Melissa commented on the Setting Up Student Jobs post about the job of Quiz Writer. This is the person who helps you by writing a true/false quiz during PQA or a story so that you can be ready in the
Setting Up Circling With Balls
In addition to Bryce Hedstrom’s Persona Especial, I use Ben Slavic’s Circling With Balls (CWB) activity to personalize the classroom. Today, on day 6 , I began this activity by asking students to draw some of their favorite things on
Teach Them to Long for the Sea
If you want to build a ship, don’t gather people together to collect wood and son’t asign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry This quote
Setting up Student Jobs
On the third day of classes I began setting up student jobs. I started with these six jobs: the Bouncer, the seating chart person, the personal assistant, the secretary, the note taker, and Donald Trump. Bouncer/el portero: this person is responsible
This is What Really Matters.
There has been a torrent of activity on many TPRS and TCI forums of late. It seems this year a levee has broken and a flood of professional language educators has courageously taken a dip. I previously echoed Bob Patrick’s
We All Have Superpowers
We teachers have super powers. We don’t always choose our clothing with intention but middle schoolers do. When we notice and celebrate the concert Tshirt, the new shoes, the haircut, it brings light to their days and validates their identity. I
Simple Accountability for Free Reading
On the iFLT / NTPRS / CI Teaching Facebook group (which you should join if you’re reading my blog) there was a recent question about accountability during Free Voluntary Reading. My students read 10 minutes at a time starting in
Identity and Belonging: Empowering Authentic Communication from Day 1 with Rejoinders
I recently released four packs of rejoinders – short expressions that we use in natural conversation to keep the flow of communication moving forward. There are 16 per pack, 64 total. They include a wide variety of natural, authentic expressions
1,001 things to do, but…
There are easily 1,001 things on my To Do list. But today, I’m just enjoying this moment.
First We Listen Poster Giveaway
A couple days ago I announced a new poster. I use it in my class to lower anxiety, remind students that comprehension is their job, and to teach kids about the differences between learning and acquiring language. I’ve gotten lots