I’ve known Guy through conferences for years. A class act. He doesn’t post a lot but here is what we could call a combination Bio and Report from the Field. He is in SoCal. Thanks Guy and will see you in San Diego in a few months.
This is my third year of TPRS/CI. My classes are going well. This is the best year I have ever had! I am getting more consistent with teaching to the eyes. I am also getting better at being in the moment with PQA and asking tons of questions no matter what we are doing. My students are getting better at demonstrating understanding (and lack thereof!).
The admins who visit comment on how engaged students are and how positive the atmosphere is in the class. One VP has stopped in several times, but she always has poker face and never comments on the class. So I asked her what she thought. She said she loves coming to my class because she can see that kids are really learning. She added that she wished her daughter had my class! I asked her to smile when she comes in:)
I am using alot of Matava and Tripp scripts, plus some of my own. I am working hard to develop a lexical presence of mind that I need to keep all students in the boat. I now post the structures from old stories on the wall so that I can reinforce them whenever the chance arises. Also, it’s amazing how songs help teach structures. My kids learn alot with them. We learn ASL signs for key items as we learn the songs. They protest when I skip the song for a day. Singing or signing, its part of jgr… no singing required. When several of my kids went to show their animals at the fair, however, the ag teacher videotaped them singing songs they learned in class. Home run!
The other FL teachers in my school are still largely uninterested in CI. One teacher is very sympathetic but is not yet ready to take the plunge. I have a student teacher for one period. She is getting her CI baptism. She likes it way better than what she does in her traditional classes. But I suck at coaching still.
I do alot of R and D of novels on Fridays. It’s badass. I was able to purchase 2 new class sets of novels this year. I am hoping to get better with student actors. I really want to get abreast of Readers Theater. Sometimes when I use actors its amazing, but mostly it is lots of oysters and few pearls… yet I will persist in searching for those pearls!
The PLC is awesome. I love the humanity of teaching this way and the PLC gives me strength and resilience to pushing ahead for my students. Thank you for giving it your whole heart.