Category Archives: Classroom Procedures

138: From Unit Plans to Daily Lessons

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How do you take a unit plan and translate that into daily lessons? Today’s episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Liz, a Spanish teacher in the Northeast of the US. Translating a unit plan into daily lessons is the area where wants to level up her teaching practice.

Suggestions:

  • Take more general Can Do Statements and make them more specific. This will help to eliminate the overwhelm of too much content to cover in any given unit. Create several units on a similar theme, but change out the content
  • Divide the unit objectives into smaller, manageable learning targets that can be covered in daily lessons.
  • Plan backwards by day, with each day building on a previous material
  • Develop a consistent daily lesson structure that includes warm-ups, instruction, practice activities and be sure to add in the fun.
  • Ensure that the content of each daily lesson directly aligns with the Can Do Statements and language proficiency standards.

Action Plan:

This Week:

  • Take an existing set of Can Do Statements and make them more specific.

The Coming Weeks:

  • As you plan each daily lesson, ensure that the instructional content directly relates to the unit’s overall goals and language proficiency standards. Eliminate any activities or materials that do not align.

Resources:

Can Do Statements

Backwards Design

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

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136: 10 Strategies for Effective Language Classroom Management

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Have you ever found yourself in a classroom where the atmosphere was so positive and engaging that you couldn’t help but feel excited about learning? Have you wondered how some language teachers seem to easyly manage their classrooms while fostering a sense of community and respect among their students? Classroom management is a critical aspect of language education. In this episode we will explore 10 effective ways of creating a positive language learning environment.

Topics in this Episode:

  • Understanding the Importance of Classroom Management
    • Maximize Learning Opportunities
    • Effective Communication
    • Build Confidence
  • 10 Strategies for Effective Language Classroom Management
    1.  Establish Clear Guidelines
    2. Foster a Sense of Belonging
    3. Use Positive Language
    4. Implement Active Learning
    5. Encourage Self-Reflection
    6. Set Realistic Goals
    7. Create a Comfortable Physical Environment
    8. Incorporate Authentic Materials
    9. Promote Collaborative Learning
    10. Emphasize Growth Over Perfection and Productive Struggle
  • Links:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me as a guest on the podcast.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

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134: Engaging Speaking Activities for Language Growth

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Are your speaking activities as communicative as they could be? Are students creating language spontaneously? Today’s episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Stephanie, a Spanish teacher in New Hampshire. Creating speaking activities that allow students to create language on their own is the area where wants to level up her teaching practice. So let’s start the conversation. 

Suggestions:

  • Make sure that not only the input is compelling, but the output as well. How Interested are students in how they use the language?
  • Make topics and themes compelling with cultural exploration, differentiated tasks, role-plays, simulations, think/pair/share, quiz/quiz/trade 
  • Use Chat Mats as a Scaffolding Tool with vocabulary support, sentence starters, and visual prompts

Action Plan:

This Week:

  • Develop chat mats with vocabulary support, sentence starters, and visual prompts for a specific speaking activity on a cultural topic. 

The Coming Weeks:

  • Discover new ways of making the output compelling (how students are using the language)
  • Plan a group discussion session centered around a cultural aspect of the target language.

Helpful Podcast Episodes on This Topic:

Helpful Blog Posts on This Topic:

Additional Tools: 

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

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132: Teacher Toolbox Episode (Vol 6)

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This is the 6th teacher toolbox episode. I hear from listeners all the time that they like the actionable tips and suggestions for activities that they can use with students next week, or even tomorrow. That usually means effective and beneficial, but somewhat minimal prep. That’s what I bring you on these Teacher Toolbox episodes. I have lots to share with you, so let’s jump in.

Topics in this Episode:

  • Be like a museum curator
  • A framework for bringing together activities and procedures in a meaningful way
  • Combining 4 activities previously discussed on the podcast in an interconnected way that creates an engaging lesson or unit
    • Write and Discuss
    • Parellel Texts
    • PACE
    • Guided Conversations
  • Concrete examples of this process using a CI reader
  • Links to these previous episodes if you want to dive deeper:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me as a guest on the podcast.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

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131: Spiral Review in the Language Classroom with Ashley Duff

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Do you have a routine or process for regularly recycling material, content, vocabulary or language structures in your classroom? How do you make sure that students keep it all fresh and readily accessible as they move to new topics and themes? In this episode, we are talking about spiral review. Ashley Duff, a French teacher in Missouri, joins me to talk us through the benefits of this type of review and provides lots of tips and insights for how we can incorporate spiral review into our classes.

Topics in this Episode:

  • what exactly spiral review is in the context of language teaching
  • how spiral review differs from other methods of review, and why it is so effective in language learning
  • practical tips and methods for teachers to organize and manage their spiral review plan efficiently
  • engaging activities for doing spiral review effectively
  • utilizing technology to enhance the spiral review process
  • Ashley’s personal success and experience that highlights the impact of spiral review on her students’ language proficiency and confidence

Connect with  :

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me as a guest on the podcast.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

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130: Addressing Disruptions Constructively, Effectively and Equitably

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Are you sometimes challenged by students being off task or not transitioning well between activities? Today’s episode is a Leveling Up episode, where I coach Victoria, a Spanish teacher in Virginia. Creating smooth transitions and keeping students on task more consistently is the area where wants to level up her teaching practice. So let’s start the conversation. 

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

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129: Teaching Content in the Target Language with John Narváez

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What do you think of when you year “teaching content in the target language?”  Are you thinking of elements like structures and vocabulary related to the language, or actually teaching content outside of the language, but in the target language. In this episode, John Narváez, a French and Spanish teacher in Montréal, Québec, Canada, joins me to show us how he focuses on teaching content in the target language while also building students’ communication skills and language proficiency.

Topics in this Episode:

  • teaching content in the target language
  • differentiating instruction to ensure all students can access and engage with the content
  • how to balance between facilitating comprehension and learning the content along the way
  • designing activities or projects that encourage students to engage with the content in the target language?
  • how to integrate technology to enhance students’ learning when teaching content in the target language

Connect with John Narváez :

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me as a guest on the podcast.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

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127: Mindfulness and SEL in the Language Classroom with Jennifer Schwester

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Is there a place for mindfulness and SEL (Social Emotional Learning) in the world language classroom?  My guest today, Jennifer Schwester, a French teacher in New Jersey, certainly knows there is.  We discuss why language teachers should consider mindfulness and SEL activities and their many benefits to students. SEL programs are also becoming more prevalent in our schools, and rightfully so. Can’t want to share these ideas with you.

Topics in this Episode:

  • what mindfulness and SEL are 
  • how incorporating mindfulness and social emotional learning activities impact students’ language proficiency and overall language learning experience
  • specific strategies for effectively cultivating a safe space for students to express themselves in the language classroom
  • how  mindfulness and SEL activities help students better understand and respect each other
  • how mindfulness and social emotional learning contribute to students’ abilities to positively engage in our interconnected world, and become compassionate global citizens
  • www.casel.org
  • thefouragreements.com
  • Addicted To The Monkey Mind– J.F. Benoist
  • Journey To The Heart– Melody Beattie

Connect with Jennifer Schwester :

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me as a guest on the podcast.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

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125: Try Something New Part 2 – What Will that New Thing Be?

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The new year will soon be here and along with that are thoughts of trying out something new.  Last week we looked at how small, sustainable, and consistent changes or modifications are more likely to stick, rather than attempting to overhaul everything. This week we focus on lots of ideas for what you can actually do in the classroom along with ways to make it happen seamlessly, consistently and successfully. 

Topics in this Episode:

  • What will that new thing be?
    • Communication Modes
    • Classroom Procedures
    • High-Leverage Teaching Practices
    • Assessments
  • How will you make it happen?
  • When is it time for a new goal?
  • Matt Cuts: Try Something New For 30 Days
  • James Clear: Atomic Habits

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me as a guest on the podcast.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

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124: Try Something New Part 1 – Why? How? What Gets in the Way?

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The new year brings on thoughts of trying out something new.  However, the idea of trying something new or modifying your existing practices in the classroom is not always that easy. In this first of a two-part episode, we look at how small, sustainable, and consistent changes or modifications are more likely to stick, rather than attempting to overhaul everything. This week we focus on real examples of trying new things in the classroom successfully, along with ways to overcome any obstacles that might get in the way.  Part 2 next week will give you lots of ideas for what you can actually do in the classroom.  

Topics in this Episode:

  • Matt Cuts: Try Something New For 30 Days
  • James Clear: Atomic Habits
  • Why try something new?
    • Keep Students engaged
    • Model for students
    • Boost creativity
    • Problem-solving experience
  • What gets in the way of trying some thing new?
    • Fear of failure
    • Time
    • Resistance
    • Staying motivated
  • Tips and suggestions for working through the things that get in the way.

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Teachers want to hear from you and what you are proud of in your classroom.
Join me as a guest on the podcast.

You  can also be a part of Leveling Up coaching episode if there is an area of your teaching that you like to improve or enhance.  Join me on the podcast for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode.  

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

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