I began writing this post before schools closed for the school year due to COVID-19. Since more and more teachers are now considering and/or already using novellas with their students, I figured I would finish it. Maybe someone might find it useful. We are reading Rufus et arma atra in my first year Latin class. … Continue reading Using the Teacher’s Guide
Tag: compelling
Four Corners
Disclaimer: I still have targeted structures, thematic vocabulary lists, and specific verbs I need to teach to keep my students in line with the county curriculum. My goal is to do so while providing as much input comprehensibly. I saw this idea in passing on another blog and if I could remember where that was, … Continue reading Four Corners
Starting Class with Small Talk
This has been a work in progress. The original slide show was by Senora AnneMarie Chase for her Spanish classes. It can be found here. I have adapted it for a Latin class and then edited and/or added slides to fit my needs. I'm going to go slide by slide to explain how I use … Continue reading Starting Class with Small Talk
Content-Based Instruction
In an effort to teach the content of my Latin classes in Latin, following the advice of one of the best sessions I attended at ACTFL 2019: Building Better Courses: The Case for Content-Based Instruction by Kevin Ballestrini, Mark Pearsall, and Lindsay Sears, I have been creating One Page Wonders with my students, based on … Continue reading Content-Based Instruction
Those Middle Years in Language Class
I spend a lot of time on this blog talking about what my first year students and I are doing. Today's post is instead about my second and third year students. Those students are frequently the ones who end up forgotten as I plan activities and lessons. They are my "oh, darn" last-minute idea classes … Continue reading Those Middle Years in Language Class
How MovieTalk Became Watch & Write
I have tried this CI staple - MovieTalk - five times now... the way it was originally supposed to be done (I understood it first from this post on The Comprehensible Classroom blog), an edited version of the way it was to be done (which for me was to script out my stops and my … Continue reading How MovieTalk Became Watch & Write
O di immortales! Carmina in Classe!
I wish I had known what to do with songs or just how awesome teaching with songs is... Before I delve into what we've been doing in Latin I this week or just how excited all my Latin classes are to do songs, I have to start by saying thanks to a few folks. Latin … Continue reading O di immortales! Carmina in Classe!
Card Talk is Better (for me)
I have tried PQAs (Personalized Question and Answers) a few times now and all I can say is that I need more structure. I am still new to using Latin to conduct the majority of my class and though I know the language, I still mess it up when trying to communicate with students. I … Continue reading Card Talk is Better (for me)
VINCO (a listening bingo-like word race) and more…
A review of three activities that worked very well in class. At least one of them, I believe, might be an activity of my own imagination. VINCO* Though I myself am not a fan of BINGO, my students have always seemed to love it. Though, in reality, the game offers little in the way of … Continue reading VINCO (a listening bingo-like word race) and more…
Chunking a Class Block
I've been thinking a lot on how to plan for 90-minute blocks, every other day, with enough variety and activity to keep students engaged and the lesson compelling. Side note: Also need to take into account not wearing me out (as an introvert I need breaks to keep up my enthusiasm in public) In the … Continue reading Chunking a Class Block
Dinosaurs Speak Latin 