Collection of Research Articles on Content & Pedagogy
Live Document I continue to add to my body of research with the hope that it will make curriculum development more seamless. I have also been focusing a great deal on best teaching and assessment practices as they relate to Second Language Acquisition research. One of my goals for this year is to aim for 90-percent or more in the target language #tl90plus using Comprehensible Input. It has been a challenge, especially with 6th grade. Nonetheless I feel that I can bring what I have learned to my PLC to assist in our professional learning and can demonstrate to my department how to apply that information to the classroom.
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All About Me - beginning of the year information about students
Parent Info - Million Word or Less Essay
Knowing my students is a strength of mine, but this year I decided to take things a bit further. I decided to return to paper student preference surveys, and I will do it again! I liked to be able to see students' drawings and writing. This is something that I have missed when I gave an electronic survey. I also like to refer to the paper copies in notebooks that I have separated by grade level. In addition, this is the first year that I have given the "Million Word or Less Parent Essay". I borrowed this idea from Lisa Butler. I was surprised to see all of the detail, emotion, humor that parents put into their homework. I think that it was a great way to make a home-school connection but to also get insight into the students.
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Can Do Statements
Students Keeping Track of their Progress
At the end of the Plaza Sésamo Unit, 6th grade students colored in the thumbs: Green for "completely can do", yellow for "getting there" and red for "I'm lost".
This year I wanted to expand my use of the Can Do Statements and to also have students utilize them as a way of tracking their own progress over time. So often students lose track of the "big picture", and I feel that this is a tool that is easy to use, involves very little time, a way to self-evaluate as well a system to keep us all on track.
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District Resources
Professional Organizations ~ ACTFL
Professional Development Workshops
Technology Resource: Use What is Most Practice for YOU
New lesson plan tool -- Planbook.com Key is: Nesbitt
My newly-created planbook template
I feel confident with my knowledge of available resources -- or whom to ask to help. When I went to the Coaching for Coaches workshop, I could ask for ideas to help better support new members of my department. I also rely on Toni Martindell for help with this. In addition, when it comes to evaluating technology tools, I use a graphic organizer to help me make a more informed decision.
Although I was very enthusiastic about the electronic plan book, it did not work out well in everyday use. After about 2 weeks I needed to go back to a paper plan book. I ended up creating my own template that suited my needs.
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Variety of Resources and Activities
Connections to Prior Learning
Seventh grade students read a novel called Isabela Captura un Congo. The students have read other books in which the main character, Isabela Huffman, was a character. I wanted to see what they remembered about Isabela. I set this up as a Think-Pair-Share and then discuss as a whole class.
I enjoy trying new tools that enhance students' learning, but I think that teachers need to be very careful not to overwhelm themselves or their students. There needs to be a happy medium so I have a set of core tools that I use. I find it helpful to get student input into the tools we use: What is easier to use? What is more efficient? What is more fun? What "glitches"? What is more reliable?
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Assessment Criteria is Clear
Students are given an evaluation scale on assessments. This is done ahead of time when possible.
Formative Assessment
6th grade formative on Quizizz - What do the SER (to be) words mean?
- Were permitted to take the Quizizz TWICE. - I took their TOP score. - Evaluation scale: P = 9 or 10 correct, S = 7 or 8 correct, U = 6 or fewer correct Self-Assessments & Reflections
Student reflections from September cultural homework
I've been utilizing a wider variety of assessment tools this year. Many of these tools are motivating and fun to students since they are in a game format. I have discovered that since my assessments and my criteria for evaluation are increasingly transparent, the students seem to be more motivated to improve and to go "above and beyond" expectations.
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