Blogging Challenge, Day 4 of 20

Today's challenge: Share a topic/idea from class [this week]. What's one thing you did with students [this week] that you will (or will not!) do again? Why?

Oh my... This challenge really should be addressed during the school year. Even though my last day with students was less than a week ago, their exams were more than a week ago and those last days were spent "cleaning house"... Finishing up overdue assignments, submitting last minute extra credit :-\ , studying for exams in other classes.

That being said, one of my favorite semester activities (and one my students initially dread) is a series of 20 conversation topics. For just the past 2 years in my French classes, students in all but French I are given this assignment at the beginning of the second semester. This gives them 18 weeks to sit with me & have a CONVERSATION using the 20 topics. I learn so much about the lives of my students during these conversations, and I hope they learn not just some conversational French, but also that I truly care about each of them! We sit at a café table in my classroom, on comfy chairs, look each other in the eye and simply chat. While the first 2-3 are painful and awkward, by the time they complete 10-12 conversations, they have demonstrated remarkable improvement with their interpersonal language skills, have relaxed into the activity and are learning 21st Century Skills (and in a second language!).

Of course, a small group of students start right away on completing the assignment. The vast majority, however, were scrambling in those final weeks, days (and hours!) to finish. Students in French II show the biggest growth, and begin French III much more confidently than my classes before I began this 

assignment. 

The image below is a game I also provide for students in order for them to do some interpersonal speaking with one another.

 

Blogging Challenge, Day 3 of 20

Today's challenge: What is a website that you cannot live without? Tell about your favorite features and how you use it in your teaching/learning.

Schoology.com; my Learning Management System (LMS) of choice! I used Moodle for a couple of years, tried Edmodo in order to collaborate with other teachers who were using it, but have had the most success with Schoology. Student reviews are much more positive for Schoology than for Moodle or Edmodo. And if the students react positively, it's a winner!

Schoology has the look of Facebook, is very user-friendly and is loaded with "bells & whistles"! There is a calendar for communicating upcoming events; a Materials list that includes online quizzes, which I use daily for formative assessment; a Resource library, where I can save important/useful links, documents & files; the ability to create a Discussion forum, encouraging peer collaboration & tutoring. I use the Update feature every day to post learning objectives, class activities, page numbers, links, images, etc. Schoology links with your Google, Facebook & Twitter accounts (if you choose to do so); incorporates Dropbox for assignment submissions, and the list goes on and on.

This summer, I intend to discover additional features of Schoology with which I am unfamiliar. Schoology already works for me, but I want it to WORK FOR me!

Blogging Challenge, Day 2 of 20

Today's challenge: Share an organizational tip from your classroom. What is one thing you do that works for you?

With all the paperwork that crosses my desk daily, the best thing I have done for myself and my students is a hanging pocket file, labelled with class periods, for assignments. At the end of the day, I collect the papers from the hanging file for checking/grading. If a student's paper is missing, it's on them, not me. I don't misplace student assignments. They can't tell me they handed it to me directly, because if they try, I send them to the hanging file. No problems, no excuses! In this image, you can see the bright red hanging folder between the map and the chalkboard. I have been using it for years, and students learn the procedure right away.                

Blogging Challenge, Day 1 of 20

Today's challenge: a favorite book to read and/or teach. Provide an example of an extension or cross-curricular activity.

Yesterday was the last day of the school year for students. I still have work to do in the classroom, and am looking forward to time for  reading for my own pleasure and education!

As for TEACHING a piece of literature...I struggle with this. Every year I have upper level students beg for Le Petit Prince, but they don't understand all the nuances, the metaphors, the mystery of the story. I am always reticent to introduce the story, and explain to them how truly complex it is. They insist, I give in, we do the story. By the time we finish, I am disappointed and they are frustrated. I have broken the book down into manageable chunks for creative activities, group projects, and numerous class discussions. We have watched excerpts from the comédie musicale, starring Daniel Lavoie as well as other strategies, rarely with success. In conclusion, I have to confess, this is NOT a favorite book to teach.

I would have to say my favorite book to teach is whichever book students fall in love with!

Challenge 2: Avoid BURN-OUT

Last Monday I began a yoga class that meets 3 mornings a week. The techniques I am learning and practicing are already starting to come in handy in other situations. Clearing the mind, deep breathing, listening to my environment, becoming aware of myself, good posture. I know I will continue to benefit from this as the school year progresses.

I am careful about what and when I eat, take a multi-vitamin, go to bed early & rise early to read & journal to start my day. I am careful about how I feed my mind, as well. What do I read, watch, listen to? Am I learning something new every day? Am I finding things to be grateful for?

I think my best tip to avoid burn-out is to LAUGH..."often and much" as Emerson said. Laugh with students, laugh at myself. I love what I do, and I do what I love. I am in my 14th year of teaching and am still having fun with it. 

This is MY moment

The title of today's post is the theme of the 30-Challenges for Educators.  So, what has been MY defining moment thus far in my career? I would have to say MY moment happens each time a former student contacts me to thank me, not just for teaching them a foreign language, but for encouraging them to do & be more than they thought they could be;  to tell me how I inspired or impacted their learning and/or career choices; to share their successes and adventures. I hold these moments close to my heart.

30 Challenges for Educators

Challenge 1: Create a ME manifesto.

Several years ago, I picked up the book, Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be, by Donna Partow (subtitled A 90-Day Guide to Living the Proverbs 31 Life). The first assignment during that 90-day journey was to create a Personal Vision Statement. In fact, I revisited this book recently, and if you go back to some earlier posts here, you'll see some of my introspection.

Anyway, getting back to this new challenge! I believe my earlier personal vision statement still serves me quite well for my ME manifesto. So here it is, once again, with a tweak or two from the original, to keep before me as I work through the next 29 challenges.

I use my energy, enthusiasm and sense of adventure to explore new opportunities to improve my world and the world at large. Knowing the best adventure is a shared adventure, I will encourage my family & friends, my students and my colleagues to join in the excitement.