by Kara Parker | Mar 1, 2018 | 4 Assessments
Over the years, formative assessments was another aspect that changed as I transitioned to proficiency-based instruction. Here I’ll show you a few examples that worked for me. What is a formative assessment? What is the purpose of formative assessments?...
by Kara Parker | Feb 5, 2018 | 1 Planning, Proficiency
About 8 years ago, I blogged about my “Stamp Sheets.” In fact, it was “Idea 45” on Creative Language Class. This was one of the first steps that helped me to shift to proficiency-based instruction. Today I’d like to tell you why I still...
by Megan Smith | Jan 19, 2018 | PD, Proficiency, What's New
Daily objectives (can-do statements) are one of the biggest game changers for me over the years! They force me to narrow in on a purpose for the lesson and help me stay on track as I plan. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve definitely missed the mark on...
by Megan Smith | Jan 16, 2018 | PD, Proficiency, What's New
It’s the time for new beginnings, fresh starts, and renewed motivation… but then, just like that, it’s already mid-January. It’s easy to be overly ambitious this time of year and try to do a million things to be a better world language teacher....
by Megan Smith | Nov 6, 2017 | 2 Authentic Resources, AP Themes, Culture
The AP themes for teaching World Languages are BIG. If you’re not familiar with them, here they are: Even in one individual theme, there are a million different ideas, resources, and paths to take when planning. Covering it all can be a little overwhelming for...
by Kara Parker | Oct 30, 2017 | Día de Muertos, October
When I was living in Spain, there were many times that I needed to explain my traditions and products because they did not know about them. It always helped when I could compare it to something they were familiar with… (Well, it’s kind of like… but...
by Kara Parker | Oct 17, 2017 | Units, Vocabulary Building
Thought I’d share two simple ways I changed vocabulary lists as I transitioned to a more learner-centered class. Read on for the download and some tips to use them! “How do you create a vocabulary list when each student pulls different words and...
by Megan Smith | Jul 30, 2017 | First Days, What's New
There’s a lot to do the first week of class, but what we choose to include in our first lessons really shows our students what we value most. I want students to walk away with an experience with the language and a positive impression of language...
by Megan Smith | Jul 25, 2017 | Class Decor, First Days, What's New
Do your students understand your questions? It’s easy for students to get most of what you say but miss the QUESTION word! For example: _________ did you eat? The question could have easily been… when, where, with whom, or why. The question words are...
by Megan Smith | Jul 20, 2017 | Class Decor, First Days, What's New
If we want students using the target language at the start of a new year (especially at the novice level), then we have to have resources to encourage it. I’d ask students “¿Cómo estás?” and most really wanted to answer me in Spanish. Without help...
