Review
Here is a review of my two latest books. I am very happy: Review of The Ultimate CI Book 1 and Book 2 by Ben Slavic During my recent long-awaited professional development for teaching using Comprehensible Input, I realized that one of
Overview of the StarChart™ Curriculum – Use it with Administrators
Here is an overview of the StarChart™ by our group members Jesse and Elahe. Jesse calls it “a summary of his experience and understanding of our Zoom CI classes.” It’s a great description of the Star and I suggest that
“Let’s go camping!”
Normally, I focus only on content here, but I would like to register something else here in this post today. I am feeling, for the first time in 20 years of slogging through the TPRS/CI wars, real and authentic hope.
CI with Stories is Difficult Online
The difference between doing tableaux vs. stories using the StarChart™ is that stories involve creating a problem and a solution and they also involve people talking, which doesn't happen in tableaux vivants. This means that in stories there is action
Change Is Needed
The old idea of "spare the rod and spoil the child" is out of date. It doesn't align with the paradigm shift we are in. What shift? Basically, in my view, the shift is about learning to love one another -
Jazz vs. Classical
A repost from March of 2009: Eugene and Bonnie Hamilton just spent a few days with me. Eugene is a Latin teacher and musician (French Horn) and Bonnie is a high school German teacher. We were talking between classes and Eugene
It’s Still Evil
I know that in the law there are various levels of, for example, murder, premeditated being the worst. But do murderers avoid imprisonment when their crime was unintentional? No. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Similarly, in the last
That is Evil
FACT: People learn languages effortlessly, using a part of their brain - the unconscious mind - that cannot be taught to, cannot be reached with traditional language instruction. FACT: Most language teachers do not know this, with the result that
Jazz
Live in your classroom in full confidence that the next moment will manifest safely, creatively, just as the next note manifests in a piece of jazz, naturally. The next note is the next word or word group. Language is not
With Our Hearts
One of the biggest things that we miss in class, perhaps because we are teachers, is what the kids are seeing and experiencing as we focus on providing them with good comprehensible input. We have to be in control, yes,
Quitting Our Jobs
We should not quit a job because we have been given too much to do and we can't handle it. We keep our jobs by simply doing less. We don't coach that team. We don't volunteer for that activity. We
Our Jobs As Teachers
I once heard Mary Ann Williamson say that "you teach what you need to learn." Well, I already know French, so what do I need to learn from my teaching? I need to learn to be in command of my
Freedom Train
(This post is dedicated to Sean Lawler and his wife Candice in Chicago, who have been helping to build the new Freedom Train in the Chicago Public Schools for a long time now.) I wrote the article below in all
Teachers’ Jobs
This is a repost to remind us that we do too much. A PLC member sent these and I can't remember who it was to credit you so thank you whoever you are. We may want to rethink some of
Can Do Statements – 11
Q. So how do you really feel about Can Do statements, Ben? A. Thank you for asking! I think that they are about as useful as a screen door in a submarine because they favor the few. We can't teach that
On Being Judged in Our Classrooms – 5
In the previous article, I stated that when an observer comes into my classroom, I try to remember to bring the child that the observer once was into the class, to find that child and teach that child some French. Of course
We Are Not Tired – We Are Blocked
I hear comments about how teaching using CI can be exhausting. I don't agree with that position. It's about FLOW. (Search that category for more articles on this important TPRS/CI concept.) Flow is one of Krashen's favorite words, judging by
Teacher Lacks Confidence in Language Skills
I got this email: Hi Ben, At this point, I am just wishing I could read your books faster, as my students come on Wednesday. I have loved the storytelling approach but felt the same difficulties that you describe in your
Can Do Statements – 10
Deep down, I feel that it is best for our mental health to not have to plan, and I mean zero planning. The no-planning approach is also best for our students in terms of language gains when we don't plan. THE
More on Circling
In our email communication about Circling, Carla wrote this: "This week I have been watching a Spanish class by one of the experts
Circling – The Big Lie
Carla asked me about Circling recently. I don't know what the TPRS/CI community is up to these days, but I gathered from what Carla said that they still circle. God bless them. I find that Circling does not work. It seems
We Need to Upgrade Our Grading
We are now moving at warp speed into a new way to educate and assess people. It is now more about communication, process, intuition and cooperation. It is no longer about isolation of the smart from the not so smart. Nor
Upcoming Ultimate CI Book Trainings
1. That Book 2 training group is now officially scheduled to start March 27th. 3 spots remain. (Classes are limited to 15) 2. The next Book 1 training starts March 27th as well. Registration for that group is now closed. 3.
Something for Curious Admins
Denise sent this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14zGHyYDQ3sfCyV2XVpI6QgxDj9RcP2ZHxY4aa6mlNEU/edit?fbclid=IwAR22kZqNBYDgQBlREwuh2of9Gq6J4Mge98d9L8VYFoP6CFxbSQHA-2yOp2Y
Position in Redding, CA
Corinne Bourne teaches Russian and French (and some Spanish) in Redding, CA. A member of this PLC for over 15 years and a real pro at CI, is retiring this year. She writes: Hi Ben - My position at UPrep, Redding