When we enter our classrooms, we encounter students who will be superstar language students. These anomalies are easily able to learn language no matter what style of teaching, what text type, or minutes in the class hour. We also find students with different strengths, weaknesses,...
The following post is reprinted with permission from Eric Herman. It is an abridged version of a supplement to Issue 4 of the weekly Acquisition Classroom Memo, a review of must-know second language acquisition research and the implications for classroom teaching....
If there is one thing we’ve learned over the past decade, it’s that there is more than one path to proficiency and promoting a single method–whether intentional or as a byproduct of one’s name– implies that the SLA (second language acquisition) process is so simple...
As teachers of CI and TPRS, we are very aware of the level of rigor in our classrooms. Many who observe the silly nature or the high level of engagement often assume, initially, that the lesson itself is not very rigorous. When they sit down...
Sometimes we all just need a little reminder that there are a variety of ways to provide comprehensible input to our students. Here are a handful of great ideas contributed by some fabulous teachers to help you bring a dose of novelty into your classroom! Do...
Personalization is an important part of a CI (comprehensible input) class. Students thrive on hearing about themselves, talking about themselves, and feeling like others care about them (especially if others genuinely DO care about them!). Personalization can also be one of the hardest aspects that...
Are you presenting a "CI friendly" session at ACTFL this year? Please let us know if you would like your session to be included in our list of recommended sessions! Simply email TPRS Publishing info@tprstorytelling.com, and let us know: Title of your session Date and...
If someone would have asked me six months ago what TPR (Total Physical Response) is, I would have replied that basically, it is giving commands in the target language, with the student responding to that command physically. I mistakenly thought that simply by telling my...
Recently, a teacher posted the Five Working Hypotheses by Alice Omaggio-Hadley on one of the ACTFL listservs. (Omaggio, 1986, pp. 44-53; and Omaggio-Hadley, 2001, pp. 89-105) The teacher posted: Alice Omaggio-Hadley familiarizes us with "five working hypotheses, which have been the building blocks of proficiency-oriented language curricula...
Oh my word, everyone! Do you have ANY idea how hard this was for us? We were honestly overwhelmed by the creativity, beauty and LOVE that we felt inside your classrooms. You are ALL winners! We can only have 3 official winners...
As I start my 19th year as a Spanish “meaning maker” I decided to do things a little differently. First off, I’ve never been a big fan of grading. I used to call it a necessary evil, but now I’m wondering if it’s even necessary....
My school year begins TODAY! My students will be noticing something new…I’m deskless! Yes, I’ve done it! I got rid of MY large unnecessary crap-storage unit metal teacher desk, and I’ve moved all tables to the back and sides of the room....
My favorite units of study are Biodiversity and the water crisis. Whether we are comparing the Carlyle Lake watershed with the Panamá Canal or investigating water borne illnesses and solutions for lack of potable water around the world, these units are anchored in the concept...
When asked to write a blog post I was so excited. I set about to decide what to write and time just passed and before I knew it August arrived. Well, now I'm ready. I LOVE CI methods and teaching and believe that it holds...
Teaching your first novel can be a daunting task. Logistically it is quite different from the textbook chapters I was used to in the past. Some teachers integrate novels into an existing curriculum as a one day per week supplement, but I have chosen to...
When I first became a teacher I handed out study guides for tests, sent notes home telling parents to remind kids to study, and spent time reviewing in class. Over the last 11 years in the classroom, my attitude has changed significantly on this topic....
Calling all classroom world language teachers! We have an awesome opportunity for you to win a FREE classroom library or set of novels! All you have to do is give us a "PEEK" into your classroom space! We are looking for the most beautiful, creative, comfortable,...
My love of reading was rejuvenated today. A textbook adoption, followed by a Chromebook adoption, redirected the spotlight, and my novels took backstage for a couple of years. New technology is useful, and new textbooks have lots of bells and whistles, but in the end...
The goal of TPRS Publishing is to give teachers the tools and techniques to teach so effectively that their students end up LOVING to read in the target language! We are continuing our series of quick, affordable webinars for teachers who would like a little...
Rebecca (Becky) Moulton attended the iFLT16 conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee in July 2016 and presented her first Ignite® Talk in which she shared valuable insights for both new and experienced CI teachers. CIPeek invited her to share that presentation with our readers. Becky has adjusted...
When I first started teaching using TPRS/CI it was hard, it was really, really hard. In fact, for the first time since student teaching (many, many years ago) I had to script out every single word I said. For a single 15 minute story, this...
Wow! I am SO lucky that today was my designated blogger day for iFLT 16. I didn’t have time to see nearly enough sessions but the two I was able to attend were wonderful. I’ve been stalking after teachers using BreakoutEDU for a...
Whew! I have been running around like a crazy lady this morning at iFLT trying to catch a glimpse of everything that’s going on. I couldn’t get everywhere, but I made a valiant effort. Here are some tidbits and takeaways for those of you joining...
Carrie Toth presented a fantastic workshop “Advancing Student Proficiency with Novel Studies.” She began by discussing what proficiency is and what can be expected at various proficiency levels. She pointed out that only 3.7% of high school students can speak at Intermediate High level after...
The excitement in the room is palpable as the teachers prepare for the conference opening. It is always so awesome to me to think about the number of teachers who give up a week of their precious summer to learn and grow. But in...
ATTENTION!: #iFLT16 keynote with Bill VanPatten & Round table with Stephen Krashen will be LIVE STREAMED! Join us Tues., July 19 at 8:50a.m. & 1:15p.m. (EST) To join us remotely, go to www.mycsas.com. Scroll down past the iFLT announcement and click on CSAS Broadcasting. Many thanks to our host...
There are many activities that can be done while reading a story or a chapter of a TPRS Publishing novel. In my classroom, one thing I try to do is use a variety of activities to try to avoid a monotonous feeling that could cause...
Join our team of teacher-authors on July 27 for a series of live webinars! Carol will demonstrate how to connect to the character(s) and the text, how to increase comprehension and how to inspire HOT (higher order thinking). Learn how to prepare the class using strategic...
Are you attending iFLT 2016 next week? We are hoping you’ll help share the iFLT love! Tweet your favorite photos from iFLT 2016 between July 19-21 and you’ll be automatically entered into the #iFLT16pics Photo Contest. Tweet your photos for the chance to win...