I was offered an amazing opportunity at the end of this school year and I have to admit that I am so excited. Next year I will get to work with a class set of iPads in some of my FSL classes. I have been brainstorming a list of things that this amazing technology can be used for in FSL.
1. Audio Books - to listen to and respond to
2. Creating Dialogue Scenes- there are so many Apps for creating audio stories. I love that students will be able to hear themselves before submitting their work.
3. Basic Reading Apps - I have found a few Apps by Hachette that will allow students to practise listening and visually identifying sounds in French.
4. Using QR codes around the classroom to direct students to fun French activities for my fast finishers.
5. Creative Writing - using Apps like Rory's Story Cubes to help with story writing.
6. Living Language App - I used this App briefly last year and students loved it. It allows students to increase vocabulary while playing games.
7. Self Assessment - I love the video/audio recordings allow students to review their oral output and to self evaluate.
The other amazing part of this opportunity is that I will be working with other teachers to assist with the implementation iPads/iPods and of other technologies into their classroom. Have I mentioned that I am so EXCITED to be working on this!
So while the excitement simmers down into something more productive, it leaves me wondering ... how do you use technology in your classroom?
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Teachers Pay Teachers
Goodmorning!
I hope everyone is having a fabulous day! The weather here has truly been outstanding this summer. I thought I'd tell you all about a new adventure I recently started that will hopefully be useful to many. After much encouragement from my school colleagues I have opened a TpT Store , click here to see it! This all started because every year I create custom posters, worksheets and activities for my students. I find that there is little to nothing available for FSL teachers that is unique. Often the posters I find are the same ones that my teacher's had up when I was in school which is fine but some of us like to change it up frequently! It's been fun gathering things to put up in my store. My biggest challenge thus far has been that most of my classroom creations have graphics in them that are not licensed for commercial use. Slowly over the summer, I will be purchasing new commercial graphics and getting my store filled with goodies. My goal is to have most if not all of my products available in both French and English so that a wider audience can make use of them. If you've got anything you'd like to see in my store let me know! Well I am off to clean up my classroom. I can't believe the mess I have going on in there! YIKES!
Do you know of any great French/FSL teacher stores? If you do leave me a comment I am always looking for new things.
I hope everyone is having a fabulous day! The weather here has truly been outstanding this summer. I thought I'd tell you all about a new adventure I recently started that will hopefully be useful to many. After much encouragement from my school colleagues I have opened a TpT Store , click here to see it! This all started because every year I create custom posters, worksheets and activities for my students. I find that there is little to nothing available for FSL teachers that is unique. Often the posters I find are the same ones that my teacher's had up when I was in school which is fine but some of us like to change it up frequently! It's been fun gathering things to put up in my store. My biggest challenge thus far has been that most of my classroom creations have graphics in them that are not licensed for commercial use. Slowly over the summer, I will be purchasing new commercial graphics and getting my store filled with goodies. My goal is to have most if not all of my products available in both French and English so that a wider audience can make use of them. If you've got anything you'd like to see in my store let me know! Well I am off to clean up my classroom. I can't believe the mess I have going on in there! YIKES!
Do you know of any great French/FSL teacher stores? If you do leave me a comment I am always looking for new things.
Thursday, 5 July 2012
2011-2012 Reflections
I have to say, I started the 2011-2012 school year with high hopes. I really thought this would be the year I taught all in French, this would be the year I would bring authentic learning into my classroom and that this would be my best year yet! Well I did a few of those things.
1 - I had the best year! I had a lighter load than I normally do and I must admit it was divine. I had only Core French to focus on and I love it! This was my best year because I learned to love Core French and all it had to offer. I had historically been an extended French teacher and was really worried it would not be as much fun.
2- I did not teach in all French but I learned something important. I am my own worst enemy when it comes to this one. Just as my students are starting to get it, I throw in a English word here, a sentence there and then BAM just like that we're not talking in French! Honestly, this is something I NEED to correct next year!
3- Authentic learning did take place in my room this year. I really tried to discuss topics that where interesting to my students and relevant to their lives. We read stories, made connections and made big strides in terms of their confidence. Next year, the challenge will be to teach in French as opposed to teaching French.
Well, that's it my big summary of this year. Stay tuned for my next post on a fantastic Tech Conference I attended this week and my thoughts on how to incorporate it into my FSL classes next year!
1 - I had the best year! I had a lighter load than I normally do and I must admit it was divine. I had only Core French to focus on and I love it! This was my best year because I learned to love Core French and all it had to offer. I had historically been an extended French teacher and was really worried it would not be as much fun.
2- I did not teach in all French but I learned something important. I am my own worst enemy when it comes to this one. Just as my students are starting to get it, I throw in a English word here, a sentence there and then BAM just like that we're not talking in French! Honestly, this is something I NEED to correct next year!
3- Authentic learning did take place in my room this year. I really tried to discuss topics that where interesting to my students and relevant to their lives. We read stories, made connections and made big strides in terms of their confidence. Next year, the challenge will be to teach in French as opposed to teaching French.
Well, that's it my big summary of this year. Stay tuned for my next post on a fantastic Tech Conference I attended this week and my thoughts on how to incorporate it into my FSL classes next year!
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