Category Archives: Podcast Episodes

47: Revisit Communication Modes and Proficiency Levels

Posted on | Leave a comment


In this episode of the Summer Headspace series I revisit episode 8 on communication modes and episode 12 on proficiency levels.

Listen to the episodes:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Podcast Episodes

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

45: Taking in all the Information

Posted on | Leave a comment


In this episode I talk about how you can take in and use the information that you hear on this podcast without feeling overwhelmed.  So far there have been 30 guests and 15 solo episodes and it can sometimes feel like a lot to digest.

I offer up some ideas to sift through and figure out what will be most useful to you personally and how you can actually do it when you likely have so much else to do.

Topics that I cover:

  • Decision Paralysis: too many choices to choose from
  • How can we choose what to focus on?
  • First, remember that we do not have to do it all and we teach in different situations (levels, languages, interest, demographics).
  • Second, remember that none of this happened in a day. Teachers are regularly working on their teaching effectiveness.
  • Third, think about what is discussed and suggested with this lens:
    • I can likely do this tomorrow.
    • This needs a little prep, so I’ll do it next week.
    • That will be effective in the _____ unit, so I’ll try it when that unit comes up.
    • The concept is a bit of a change in approach for me and I want to sit with it and learn a little more because it is more of a mindset shift for me, so next year I’ll prioritize trying it out.

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

Leave a comment

Posted in Podcast Episodes, Teaching Methodology and Research

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

44: Starting a Dual Immersion Program with Francesco Fratto

Posted on | Leave a comment


In this episode we talk about dual immersion programs.  You may be wondering what the difference is between immersion and dual immersion? Francesco Fratto joins me today to clarify and talk us through the process he and his district went though to implement their program.  Francesco is the Director of World Languages, Language Immersion & English as a New Language in Herricks Public Schools in New Hyde Park, NY.

Francesco speaks in detail about:

  • what immersion and dual immersion programs are and how they work.
  • the articulation of the Herricks Public Schools’ dual immersion program and the steps they took to implement the program.
  • the goals of the program, how they measured, and entry requirements.
  • the logistics: finding qualified teachers, promoting the program, student retention, parental concerns around things such as L1 literacy development.

Connect with Francesco Fratto:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

Leave a comment

Posted in Podcast Episodes, Teaching Methodology and Research

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

43: Student Choice in the Language Classroom with Maureen Lamb

Posted on | Leave a comment


In this episode we talk about the effectiveness of providing students with choice in the language classroom.  Why should we consider this?  What does it look like in practice?  Maureen Lamb, a Latin and Ancient Greek teacher in West Hartford, CT, joins me to talk through the logistics and benefits of student choice in their language learning.

Maureen speaks about:

  • what led her to look into making “choice” a part of her students’ learning experience.
  • the results of implementing (offering) choices to her students.
  • the various ways that she has used to offer choice to students.
  • the student perspective and experience when given choice.
  • assessment and keeping it all manageable.

Connect with Maureen Lamb:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

Leave a comment

Posted in Classroom Procedures, Podcast Episodes

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

42: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Classrooms with Joseph Parodi-Brown

Posted on | Leave a comment


In this episode we talk about creating LGBTQ+ inclusive classrooms and curriculum.  While this is certainly beneficial to our students that identify as LGBTQ+, inclusive classrooms and curriculum benefit all students.  Joseph Parodi-Brown, a Spanish teacher in Connecticut, has done extensive research in this area and puts it into practice in his classroom.  He joins us to offer insights and suggestions for ensuring representation in our classrooms so that all of our students are seen, understood and valued.

Joseph speaks specifically about:

  • the benefits of an inclusive classroom and curriculum.
  • his  journey to creating an LGBTQ+ inclusive classroom and curriculum, the challenges and successes.
  • GLSEN and what can we learn from the National School Climate Survey.
  • the challenges with gendered languages.
  • entry points for positive representation in our classrooms.
  • intersectionality; is the LGBTQ+ experience the same in all cultures?
  • common fears that teachers experience when implementing inclusive curriculum and how to proceed.

Connect with Joseph Parodi-Brown:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

Leave a comment

Posted in Classroom Procedures, Podcast Episodes

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

41: Practice or Communication?

Posted on | 2 comments


In this episode I talk about the ideas of practice and communication in the language classroom.  Sometimes what we think is authentic communication in the language is actually just practicing structures and vocabulary.  Is there a place for practice or should it always be focused on communication?  I take on these concepts with suggestions for what this can look like in you classroom.

I speak specifically about:

  • Sandra Savignon’s definition of communication: “The expression, interpretation and very often negotiation of meaning in a given context. Communication has purpose.”
  • Proficiency: what a student can do with language in real-world situations .
  • Distinguishing Practice and Communication and what these look like in our classrooms.
  • Practice, Activity and Task
  • Practice Language and Communication Language

Common Ground: Second Language Acquisition Theory Goes to the Classroom
by Florencia G. Henshaw and Maris D. Hawkins

 

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

2 Comments

Posted in Classroom Procedures, Podcast Episodes

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

40: Microinstruction in the Language Classroom with Lindsay Mitchell

Posted on | Leave a comment


In this episode we talk about the concept of Microinstruction. This approach is being applied in general education contexts, but we we speak about how it can be used specifically in the language classroom.  I’m joined by Lindsay Mitchell, a Spanish teacher in New Hampshire, who talks about her own personal experience and success with Microinstruction.

Lindsay speaks about:

  • the skill set from her previous profession that she brought to her teaching
  • obstacles and challenges that she saw in her classroom that led her to look for other approaches
  • the concept of microinstruction and its benefits
  • what a lesson looks like using the microinstruction approach
  • the levels and content best suited to microinstruction

Connect with Lindsay Mitchell:

French and Spanish Teaching Position at the Brookwood School in Manchester, MA.

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

Leave a comment

Posted in Classroom Procedures, Podcast Episodes, Teaching Methodology and Research

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

39: Target Language Games with Kevin Quigley

Posted on | Leave a comment


If you listed to episode 19 with Trudy Anderson you heard her talk about using Jessica Haxhi’s acronym M.A.G.I.C. in the language classroom.  This stands for Movement, Authentic Resources, Games, Interaction and Communication. The focus on this episode is games.  I speak with Kevin Quigley, a French and Spanish teacher in Vermont, and he shares several low-prep target languages games that you can use in your classroom tomorrow (or even today).

Kevin speaks about:

  • why games, and student engagement in general, are beneficial
  • misconceptions about games
  • several effective games and activities that you use in the classroom right away
  • how often we should use a particular game 
  • the important of mixing up games

Connect with Kevin Quigley:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

Leave a comment

Posted in Activities and Games, Podcast Episodes

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

38: Strategies to Engage Early Language Learners with Carolina Gómez

Posted on | Leave a comment


Even if you are a middle or high school teacher you will surely learn a lot from Carolina Gómez, my guest on this episode.  Carolina is Spanish teacher in Massachusetts and she walks us through planning and procedures that authentically engage learners with compelling, meaningful and comprehensible language.
Carolina speaks about:

  • the benefits of early language learning and any concerns or fears that parents may have.
  • what draws her to teaching early learners.
  • how we can engage early learners and make language comprehensible for them.
  • what lesson planning looks like with early learners.
  • what teachers of all ages can take away from the strategies that she shares with us.

Connect with Carolina Gómez:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

Leave a comment

Posted in Classroom Procedures, Podcast Episodes

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

37: Competency-Based Grading with Ursula Askins-Huber

Posted on | 1 comment


In this episode we talk about grading.  More specifically, how we can grade based on what students are able to do in and with the target language.  This requires a bit of a shift in thinking and approach, especially when coming from more traditional grading.  I’m joined by Ursula Askins-Huber, a Spanish teacher in New Hampshire, who has been teaching for over 30 years.  She helps us to see ways to adopt competency-based grading in manageable ways.

Ursula speaks specifically about:

  • what grades have traditionally represented.
  • what competency (or proficiency) is how this has been missing in legacy grading practices.
  • what a grade based on competency tell us.
  • What competency-based grading looks like in the classroom.
  • how accounting for HW completion, behavior, participation, being prepared for class, etc. work into a grade that is based on competency.

Books that Ursula References:

Connect with Ursula Askins-Huber:

Work with Joshua either in person or remotely.

Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

1 Comment

Posted in Classroom Procedures, Podcast Episodes

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,