speaks verrrrry slowly and circles each new piece of information very thoroughly. Cynthia used the story about the Chico Peruano to reinforce first-person singular verb forms … Continue reading Great Resources
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Same and Different
This is a great reading activity that will give students experience with 'testing vocabulary' and require them to use higher levels of thinking. You could also use it as a listening activity, but you'd probably want to have done it with a reading first since the immediacy of listening would make it more challenging. Begin … Continue reading Same and Different
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Listening assessments for language classes
I administer four kinds of summative assessments to my students: Reading comprehension assessments Listening comprehension assessments Presentational writing assessments Presentational speaking assessments (Read here about why I don't administer summative Interpersonal assessments.) Each quarter, I try to get three or four grades in the book for each of the first three assessment categories. I adopted … Continue reading Listening assessments for language classes
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True/False Listening Quiz
Here is an obvious one for you!! (I need to post every kind of activity that I use on here so that when my brain isn't working, I can look at the archives for each category and remember what kinds of assessments and activities I have at my disposal!) After any given story, a very … Continue reading True/False Listening Quiz
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Cornell Notes
Developed "far above Cayuga's waters", Cornell Notes are an effective note-taking strategy that can be used across grade levels and content areas. I was first introduced to Cornell Notes by my administrator in a 6-8 public school in Anchorage, Alaska. She didn't have to sell me on it too hard since my grandfather, my parents, … Continue reading Cornell Notes
