In my Spanish classes, Genius Hour starts off as a weekly exploration of individual student interests in the target language, where I guide students through different resources and strategies for resource analysis. The purpose is still discovery and exploration, pursuing individual student passions, but I’ve found that if I simply Read more…
I am determined to prove that Genius Hour is possible at the novice level in world language classes, without completely sacrificing target language time. I believe that the proper scaffolding allows students to pursue their passions in the target language at whatever level. Now, students won’t necessarily be making Earth-shattering Read more…
I feel like I progressed a lot as an educator in 2013, especially in the fields of Project-Based Learning and sticking to the target language. I’m also still basking in the support from colleagues around the world, both online and at my first ACTFL convention. If I were really smart, Read more…
You arranged for your class to Skype with a native speaker–maybe a whole class of native speakers–and to carry on a real live conversation in the target language. Your kids introduced themselves, nodded and said “gracias” like they should when their compañeros across the internet answered their questions. But you Read more…
Students listed words from their recipes they were havinga hard time pronouncing, and I made them a soundboard.Here’s how you can too, plus other ideas for your own. Soundboards can be a quick, easy way to train our ears, but if we make them ourselves, they can also boost fluency Read more…
I talked my school into Glogster Premium accounts for everyone about a year ago, for the purposes of building our e-portfolio component. I do not regret it, but we are now ready to move on. I had been so frustrated by the limited, list-like functions of ThinkQuest and what seemed Read more…
I cannot handle a class of 25 freshmen after 1:00. OK, 22 freshmen and a couple of sophomores and juniors. I haven’t had a class over 22 in over 3 years so, yes, I’m spoiled. And to pile all of those kids I’ve never met into one class at the Read more…
First of all, if I do teach Cortázar, it would almost certainly be limited to Spanish 3. Secondly, if I do teach Cortázar, I would probably not teach the story I was assigned for my grad class: I’d so much rather sink my teeth into my favorite story by Sr. Julio: “Axolotl.” Read more…
When you want to assign students a glog creating project through GlosterEDU, here are my suggestions for making it easier: Always assign the project using GlogsterEDU’s “assign project” option. This way you can easily see who has completed the assignment who has not, and you can post grades and comments Read more…
Our school believes in e-portfolios and student-led conferences, but a successful approach has been just beyond our reach the past several years. So we’re 1) planning on bribing parents to come to parent night with hot dogs, and 2) switching to GlogsterEDU for our e-portfolio platform. And since I led Read more…