Beginning the school year Effectively…and

in Style!

Julie SoldnerContributions by Mark Mallaney, Nina Barber,

Annick Chen and Sarah Rasay

Academic tools for the classroom

Wall Posters Question Words High-frequency verb structures, adjectives,

adverbs Target Language – English

Numbers chart, colors, weather, calendar Transition words Emotions Irregular verb conjugations: to be, to do, to

have Rejoinders: How do you say? Oh really? I’m sorry.

That’s too bad. Reading strategies www.brycehedstrom.com Rigor Poster

How to choose reading material

Pick something interesting & comprehensible. You should enjoy it and it should be relatively easy. It does not have to be utterly fascinating. You do not have to understand every single word. It just has to hold your interest for a while and it

has to be something that you mostly understand. If you don’t like it or it doesn’t make sense to you,

choose something else to read next time. You can also read the same thing again if you

want. That is a good option too.

Classroom Rules and Routines

Take time to go over exactly what the expectations are for the class.

Be intentional about YOUR rules and routines. Nina Barber says:

I take time to explain CI to the kids, so that they understand WHY we do what we do, and if it is done correctly, they can just relax, listen, answer and gesture. Easy grade.

Lots of TPR with basic verb structures. I use a few of Jalen Waltman’s beginning stories (the

baby story, for example.) www.waltmania.com I give lots of little quizzes and hold kids accountable

for identifying vocab and story info, so they learn early on that they cannot slack.

I use Jason Fritze’s participation points.

Classroom Rules and Routines

Mark Mallaney says: It is very important to establish routines right

away so that you don't have to micro-manage on a daily basis.

Do lots of TPR around classroom procedures. In essence, if I want to say to kids “When you’re finished, stand up, return your clicker to the box, walk to the bookshelf, grab a book, sit down and read” then I need to do TONS of TPR with all of those structures.

If you get a solid base of understanding on the verbs needed to manage the classroom ‘right off the bat’ …you can turn classroom procedures into CI.

Classroom rules (Ben Slavic)

Listen with the intent to understand.

One person speaks and the others listen.

No “talking over” or random blurting.

Sit up…Squared shoulders…Eyes on the teacher.

Do your 50%.

No English.

Annick Chen finds value in sharing the Interpersonal

Rubric…

Sarah Rasay sharesthis info graphic with her students at the beginning of the year.

Optimal time for input

According to brain research:

The best times during a class period for input are

the first and last 15-20 minutes.

What is a Lanzamiento (Launch)?

A reading in the first 15-20 minutes of class to get you in the mindset to learn Spanish

Reading-Children’s books and reading guide

Writing-overhead prompt and lanzamiento guide

What is Spanish class like?

Different from your other classes Language acquisition only happens when written

and spoken messages are understood and

students are relaxed. Have fun. Enjoy the learning (acquisition).

To learn you have to Listen and Read Listen and Read with the intent to understand.

Check website (demonstration)

Participation is Key!

Effort is the most important

Speak Spanish!

Bring your creativity and positive attitude to class everyday

Learn your students’ names and have them learn each

others’… Yo me llamo…Ella/Él/Ellos se llama(n)

…

This is an opportunity for them to practice each others names as well as start learning in the TL immediately.

You can use famous people or characters for them to continue practicing beyond their class…

¿Como se llama él?

¿Como se llama ella?

¿Como se llama él?

¿Como se llaman

ellos?

¿Como estás? ¿Qué tal?

Let them know the expectation for classroom greetings-no English allowed

Teach them to go beyond the usual “bien y tú?

Teach them how to say a multitude of emotions such as sad, angry, bored, frustrated, tired, excited, surprised, etc.

(These emotions are not only practical but can be easily incorporated into

classroom talk and stories.)

Yo estoy así así. (I’m pretty good/ok.)

Yo estoy cansado/a.(I’m tired.)

Yo estoy triste. (I’m sad.)

Yo estoy emocionado/a

I’m excited.

Estoy aburrido/a.(I’m bored.)

Yo estoy nervioso/a.(I’m nervous.)

Classroom Objects and Commands

Teaching objects in the Classroom—think of all the possible objects that will be used-include windows, wall, door, board, markers, calendar, flag, map, backpack, etc.

Slowly teach the objects while introducing the commands such as stand up, sit down, grab, walk toward, enter, leave, etc.

ventana

suelo

archivador

bolígrafo

bandera

mochila

Introduce adverbs intermittently…

Use TPR with adverbs.

Examples of fun and practical adverbs:

Fast, slowly, quickly, silently, romantically, crazily, etc.

Teach basic emotions/feelings:

Sad, happy, tired, bored, cries, smiles, laughs, etc.

Examples…

Close the window quickly and walk toward the door scared.

Grab a pencil quickly, open your binder and take out a piece of paper very bored.

Look at the teacher scared and walk toward the board quietly.

Example Activities to practice skills…

Label objects in the classroom as competition with laminated labels (team/individual)

10 Index cards in groups of 3—two students and a teacher and change roles—have to perform for class and are evaluated by class on accuracy, understanding and creativity

Simon Says (pick student volunteers)

Teaching places in the School…

Think about places in the school that they will need to go to, could be used in a story or are useful in everyday conversation

Considerations—nurses office, entrance, exit, playground, parking lot, principals office, hallway, locker, bathroom, cafeteria, gym, classroom, etc.

pasillo

escaleras

biblioteca

aparcamiento

entrada

oficina

Activities to review and refresh at the beginning of

the year… Teach the prepositions. Examples are next to, in front of,

behind, far from, near to, inside, here, there, etc.

Activities associated with prepositions…

Practice with objects in the classroom.

Practice with places in the school.

Hide a piece of candy in the class and have the students give clues using the prepositions.

Describe a map of the US or world and talk about different places.

Describe places in Denver and have students guess

What place is it? It’s next to South High School.

It’s large and has many trees and a lake.

It’s between Downing and Franklin Streets.

It’s close to Merrill Middle.

Many people do exercise, run, play sports and walk their dogs here.

It is surrounded by houses, apartment buildings and businesses.

El Parque Wash

Jeopardy for TestVERBOS LA CLASE LA CLASE

2

LA ESCUELA MISTERIO

Q $100

Q $200

Q $300

Q $400

Q $500

Q $100 Q $100Q $100 Q $100

Q $200 Q $200 Q $200 Q $200

Q $300Q $300

Q $300 Q $300

Q $400 Q $400 Q $400 Q $400

Q $500 Q $500 Q $500 Q $500

Final Jeopardy

Culminate with a Scavenger Hunt…

(Have a list of 40 or so objects they have to find in the school such as…)

A red pencil

A flag of Mexico

A map of the world

A Honda in the parking lot

A purple backpack

A disorganized locker