My first EDPuzzle IPA mashup went pretty smoothly this week. I think it really helped students break down the listening into manageable chunks to make the overall task approachable. I’m also really glad that I chose to add in my little summary audio commentary at various intervals because students were still Read more…
I assessed my students’ proficiency in interpretive reading, interpersonal speaking, and presentational writing earlier in the semester with their first Integrated Performance Assessment. I think we’re all feeling pretty good about their reading about now (although some need a little work on their portfolio evidence still), so I’m switching out Read more…
From back channels during film viewing to blogging to daily reader response set up on Google Community, iPads have been a key ingredient in my Film & Literature class, but never moreso than in their final video project. Instead of a final exam, my kiddos are working in groups, taking clips Read more…
A quality five-minute movie project will suck weeks away from your class time, if done right. Then again, with the right technology–a coupla iPads, apps, and Web 2.0 accounts for example–a decent 30-second video can be churned out in a class period often with just the technology half your kids Read more…
Collecting evidence for listening, speaking, and person-to-person is about to get a whole lot easier.We did what we could with student devices and my little (well, huge) Android phone to collect evidence for portfolios this year. Next year, though, I was selected to experiment with a set of iPads in Read more…
Last year we made piñatas for Día del Niño. This year, we made maracas to accompany our musical performance at the local language festival in April. Since each student chose a specialty, and the music group finished pretty early, I set them to finding videos to create the musical instruments 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…
I discovered the secret to finding videos in the target language without YouTube, but not to figuring out what on Earth that Brazilian lady is saying. To find the videos, a simple Google search set to just videos can be refined by choosing “Search tools” then clicking “Any source” and Read more…
The cameras are all here! The supplies are almost all sorted! If we can get a couple of bigger boxes, double-check inventory, and just get our hands on the memory cards, everything will be just about ready to ship to La Laja in Colombia! That means it is time to Read more…
I have two decent lessons recorded for Entry 3, but decent for different reasons. One involves students trying to give me directions on how to rescue a 42″ Olivia Doll. The other involves Skyping my ex-mother-in-law in Mexico about health care. No, I’m not sure which is freakier. Nor am Read more…