Sorry everyone. I have been neglecting this. The past few weeks have been very hectic with the March Madness and other workshops. I was probably the only one who attended 7 of them, Yes I went to one of them twice. I felt I needed to support the other professionals in our PLN. I learned something at each one of them and feel much more excited about my Evaluation Portfolio. I definitely have a different perspective on it. I am going to approach it as the story of my year from the viewpoint of my Professional Goal and my Student Learning goal.
I have really enjoyed working these past few weeks with el joven. He is very creative and supports me a great deal (don't let that go to your head joven). One of the highlights of the past week was our #MHSslashesstereotypes activity which we did in SAP on Friday. The students really enjoyed it and the tweets that they wrote were ideal. I love doing these activities with el joven. His involvement has made SAP (with seniors) really enjoyable. Looking forward to developing even more great SAP activities as we move forward.
Another great thing that is coming from our department is our discussion of assessments. It is really amazing that we are coming to consensus - working individually - on the rating of presentational speaking assessments. This is very important because I strongly believe that we have to have inter-rater reliability. Looking forward to the development of even stronger assessments.
Perhaps the best part of today was the island discussion. It will be one of those memorable moments of our first semester of Spanish!
La Vieja - going to visit her little island!
Monday, March 30, 2015
Las presentaciones
March 30th, 2015
Today, the students presented their dialogues, and it was one of the most amazing days I have had as a teacher. The students went above and beyond to create costumes, and the dialogues were phenomenal.
I also had to improvise an end to the class, so the students and I formed a circle, and each person had to introduce him/herself, state the instrument that he/she plays (even if they don't), include an action to go along with the instrument, and ask the person to his/her right to play with him/her.
After school, I attended the scheduling committee meeting. It seems like we will someday get rid of the block scheduling. Woohoo!
Cambio y corto,
El joven
Monday, March 23, 2015
Energy
March 23rd, 2015
Today, I was so exhausted because of a lack of sleep, so I took a 5-hour energy drink before school. I was so hyped and nuts. Definitely never doing that again!!
MCAS is a bit--and by that, I mean extremely--irritating. I cannot do any teaching this week because of testing. I think I will just have my students create dialogues with partners to practice old verbs, interrogatives and invitations.
Today, I had students write a letter inviting their best friend to a location of their choosing. Then, I had the students interview each other and invite wax other places. They had the choice of responding affirmatively or negatively. Then, we got together and shared.
I am exhausted. Time for some serious sleep.
Zzzzzz
el joven
Friday, March 20, 2015
Las invitaciones ugh
Today, la viejita saved the day. She let me use a few of her activities on invitations because I had ideas that were all over the place as to what to review today.
The first activity I did was a round robin as an opening activity. Then, I took the students into the hall and we formed two circles: one inside the other. One student had to make an invitation based on the picture, and the next student had to either accept or deny it based on the picture. The students rotated clockwise so they had a new partner for each square. They did a really great job, and there was very little side talk.
Then, I took them into the lab and they worked with partners forming invitations based on pictures from past vocabulary lessons, accept or deny them, and state what day and time. Gracias, vieja, Por las activdades.
-el joven
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Las invitaciones
March 19th, 2015
Today, the students had their speaking exam on Puerto Rico! They seemed to have done an awesome job, and I can tell that they worked hard. I am proud of them.
After the quiz, I taught the students invitations, affirmative responses and negative responses. The students had me dying from laughter today! They began to make their own sentences and making them into MUCH stronger sentences than the ones I was asking for. Instead of simply saying, "thank you, but j can't," many of them were adding reasons! It was great. I had them do a round robin with them, and tomorrow I think I will do two circles to keep them all engaged.
Cambio y corto,
El joven
Puerto Rico
March 18th, 2015
Today, the students and I began the day with a writing about Puerto Rico. They were given pictures and had to explain, name and describe the pictures while making connections between them. They really seemed to do well from what I saw.
Then, we created group points which I will use as an incentive for positive behaviors and good work. We also added some materials to their portfolios.
After, we went into the lab to practice for the quiz tomorrow. They are really going above and beyond. I'm so happy!
Cambio y corto,
El joven
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
March 17th, 2015
Today, I had the students do their first writing assignment. I had originally though about doing it as a homework assignment through Google Docs, but then la vieja brought up the fact that, if they do it in class, then I can see exactly what they know--not what their notebooks or the Internet say. I haven't read them yet, but as I was walking around the room, I was seeing some great stuff!
Then, we did a Round Robin with the vocabulary from Puerto Rico that will be on their speaking. It put a smile on my face to watch them help each other and correct each other. My students are great. Following the Round Robin, I took the students into the lab to practice for their oral exam on Thursday. These students are developing some great ideas and are adding material that I never even talked about in class. It's awesome to see them make connections.
I also learned a valuable lesson today. I am going through some stuff in my personal life, and I was worried that it might show in the classroom. However, the minute those students showed up in my classroom, it was time to work. I need to do justice to those students, and they helped me to keep a smile on my face and get work done. I really love the way teaching makes me feel at the end of the day.
Cambio y corto,
El joven
Today, I had the students do their first writing assignment. I had originally though about doing it as a homework assignment through Google Docs, but then la vieja brought up the fact that, if they do it in class, then I can see exactly what they know--not what their notebooks or the Internet say. I haven't read them yet, but as I was walking around the room, I was seeing some great stuff!
Then, we did a Round Robin with the vocabulary from Puerto Rico that will be on their speaking. It put a smile on my face to watch them help each other and correct each other. My students are great. Following the Round Robin, I took the students into the lab to practice for their oral exam on Thursday. These students are developing some great ideas and are adding material that I never even talked about in class. It's awesome to see them make connections.
I also learned a valuable lesson today. I am going through some stuff in my personal life, and I was worried that it might show in the classroom. However, the minute those students showed up in my classroom, it was time to work. I need to do justice to those students, and they helped me to keep a smile on my face and get work done. I really love the way teaching makes me feel at the end of the day.
Cambio y corto,
El joven
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