First Day Back!
70August 6, 2012 by Megan
I love to start the year off with a BANG! I teach mostly level 1 and I really think the first day makes a big impression on students. While I know it’s common practice to talk about rules and go over the syllabus on day one, I don’t do it. I try to put myself in their shoes. After listening to classroom rules, supplies requirements, and grading scales, I would be ready for summer break again!
I improve my first day lesson a little each year but here is an idea of what it looks like…
I start each class (even 1A) entirely in Spanish. I welcome them and say “HOLA.” This sets the tone and prepares them to expect TL from you. I take a quick attendance and in the TL teach them “AQUI” or “PRSENTE”. Then I use Prezi to tell them a little about myself.
Right when I begin, the Prezi zooms in on this…
This tends to ease their worries and makes it more of a challenge. After I go through this little presentation and have talked about 10 minutes, I show this screenshot…
Then I let them share what they heard. As a class, they can usually retell me everything I told them. I act shocked and ask them “What class is this? I thought this was Spanish 1. Have you all taken this class already?” Of course, they haven’t but it gives them a taste of a new language, the task of listening for cognates, and the benefit of visuals.
I take the class right into a talk about proficiency. It’s so important that they have a realistic expectation about what they will be able to do by the end of the class and how their progess will be measured. Here’s what we talk about in my classes…
I asked students to write down their own answers to some of these questions before we talk about them. Specifically, I want to know why they are in the class and what their goals will be.
I give them an idea of what they will be able to do by the end of the class…
We also talk about how to improve in this class. It’s important to know that a skills based class is different than a knowledge based class. I let them come up with their own answers for this one…
Then I show them some real-world ways to improve their language skills while they are in this class.
I give them a sneak peak at how their progress will be measured…
(explaining grades and rubrics and assessments takes a little more time – Kara will post her awesome activity that helps students get the bigger proficiency picture soon!)
Finally, I end class with this video. Kara put it together and it’s a gem!
Whew! There you have it – that is the first day in my level 1 classes! Hope you can take an idea or two to use in class! Un beso!
Megan
rachel573
Kara
LOVE it! I am going to use some of these tips!
Sounds like a very successful first day back.
I’m going on the “proficiency path” this year, so I’m REALLY looking forward to learning more about explaining proficiency to students. Thanks for sharing!
You will be great at it!
You said you start off the class in Spanish only…the other talks after the Prezi are done in English?
Yes. It’s crucial they understand that info! It is part of everything we do!
Love it! I am definitely going to try to work these in this year! We start back next week so I need to get crackin! Thanks!
Sounds like a great combination of CI and “practical stuff.” I love it! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for explaining this. I really want to follow this proficiency-based method of teaching this year (Sp. 1, 2 and 4, 85 minute classes), but I’m feeling sort of lost.
Have you seen a proficiency based rubric? That’s what keeps me focused. I have to think- how can I get students to say words, then phrases, then short sentences, then use connector words. Level 1 proficiency goal is to be a novice mid (using words and phrases about familiar topics) by the end of the first trimester and novice high by the end of year 1(using simple sentences, a variety of vocab, ect) I have topics/units for the year and everything I do is to try and get students to be able to communicate about these topics. Mistakes are ok and they don’t have to understand every conjugation – its about communication! You can do it!
Thank you so much for the inspiration and this fabulous website!
Where did you get the rubric you use? I teach levels 2-4 and can’t seem to grasp how to modify/accurately use the proficiency based rubrics since they only have four categories, and there have to be more details within each level to show students how advanced they are at their level. It seems your rubric deals with this issue. Thanks in advance!
I love it! Thanks for sharing:)
Thank you. I don’t like to do the rules, etc. on the first day either. I spread those things out during the first few weeks and revisit anything necessary on the third week–that’s when they loosen up anyway. Imagine being a freshman and being excited to start high school and then being beaten down by rules and what will happen if you don’t behave and you haven’t even done anything wrong. I really like the part about skill-based vs. knowledge based. I’m going to add some of that!
This is such a great way to start the year. I like how you all have jazzed up something like the teacher explanation and made it very inviting! Thanks!
Megan – Awesome introduction to the year. Letting the students get to know you and your expectations for the class is definitely best practice! Is there anyway we could download this prezi? Thanks.
-Kyle
Kyle,
Here are the links for you…
for the Prezi… (hopefully you have the option to download and edit it so it’s about YOU)
http://prezi.com/zwrewpq_d577/informacion-sobre-tu-profesora/?auth_key=2866ddcd3fdd968ae25eaea198b1319bd83533dc
For the PowerPoint about proficiency…
http://www.slideshare.net/JCPSWorldLanguages/jcps-world-language-classes-introduction-8829340
Let me know if the links aren’t working!
You are such a sweetie pie to share.
Re: the Prezi: In order for someone else to edit, you have to give them permission.
You are soooo generous in everything you do & share! I would LOVE to use your Prezi as a template (as I am a Prezi newbie), but the blue permission bar at the bottom of other Prezis I have made a copy of is missing. Perhaps you could enable that permission? In any case, thank you very much for all your inspiration!!!
Beth-Prezi is much easier to use than you think. I attempted to create a presentation using it some time ago; epic fail. Since that time, Prezi seems to have become more intuitive. Actually, I found it fun! I think the best way for us as teachers to learn to use tech tools is to play around with them and make mistakes.
If there were teachers like you guys, I would have taken a language class in Highschool.
huge compliment
Thanks!! I’m hoping to “hook” a few kids that come into class with a buzz kill attitude!
Thanks! That means a lot coming from you.
Love it! I’m definitely using the prezi idea to introduce myself- it’s great because I can stay in the TL with the use of images and videos.
Exactly! It allows them to get to know you, but most importantly, HEAR the target language!!
Your blog has given me some good ideas. I’m a first year teacher and while I’m extremely excited… I’m also EXTREMELY overwhelmed. When I did my student teaching, the school used the TPRS curriculum; I loved this idea. Well, I talked about that in my interview for this high school spanish position. I will be teaching Spanish I-IV; only thing is… they want me to use two curriculums–the current curriculum which uses the Ven Conmigo! series AND Blaine Ray’s TPRS. The school allowed me to order all of the things I would need for the TPRS but I’m completely torn on how to incorporate both curriculums. Any ideas???? I’m really hoping you can help me.
)
Are you the only language teacher?
I sure am.
I’m at a school where I’m the only language teacher as well. What I do is rely HEAVILY on the TPRS curriculum, and check back with the original textbook every once in a while to see if the’ve learned basically the same stuff as the textbook. If not, I try to sneak in the parts we’ve missed. I don’t even pass out textbooks, I just use it as a reference for myself. I taught only from the textbook my first year, and my students learn so much more now that I’ve gotten away from the books. If your district wants you to incorporate the book…maybe have a ‘textbook’ day every once in a while, and ignore it the rest of the time
I’ve never been in your situation but here is what im thinking I’d do if I were in your position.
First, mix the best of the book with TPRS that you’re comfortable with and give it your best this year.
Second, ask your principal to send you to as many conferences as possible. ACTFL is in Philadelphia in November or we have a great conference (KWLA) in Lexington, Kentucky in September. It would be awesome to get out of your room and get ideas to help you figure out a way to blend it all together.
Also, get permission to visit a few other world language teachers that are doing what you are trying to do. Even if you have to travel a bit it would be such a great opportunity to see how someone else is making it work (Get recommendations first so you know the teacher is worth the trip.)
Third, after you’ve tried what thy asked you to do and learned and researched teaching practices for a WL class, come up with a plan for your district. Make (or borrow) a curriculum map that show what your students will be able to do at each level. Decide how you will assess them (Check out our districts rubrics and assessments! They are great!)
Once you feel like you have a plan you’re confident with, take it to your principal and how him or her.They may have just given you the TPRS and book idea because that’s what the last teacher did. I bet they will support it if you can back it up and show research that proves it is successful. Many school leaders know a ton about education but not as much out teaching a world language. You might be the one to lead your district to a bigger, more successful language program!
Again, just my 2 cents! Whew!
Good luck!
I’ve never been in your situation but here is what I’m thinking I’d do if I were in your position.
First, mix the best of the book with TPRS that you’re comfortable with and give it your best this year.
Second, ask your principal to send you to as many conferences as possible. ACTFL is in Philadelphia in November or we have a great conference (KWLA) in Lexington, Kentucky in September. It would be awesome to get out of your room and get ideas to help you figure out a way to blend it all together.
Also, get permission to visit a few other world language teachers that are doing what you are trying to do. Even if you have to travel a bit it would be such a great opportunity to see how someone else is making it work (Get recommendations first so you know the teacher is worth the trip.)
Third, after you’ve tried what thy asked you to do and learned and researched teaching practices for a WL class, come up with a plan for your district. Make (or borrow) a curriculum map that show what your students will be able to do at each level. Decide how you will assess them (Check out our districts rubrics and assessments! They are great!)
Once you feel like you have a plan you’re confident with, take it to your principal and how him or her.They may have just given you the TPRS and book idea because that’s what the last teacher did. I bet they will support it if you can back it up and show research that proves it is successful. Many school leaders know a ton about education but not as much out teaching a world language. You might be the one to lead your district to a bigger, more successful language program!
Again, just my 2 cents! Whew!
Good luck!
Wow! Thank you! I will definitely try all of that out!
)
I’m sure you’ve already mentioned this, but where did you do your undergrad and graduate studies?
I finished my undergrad at Grand Valley State University in Michigan (studying international business and Spanish) and am now finishing my masters in education at Northern Kentucky University. NKU taught me a lot of practical knowledge about proficiency! Great program!
FYI: I just finished creating my very first Prezi presentation. Took several hours, as I was unfamiliar with the software. But, it’s finished, and, I am pretty satisfied with it. Thank you for the inspiration! I plan to use it and the celebrities video on the first day, as well as your slideshow re: proficiency. And, like you, I am not going to steal their joy with class rules, etc. on the first day.
Yeah! Good for you! Your first Prezi!!! Your students will love it
Thanks for the neat ideas. I am a new Pinterest follower, so I have been looking at some new teaching ideas and love what I have read on your blog thus far.
I have been teaching for 20 + years and strive to try new things every year. I am the lone language teacher in a very small school with not much diversity, and language practice opportunities outside of the classroom are limited. I am constantly trying to make relevant lessons especially ones where they have to use the TL, but that can get overwhelming with everything else that goes on. Final thought: I have never given rules and expectations on the first day for the same reasons you give, so I look forward to seeing what else you are willing to share throughout the year.
It’s so hard feeling sort of alone at your school – good for you to stay connected and searching for new ideas outside of the class! Glad to share with you!
grandma thinks you are in the right field… congratulations… Grandma
I come from a long line of great teachers
This is amazing!! Thanks for sharing! I love the idea of the Prezi, and your PowerPoint from SlideShare! I am curious about your proficiency rubric, is this state based, or is this something that your district is following? I know IL is going to start with new P21′s soon. I look forward to trying some of your ideas/lessons out this year!! Great blog!! I feel inspired!
Sorry it’s taken so long for reply. To answer our question, our rubric started within the district and has spread across the state of Kentucky and to one big districts across the country. Our district has been moving towards proficiency for a few years but hasn’t forced teachers they have to use it. Most do now, because they have seen it actually gives feedback to the students about where they are and how to get to the next level.
Thanks! A great idea that I am incorporating. I teach all levels at a very small school and am starting my third year teaching. I am already “old” (47), but I am trying to see what all of you young’uns are doing with technology. Loving it!
My name is senorita graham and I’m 47, too! I teach at Joliet Central in Illinois.
How funny.
I am so glad you started school before me! Now I can just pirate your plans! LOL – Not really but the things you have posted for the first two days have been great! Thanks for sharing your hard work. I am intrigued by your Assessment slide and the activity on it. Do you have a book or just follow a district curriculum?
Our district has a curriculum with unit topics and proficiency based assessments. We have books as well but I don’t use them. I actually was lucky and was allowed to use textbook money to get iPads for my class. They are the best “books” in my opinion! We read, write, speak, and listen on them every day!
Have you seen our JCPS assessments/rubric yet?
I created a Prezi and did it for the first day! Thanks!!! The students got involved and seemed to enjoy it. I downloaded a wireless mouse app to my iphone and went from slide to slide using it since I do not teach near the computer. Between Prezi and the app I felt so tech saavy!
Good for you! I love showing my students I’m more techie than they are! Texting isn’t as cool as half the stuff we get to do in class!
What’s the name of the wireless mouse app? Is it free?
It’s called Hippo Remote. I downloaded the lite version which is free. Worked great!! and I’ve used it several times since. It completely takes the place of your keyboard and mouse so you can type from your phone as well. It’s not just a “clicker”.
Sweet!
Thank you very much for sharing-School starts today…
Estoy de acuerdo! Gracias.
Thanks for these ideas – this is my last year teaching after many years! I still get so many great ideas from others – you’re great! Bet your kids love you! Thanks!
Wow! How long have you been teaching? I Love hearing about teaching who are still looking for new ideas and improving even after teaching for a long time. Your students are lucky to have YOU!
You do know that, as we speak, I’m totally ripping this off and creating a Prezi like yours, don’t you? Mine has Varadero Beach in Mantanzas, Cuba, which I have actually visited.
Hi Ivonne! How did the prezi work in class? Having a good first week?
This worked SO well today with my level 1s!! They were so excited that they understood it. They got that it’s their job to listen and watch, and it’s my job to make sure they understand by using pictures, acting, cognates, etc.
I would really love to have a copy of the prezi in its entirety, but according to the site, it’s no longer available. Any chance you can share it with me? THANK YOU!
I’ll look into this! I tried to share the link with another teacher and when she started editing it, it was changing my original to her information (French) Yikes! That would have been hard for me to pull off on my first day!
I’ll let you know when I find a solution!
All your ideas are so fabulous. Could you please share the prezi with me so that I can edit yours? I am new to prezi and it would be oh-so-helpful!
Hey Logan! I’m trying to figure out a way for you to make your own copy of it but when I tried it with another teacher it was just changing my original version.
I’ll let you know when I find a solution!
PS Prezi does have a few templates that make setting up your first one really easy!! It’s easier an it seems!
I love the powerpoint you made. It addresses almost everything I’m planning to present in my class. Wondering if you would be willing to send me it as an attachment to use as a template? As a new teacher I so appreciate all the resources you share!! Many thanks!
http://www.slideshare.net/JCPSWorldLanguages/jcps-world-language-classes-introduction-8829340
Kara,
When I tried to download your PowerPoint fro SlideShare, my virus program blocked it b/c of a virus.
Would you consider emailing your file to e directly?
BTW…Thank you and Megan SO much for sharing. You have blessed me (and my students) so very much!
I feel like Nichol…overwhelmed. By sharing your materials, you both have given me confidence and the ability to begin using the Proficiency method right away.
I do have questions/concerns on how to assess/grade (I have downloaded all the ruberics, etc…). Could you do a post on this topic…soon
Gracias
Try a different computer too. This is a safe public file. I downloaded it from there and I only have it in Keynote now. If that doesn’t work, send me an email so I don’t miss your request.
There is a grading post called “Assigning a grade to a proficiency rubric”. See if that covers your concerns.
http://creativelanguageclass.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/idea-85-assigning-a-grade-to-a-proficiency-rubric/
You inspired me to make my own first day Prezi: http://prezi.com/eeuq7rzj3ayy/edit/#19_14586512
Thank you so much!
Lindsay – I am so excited to see it! I just clicked the link and it told me “access denied” – if you find another link, post it again for everyone to see!
Already planning for next year and am going back through these posts from last August – do you think you could make a tab for all posts for first week of school activities?
Thanks so much for the great ideas!
Good Idea – I’ll get a tab up soon!