Tag Archives: immersion

198: Engaging Routines in the Language Classroom with Tia Parnell


How can simple, consistent routines create a classroom where students communicate confidently in the target language every day?  In this episode we look at how effective routines lead to successful classrooms. I’m joined by Tia Parnell, a French teacher in Ontario, Canada. Tia shares practical insight into how routines can create structure, boost engagement, and support meaningful language use. Everything from warm-ups and transitions to handling interruptions.

Topics in this Episode:

  • routines as the backbone of the classroom the key elements that make a classroom routine both simple and effective
  • morning routines that work particularly well in a world language classroom to set the tone for meaningful language use
  • transitions how do you help students smoothly shift between activities while keeping them engaged in language learning?
  • how to maintain structure when unexpected events disrupt routines, and strategies to help students reset and refocus
  • advice for establishing consistent routines to support teachers starting strong and maintaining

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44: Starting a Dual Immersion Program with Francesco Fratto


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:

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