Corinne in CA sent this:
Ben,
In response to your Magic Bean post, I’ve allocated some jobs this semester. The two French combined level 2&3 sections enjoy checking that they can keep in L2 as long as each other, so that timer is popular. My “barometers” (I know we don’t call them that ) enjoy counting PQA reps.
I have also had students take turns with the class list, checking off responses/reactions, questions/stop signs and cute ideas, but now they seem like they are inflating the points (“I wanted everyone to have some points, Madame”) so I am back to scanning the room and trusting completely to my own assessment. Next week I’ll do some self assessment towards the end of the week, instead.
What is fabulous when I remember, which is not often enough, is story writer. I just do not remember enough to write up the stories without that.
The other job I need to remember to assign regularly is a 10 minute warning person, to let me know to draw the action/discussion to a close, in time for a quiz/free write/retell.
The PLC is a huge inspiration and encouragement, but I cannot keep up with it – information overload. I love trying new things so much, I think I’ve tried too much that’s a bit unfamiliar and it’s contributed to my feeling of lack of direction in the classroom. I totally wish I could get to simply hanging out with the kids in TL each day, what a wonderful ideal. It would require their best communication skills… and my planning of topics to talk about.
Maybe the piece I need to get hold of is the weekly plan!! That and continuing to hold students accountable for their showing up and working as per the jGR. I am not going to hand out free A’s for kids who don’t give back. It’s a balancing act to accomplish all that and at the same time treat them with kindness and love and focus on the compelling message so that they can acquire unconsciously a la Krashen.
Not an easy thing we’ve all chosen to do,
Corinne
My response: On the information overload point, I have to daily shove horses back into the corral (the queue) with my bare hands. I just don’t know what to do. The queue is loaded up with bios and cool articles but if I publish them at a faster rate it has the effect on Corinne and the rest of us that she describe and, as Jim and Dave said earlier, that they can only manage to read 50% of the stuff.
On a slightly different topic, what is unique here, and Corinne hit it on the head, is the weekly schedule. It’s not updated, but when it is, the biggest piece of the puzzle will be in place. I’ll post that first chance I get. If you don’t see your article or bio up here, work with me – we’ll do what we can. Again, this weekly schedule is not going to be published as “the way to do it” – just a good way to get a handle on our TPRS/CI instruction, since it, like those in this group, is a bucking bronco.
