One of our first week lesson plans is how to escape, I mean, how to leave the classroom. I do this lesson for these reasons:
* New students get to see the faces and names of people they may need to visit.
* They can do it in the target language.
* It teaches them an important classroom procedure.
Every time a student wants to leave, they have to answer my four questions in the target language. And sometimes I mix up the order. I also vary how they have to answer. Level one can use words, level two uses short sentences, level 3 uses more formal sentences, etc. Now I’m not going to lie, this takes patience as they are learning how to do it. However I think it is worth it in the end.
1. What’s your name?
2. What’s the date? (it is written on the board)
3. What time is it? (there is a sign to help them next to the clock)
4. Where are you going?
After we go through the places, I give them stack of copied passes. They role play before they prove to me they can do it.
Maybe I’ll add a scavenger hunt next time. Hmm…
How do you teach procedures in the target language?
Excellent idea! Which means I’ll need to create another slideshow. :
I had my student aide take the photos and make the powerpoint last year. I copied the pass and handwrote the Spanish words on there for them. So you could just show the pictures and have no words.
You just gave me an excellent suggestion: recruit a student to take the photos. 🙂 We don’t have aides at my place of employ. On the other hand, the students LOVE to help out.
Now I’m thinking this will be a great Real World stamp if I don’t have a student aide again. Hmm… Thanks for bouncing the idea!
I think that this is so important, so I spend quite a bit of time on it. It is fun, and a wonderful way to create an immersive environment right from the beginning.
In addition to the calendar, the pledge, greetings, and attendance, we spend the bulk of our time during the first classes practicing classroom routines. We do TPR sequences practicing commands specific to the classroom. I also have posters in the room of the phrases for basic management (¿Puedo ir al baño?, etc.). We practice each where I am the teacher the first time, and the students take turns playing the role for each one. I start their practice by being the first student. We do this for each routine (office, drink, locker, etc.). We also do this for discipline where I model the yellow card (warnings- 2) and red card (out-office or call home). I repeat sequences of routines every day until they have acquired that language. Their test (as are many) is a simulation in which they role-play the first day of Spanish class. It is fun later on in the course when the students take turns each day opening class as the teacher.
Colegas, You have inspired me to begin my own blog… I started it but it’s still under construction! I hope to share and collaborate more this way 🙂
I love this idea, how long does it take though? Does it discourage them from trying to leave? LOL! I do have many procedures and I have signs around my room to help them remember to use these important phrases in order to survive in my room. I usually give them a vocabulary handout and act out the phrases or give them scenarios so they practice using them- i.e. you just drank 2 gatorades- what might you need to ask me… Your dog ate your hw…. you just got out of gym class…
I love the situation idea! It would make a great end of unit assessment too. I only spend a day on the pass lesson, but it wouldn’t hurt to repeat it in a different way. Good luck with the blogging. 🙂
Hi Kara,
You mentioned that you have a sign next to the clock to help them….wondering if you might be willing to share? (or maybe snap a pic?) I LOVE this idea for passes, but I am worried about the telling time piece…mil gracias!
Coming soon in a post!
Since they will not have learned the date, time, etc. do you just go over the key phrases on how to answer these?
I write the date on the board in Spanish every day so they can just read that. Above the clock I put “It is…” “and”. On the windows I have basic weather phrases. http://creativelanguageclass.wordpress.com/class-decor/windows-walls-and-floor/ Of course it takes modeling and time to improve their pronunciation.
As I set up my room this year, I’ll take some photos to better demonstrate this.