Cake

Sometimes I get really lazy. Or perhaps it’s just a normal response to a world where people work themselves like mules and then wonder why they collapse. Whatever, below is my so-called “Fast Fourward” activity (because sometimes I want to fast forward my class and have it end when it feels like it’s just supposed

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Video Retell

The video retell gives you a chance to review the entirety of the story without interruption. The actors re-create the action on camera while you simply narrate the story from off-camera. You can add in props, other actors, sound effects (students provide them), perhaps adding in a bit more dialogue, whatever strikes you in the

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When Observed

Here is a photo – published before in these pages – of one of the happiest moments of my life. I was just hanging out in the French language with my Latino students on the west side of Denver in 2014. Krashen was in the room at the time. I was soiling my pants, but

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Good News!

This is from Sarah Downey: So,… I went to work today even though I have been sick since the 23rd and feel and look awful because today I get to teach all day. As my day unfolded, half way through my vice principal comes in to do an observation. Just my luck feeling really bad

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Jen on Assessment

Jen wrote this and it cuts to the chase big time: I am trying to spend the least amount of time possible thinking about, entering and scheming the grades. It is such an energy suck. But inevitably I get sidetracked by CI teachers who have these elaborate systems and who address every point in ACTFL

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Starla la Destructora

I’m not even sure who wrote this but here is a link to a little reader: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Starla-la-Destructora-3497772 Also Greg wrote one: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/El-chico-salvaje-A-short-story-FVR-SSR-e-book-for-CI-Spanish-teachers-3510365

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Be The Change

I love this comment from Greg. It has a very in-your-face quality to it: In the USA most people have taken 2-4 years of a language in their lifetime, yet they show little proficiency and interest in other languages. Unfortunately, with the exception of teachers on this blog and those that actively go to conferences

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Survey and Listening Activity

We can avoid conflict by even saying to anyone, including our students, that we use CI. Steven suggested today that we call common assessments “surveys”. I think that is a brilliant idea. It softens everything. A few weeks ago Amy suggested that we call our auditory CI (stories, etc.) “listening activities”. This is equally brilliant.

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On Grading

Carly recently commented here on the subject of grading kids – find the text below. I find her statements to be powerful and true, except for one, the part about grading “behavior”. I would replace that sentence (in the third paragraph) with a recommendation that we learn to grade in our students what I call

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