Liam reports:
Ben,
I went to iFLT over the summer, which was really, really good. But, honestly, reading Stepping Stones was perhaps twice as impactful. Most of the info was not new for me, but to read all of it, in one place, systematically laid out, was dynamite. I can see reading it every summer sometime in late August, for some time. It focused me and prepared me well for those crucial first days.
We just finished our third week of school. The gains I have made in terms of classroom management are palpable. Still not perfect, still too much English, but the trajectory is still in my favor – I’m getting more and more TL. And this week I’m finally entering real grades based on jGR. With the open grade book policy (parent’s back to school night was yesterday,) this will undoubtedly produce good results. The four freshmen classes are just about eating out of my hands. The Chinese IIIs are better than they were last year, but, alas, I allowed bad habits in Chinese II and they’ll never be as good as the I’s, it seems.
I’m never able to get onto the PLC as often as I would like but for a long time I’ve wanted to contribute a video. I hope some will find it useful. If so, I’m happy to share more.
It’s taken on day 10, a Friday, last period!, (proud about that!) with my Chinese I’s. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d24lQl-NOkM
Thanks,
Liam, New Jersey