Not only do I think this game from Creative Language Class serves as a motivating tool for learning new words, reading in a new language, and collaborating with peers, but it also has that element of fun (down to the big colorful clips mentioned in the post) that may just keep students engaged enough to [read more…]
Using low tech to teach, differentiate and support
When talking to teachers about differentiated products in 2014, options involving technology (e.g., blog posts, animated video clips, Prezi presentations) tend to be at the center of those conversations. Learning about new ways to assess, support, and inspire students is absolutely important, but today’s featured post reminds us that it is also useful to hang on to “the old”. Samantha Decker, a blogger and creative French teacher, reminds us that low tech products like pen pal letters, posters, student-created games, and pencil/paper activities can be used [read more…]
Wonderful whiteboard
The featured activity from Learning Twigs is used for English Language Learners but could be incorporated into other classrooms too. Students might create a collaborative story, write out and solve multi-step problems together, or simply share a collection of facts or questions from an upcoming unit.
I love the interactive nature of this simple technique and I am especially drawn to it because it is [read more…]
Students as test authors
The featured post today is written with college students in mind, but you can use it with almost any grade level. At The BOK Blog, they are suggesting that educators “flip” test prep and have students write and discuss their own proposed test questions as a way to [Read more…]
Differentiating Instruction in the AP Spanish Classroom
I have not written about language learning in awhile, so today I selected an article from the The College Board’s (a non-profit that works to prepare learners for a transition to post-secondary learning) website. This short piece is written by Grace Smith and Stephanie Throne and is a nice introduction to differentiating in upper-level classes. The focus is Spanish, but all of their ideas (e.g., flexible grouping, choice, menu boards) would work well across [Read more…]
AP ESPANOL PARA TODOS
If you teach any foreign language class, you will be impressed with this article from College Board. It does focus on AP Spanish, but the recommendations could work well across [Read more…]
FOREIGN LANGUAGE BEAN BAG GAMES
Diane at Foreign Language Fun has shared these cute games to play with your little ones but I can see playing them with kids at any age (even in high school).
All of her bean bag games are designed to teach simple concepts like numbers, letters and body parts- words that all new foreign language speakers learn first. I think playing the counting game with middle school students would inspire [Read more…]
Off to Paris?
I was delighted to find The French Corner this week as I searched for the ‘best foreign language blogs’. The first post I read was this fantastic little lesson on having students plan trips to Paris. I loved it because it integrates so [Read more…]
Graffiti board review
We try to feature (as much as possible) ideas that can be used across content areas so they may be repeated and learned across the school year. The graffiti board review is one such activity.
Mrs. Harris from Adventures of Room 129 uses this activity as an engaging review and as a way to get [Read more…]
FUN FRIDAY: Sequencing game in world languages
Not only do I think this game from Creative Language Class serves as a motivating tool for learning new words, reading in a new language, and collaborating with peers, but it also [Read more…]
