Robert’s email discussing Scope and Sequence with his district World Languages representative continues: Rigor and Relevance are addressed at all levels by empowering students to discuss things that relate to them, connect to real life, and are novel, engaging and involving (Relevance), and then pursue those things in depth with integrity and sustained focus (Rigor). […]

Robert’s email discussing Scope and Sequence with his district World Languages representative continues: 4. In the fourth year students expand their ability to communicate in all three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Interpretive, Presentational) through listening, speaking, reading and writing about themselves, their environment and the world at large in formal and informal settings. They continue

Robert’s email discussing Scope and Sequence with his district World Languages representative continues: 3. In the third year students continue developing oral language through interpersonal and interpretive communication on topics related to them and their larger environment with emphasis on hearing, understanding and responding to spoken language. They begin oral presentational communication. Students continue developing

This is from John Piazza: Ben, I came across this article by Mike Peto on transitioning a department toward an CI approach. Among the very helpful advice he offers, there is this reminder about how powerful the timed/free-writes can be as evidence of student learning/acquisition. I have certainly discovered this, and I plan to capitalize

Grant Boulanger is working with Carol in organizing iFLT in Saint Paul this summer. This means it will be better than in previous years. Here is a message from Grant: Ben, Yesterday Carol Gaab sent out a January newsletter announcing IFLT 2015. It’s going to be hosted by my district, at the high school my

Robert’s email discussing scope and sequence with his district World Languages representative continues: 2. In the second year students continue with oral language development through interpersonal and interpretive communication on topics related to the students, their community (including school) and their environment with emphasis on hearing, understanding and responding to spoken language. At this level

Robert’s email discussing scope and sequence with his district World Languages representative continues: So now that I have prefaced my submission to you with all of that, if I were free to design a Scope and Sequence based on ACTFL, Krashen, SLA, Brain-Based Research, etc., I would have something like the following: 1. In the

Robert’s email discussing scope and sequence with his district World Languages representative continues: D. We need to decide what ought to be accomplished in a high school program and how much can be accomplished. Both ACTFL and the College Board indicate that the AP program is designed for students who have been exposed to the

Gratitude. That’s what I felt today when at the gym a 6’5″ guy came up to me with a big smile on his face and started telling me all about a group of monkeys behind a cart and where they were going and all that. He went on and on. I pretended to remember him,

Robert’s email discussing scope and sequence with his district World Languages representative continues: C. The time necessary for true mastery far exceeds the time available in the school setting. Malcolm Gladwell in his book “Outliers” postulates that a minimum of 10,000 hours are needed for true mastery of any given subject or activity. He shows

Recently we got into discussing Carol’s “the brain craves novelty” idea, and though the brain does indeed crave novelty, James wrote in response: …here’s what we do in class. I speak in Latin in ways they can understand and they pay attention. Or else I give them a reading they can understand and they read

Robert’s email discussing scope and sequence with his district World Languages representative continues. Has anyone noticed that the guy hasn’t responded yet? He doesn’t respond to Robert until the 17th of these posts. There is a reason for that. I won’t go into it now except to say that this professional district level advisor to