My Class is Structured

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A repost:
Here’s something I”m in the process of memorizing for the next time someone says to me that my class is not structured:
“My class is structured in the same way that what I am saying right now is structured. What I am saying now is structured but you are not aware of it. You are just focused on the message.
I will pause here and repeat that first sentence bc they are likely to not get it the first time. Then I will say:
“That’s what I want your son/daughter to do in my class – to understand what I am saying without focusing on the structure of it. This is their challenge in my class – to understand what I am saying in French. It’s not easy and a few kids don’t figure this out for months. It’s not easy because they have to use an entirely different part of their brain than the part they usually use in their other classes. It’s very challenging and rigorous.
Here I would show the parent the rigor posters from this site.
“I can no longer structure my class in the way I used to, using English to do worksheets and verb conjugation charts and exercises in the book. I’m not allowed to anymore.
“I can’t do it because the national standard is now on Communication, and on the 90% Use Statement, which says that I have to use French in my classroom as much as possible, over 90% of the time.
“I have to speak French in my classroom. Please help me by helping your child understand what I am saying to you right now. I can’t go back to speaking English in my classroom because I want to keep my job and align with standards. I’m sure you understand.
“I will send you a link* from our national parent organization, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, that would serve as a great springboard for a discussion. My administrators are familiar with it.”
*http://www.actfl.org/publications/the-language-educator/sample-articles
The way I personally memorize stuff like this is to take the first few words of each sentence and remember them in order. That is how I got through college. Memorizing. But I won’t tell the parent that. So:
First paragraph:

  1. My class is structured….
  2. What I am saying now is structured….
  3. You are just….

Second paragraph:

  1. That’s what I want….
  2. This is their challenge….
  3. It’s not easy….
  4. It’s not easy….
  5. It’s very challenging

 Third paragraph:

  1. I can no longer structure….
  2. I can’t do it because….

Foruth paragraph:

  1. I have to speak French….
  2. Please help me by….
  3. I can’t go back to….
  4. I’m sure….

Fifth paragraph:

  1. I will send….
  2. My administrators…

(Or I could just sent them an email….)