Michelle sent some tableaux and ICI stories created by her level 1 French classes. Find them below. Here is my feedback:
Michelle –
The tableaux are exceptionally well done. They contain the right amount of information and everything is related only to QL 2-4. This is as it should be when you do tableaux. They are short and each sentence will clearly go deep with the kids as you go around the Star since they themselves created them.
I can see that you were content to just build the image and then let it be what it is. Of course, I would point out – and I know that you know this from the book – that if you wanted to or saw the possibility of turning one of the tableaux into a story, then you could do that simply by asking QL5 and 6, or even, more simply, just including some kind of action and/or dialogue. Your ICI stories are extremely well-done precisely because of how simple they are. The kids should be praised for their excellent drawing, character development and creativity. You should be praised for keeping it all simple and guiding your students down the road of simplicity because they are, after all, only first year students.
Again, you generated simple stories from your students. A level one class producing things like this after only the few months since I sent you the materials is rare. Do the parents have access to their children’s work via your school website? Being able to access this work they’ve done is a big step for you in terms of job security and protection from textbook teachers, who are probably stewing in their insecurities right about now, which may not be comfortable for them but how else are we going to bring reform to our profession than by making some people nervous? They may even attack you. Don’t respond. Close the door and work your magic.
Verbs occur in the ICI-generated texts and so when that happens it can’t be a tableau any more. I saw two verbs like “transforme” and “mange”. Just pointing that out so you clearly know that action and dialogue, whenever they are added to a tableau in even minute amounts, create a “story”.
I can’t think of anything else to add. I see nothing needing improvement. You clearly followed the instructions for drawing an ICI bc they are so well done. I would assume that you would agree that the best classes you taught using the Ultimate CI Star were these, the ones created from the ICIs. Individual students and not the entire class as a group produce by far the best results. Very creative students!
Thank you for paying so much attention to detail when you read the book. You worked hard to learn something new and it paid off. Your report gives me hope that the Self-Study program is well-written enough to allow people who are totally new to CI to master it fairly quickly.
If you have other things to send, or actual videos of you teaching, pls send them and I will share them with the group, giving feedback like this.
Again, I am very happy to know that the “self-study” course with the books and videos, etc. worked for you, and I am very glad to know as well that the classes are helping you and your students and your colleagues. I couldn’t ask for anything more than that.
Ben