The constant use of English to explain how the class works should stop now, after about a week. We have had all the time we get for explaining how our class works – about a week. Close the doors to the English. Again – I have used all the English to explain the rules and all to my classes that I can allow myself.
If I speak English other than to ask “What did I just say?” – which I must do A LOT in class because Susan Gross clearly stated about three weeks ago that the ten finger checks are far less effecive than asking what we just said – then I will be, by using periodic English, setting myself up for failure this year.
All my work in learning how to teach using comprehensible input will be for nought. It is the sixth day or so of school, I have explained everthing, I have no call to use English, and if I do it today, I might as well walk out of the building this afternoon and never come back.
Allowing English today and next week will really mess up all my work on this stuff in ways that I sense are truly deep. If I allow English today the class will lose it’s edge and discipline problems will soon occur because of that English option I give them and they will learn a lot less than if I can stay purely in French today. If I can do this today and next week, then I can do it all year.
The Five Finger Rules – described here in a blog a few days ago – are truly my friend now because the kids at this point are familiar enough with the rules so that I don’t have to use English to say them – I just put my fingers up. This is huge. Instant discipline with no English.
With finger rule #2 – nothing on the desk (except the Circling with Balls cards) – if a kid puts a head on the desk, I then hold up two fingers and look at the kid and the head must be taken off the desk. If I don’t wait the kid out on that, I send a loud message to every kid in the room that all year I will be afraid to confront bullies in my classroom and that I can be bullied. Failing to enforce my rules is the same as giving up on the year and accepting that hell state of chaos that most teachers call a day of teaching.
Today is the day. And every day next week. Then by September I will have normed myself into mostly TL and I will be very happy because there will be a tremendous power in the class because English won’t be an option for anyone except for “What did I just say”.
Why am I making this point over and over here? Because I have to do it today. Today is the day. I can’t forget. Doing this hard work today will make all the difference later and make the year a lot easier in all way. I’m going for 99% TL this year. I’m starting today.
The Problem with CI
Jeffrey Sachs was asked what the difference between people in Norway and in the U.S. was. He responded that people in Norway are happy and
