Under the suggestion of many peers, I began reading Research Talks: Motivating Acquisition-Centered Classrooms by Eric Herman earlier this school year. Although organized to be read over the course of each week in a school year, my schedule didn't quite allow for that and so I read as I was able. I took time between … Continue reading Research Talks by Eric Herman, part one
Tag: Resources
Using the Teacher’s Guide
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
Two Weeks in Lockdown
Monday, March 16th, my entire state's (Virginia) schools went on lockdown for two weeks. We were asked to begin virtual teaching on Tuesday. Locally, my school division asked us to provide educational opportunities for review, remediation, and spiraling, but not to begin teaching anything new. My best pieces of advice, so far, are: Ask your … Continue reading Two Weeks in Lockdown
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
Hodie in Historia
Have you ever been reminded of something, from a while ago, that at THAT time just passed you by - ZIP, right over your head - but now seems like a miracle... one you wish you'd known about earlier? Or rather, that you'd been in the right place, at the right moment, in the right … Continue reading Hodie in Historia
Sharing is Caring
There is a lot about Social Media which brings out the worst in people, but sometimes I absolutely love learning about new ideas, activities, websites, games, on and on, from folks I only know and interact with through Social Media. Social Media can be the greatest of salons: A salon is a gathering of people under the … Continue reading Sharing is Caring
Class Management
(Knock on wood...) Generally, I have few classroom management issues on a day to day basis. Most of my students want to be in my class - it was their choice - and I have learned over the last 15 years of teaching that I have to pick my battles. Some things just aren't worth … Continue reading Class Management
Teacher Notebook
In an effort to keep myself organized this next year while doing new (to me) activities and lessons, as well as find a way to record class behavior and/or misbehavior without a ton of extra "things" hanging around that I need to keep track of, I've put together a notebook of resources. Here's what I'm … Continue reading Teacher Notebook
S… L… O…W!
My worse fear! I am a habitual fast-talker. In every language. Even with myself, in my head. I would like to say that I've gotten better over my 15 years of teaching, but I might be lying. I think my students just humor me. Now, I'm facing a new school year of (90%, I so … Continue reading S… L… O…W!
