I'm Jenny, from the Hudson Valley, NY - Spanish grades 3-5. I loooooove the change of seasons and the beautiful colors we get in our trees here! #EarlyLang
Hi everyone! I'm Tonya. I teach Spanish prek-5 in Richmond,VA. My favorite part of fall is the cooler weather. Which hasn't really shown up here yet.
#EarlyLang
Sorry #earlylang, I used to like the colors and changing breezes of fall. I am realizing more and more I hate winter, and fall signals that approaching doom!
A1 One of the more informative chapters in this book https://t.co/kTnZ9pPaBN talks about the different kinds of play. Helped me understand why there was all that stuff in classrooms. #earlylang
A1: Play is natural for kids, so a playful classroom would naturally feel safer to a child. And, of course, when they feel safe they're willing to make mistakes and learn.
#EarlyLang
A1: I think imaginative play fosters language acquisition by engrossing kiddos in real communication about topics that are developmentally appropriate. When they get lost in play they don't even realize they are using a different language. #earlylang
A1 One of the more informative chapters in this book https://t.co/kTnZ9pPaBN talks about the different kinds of play. Helped me understand why there was all that stuff in classrooms. #earlylang
A1- imaginative play breaks down barriers- helps Ss be more willing to take risks in TL. Also offers a glimpse into the minds of our Ss as individuals. Lets us identify their strengths, passions, hopes & dreams! #earlylang
A1: Play is natural for kids, so a playful classroom would naturally feel safer to a child. And, of course, when they feel safe they're willing to make mistakes and learn.
#EarlyLang
A1 imaginative play is a way for students to do what they do naturally in their L1, but in the L2 classroom! It’s uninhibited and special to watch #earlylang
Olé! It’s like sneaking veggies into their tomato sauce. (I’m not a parent- is this what they do?) They don’t even know it’s there but they’re absorbing all the vitamins and nutrients they need to be strong and healthy learners! #earlylang
A1 imaginative play is a way for students to do what they do naturally in their L1, but in the L2 classroom! It’s uninhibited and special to watch #earlylang
A1: Play is so natural for young children, and they are engaged in learning when they are doing it. The more playful the class can be, the better. #earlylang Also, I really love fall!
A1 #EarlyLang: so much of the time we talk about pedagogical purposes of things, which is important. But what about “just because it makes it more fun”? It engages students, they enjoy class, hence they learn.
How transformative to see yourself as a language user right away! Love this. Then as they get older, they don’t have the negative thought reel in their heads of “I can’t, I don’t...” #earlylang
A2 #EarlyLang My students love to design and perform their own puppet shows. I also model some of the play by doing some movies myself, which they watch, and then they do something similar, like ordering food in a restaurant.
A2 I interpret play & imagination to include being silly & making jokes, which demonstrates language proficiency. So when I ask my kiddos "¿Qué hay en mi mochila?" and one nugget asks "¿Hay sillas?" we all have a good chuckle. #earlylang
A2 the use of finger puppet for students to have conversations is the easiest way to get them started. Of course they can only sustain 30 seconds of memorized chunks and phrases and NL/NM speakers but it is fun to see them play as if no one is watching #EarlyLang
A2: We have a "language lab" that has nothing to do with headphones or tapes. We set it up for experiential activities like shopping and such. Having all those props loosens Ss up when they act and talk. #earlylang
A2 We also love our daily themes - miáucoles and jugar jueves are super popular because we get to imagine a gato extraterrestre or beg Maestra to keep playing the game until someone "wins." #earlylang
A2 - In my #earlylang classes puppets talk with us, the presentation of the board sometimes changes magically and tricks us all, we make believe that we are riding cars or flying in an airplane...
A2: I do something called “Frases Estupendas.” It’s like Mad Libs, but for L2 students. I write a subject and verb on the board, the kids have to finish the sentence by answering questions like “con quién” or “dónde”. (Sample photo coming up) #earlylang
A2 I have a couple of story-telling units I do, Petit chaperone rouge and Boucle d'Or. Once the students are comfortable with the story, we spend time acting it out-- they love it! #earlylang
A2 Becoming the characters in our stories or novels. I have seen whole students disappear as they embody the rainforest animal of their choice. #EarlyLang
At the prompting of you and basically EVERY other #earlylang colleague, a stuffed llama named Bailey and Skippyjon Jones have been essential and beloved friends in our fifth grade lessons. We're begging to talk to Skipper and Rico of Penguins of Madagascar next.
A2 #EarlyLang: this looks very different for middle school grades. I like to present my students with scenarios and/or specific end goals, and let them loose with how they demonstrate their learning. Allowing that freedom to do ANYTHING really inspires a lot of creative play.
I've done this with a variety of characters and associated actions from a story, and then students mix and match and add on. (the volcano explodes, but the shark explodes too in the ocean!) #EarlyLang
Note the second sentence. In English, it translates to, “We choose potato ice cream on the moon because we can.” All created by the kids, not me. #earlylang
A2: We act out stories. I'll introduce a common fairy tale and over a series of weeks we'll add more to the story. We play Veo Algo, move with music by amazing Spanish lang producers, online games, Quizlet Live, board races. I like all games!!
#earlylang
A2: We play games like memory, hangman, find the hidden object, bingo, rock paper scissors, etc. We use our imagination as we interact with a menagerie of stuffed animals, puppets, props, costumes and sound machines #earlylang
A2 #earlylang the best part about the little ones is that you can make everything a game! We do a ton with individual whiteboards, Quizlet live, Kahoot, Quizziz, Legos, Play-doh, Music, etc. We love using PUEDOS & quiz-quiz-trade. Put me in a dollar store & I can’t stop!
My fifth graders imagine they're on a flight to Spain. The students are customs agents, pilots, flight attendants and passport carrying passengers. They watch an inflight movie, eat snacks and they experience landing at Barajas airport. ✈️#earlylang
A3 #EarlyLang: I could definately use some help with this. My strategies are to have stations that can be independent, so I am free to circulate; providing them with scripts as reminders; and lots and lots of positive reinforcement for TL use.
A3 I've come to accept that if I can't make the task, activity, or experience comprehensible through visuals, gestures, modeling, non-examples, or any other charades, then I have to seriously reconsider whether it's worth our time. #earlylang
A3 I've come to accept that if I can't make the task, activity, or experience comprehensible through visuals, gestures, modeling, non-examples, or any other charades, then I have to seriously reconsider whether it's worth our time. #earlylang
Yes! I totally and admittedly #teacherstole it from an @SimpleSongs (Super Simple Español) song. They have a series of songs called Veo Algo with different colors. I use it with colors but it would work well with any object in a room i'd imagine. #earlylang
A3: I get in there play with them and model the language for them. If I hear English, I play dumb and state back to them in slow French what they eant to say.
#earlylang
A3 - I only do whole group games and activities with my students that are from 3-5 years. I model a lot & teach simple words & phrases so they can actively participate. When I hear something they want to say in English, I teach them how it is in Spanish. #EarlyLang
A3 #earlylang it’s so hard to get the Ss to stay in the TL while playing. Recently we had our 3rd graders come up with sentences about things they & their partner liked in order to receive 5 LEGO pieces. Then they ran up to us to say it & wouldn’t stop speaking to earn more!
A3 committed to using TL from day 1 so playing games and imaginative play fall under this ☂but as others have mentioned LOTS of modeling, singing, chanting, repetition with a sprinkling of novelty to keep it engaging, and a class mantra “no comentarios en ingles!” #EarlyLang
A3 #EarlyLang I morphed my learning this summer and am using Dojo with my older Ss. They earn $ for things like talking Spanish, and will use it to buy things from the class store. An S will be the banker, & another the store keeper; it will be an authentic language application.
A3: I use a lot of environmental print - word walls and such to help. Or for certain activities I put print on the board. Oh look, somone made it funny: https://t.co/Sl722b7sVr#earlylang
Incentive work really well, too. If they’re playing and one speaks English, there is generally a consequence that we’ve modeled before (e.g. back to the start, lose a turn, etc) #earlylang
A3: I use reminding language whenever I hear too much L1. They don't want the fun activity to end, so they resume their interactions in L2 😊 #earlylang
A4 #EarlyLang Again, it comes back to creating a context and real world application. Some teaching practices are ineffective because Ss can’t relate to them personally; they aren’t enaged. Play creates a way for Ss to relate.
A4: Recently someone on social media was grousing abt her 3rd graders not able to conjugate verbs. It made my heart cry. Those kids should be playing with the language. Save conjugating for later (or never). #earlylang
A3: I have students brsinstorm words and phrases in the TL they might need before we start. I write them on the board so they can reference if needed. #earlylang
A4: I think out of anything kids want to do, they want to have fun. And what's more fun than playing with your classmates and teacher? It's also a great escape for some, to "become" someone else for just a little bit. #earlylang
A4 not to mention, my main goal is to make sure they are all enjoying what they do. One of ACTFL's HLTPs is to teach through context. Imaginative play just heightens the reality of that context. #earlylang
A4 - I try to constantly asses if the play time, games, songs etc... are helping my students achieve the learning goals in a meaningful, age-appropriate, relevant & enjoyable way.
#earlylang
Q5 #EarlyLang I work in a district that encourages this sort of thing. I think it would be important to have your goals posted as can-do statements - both for students, but also so any stakeholder can walk into the room and understand why students are doing what they are doing.
A5 My students want to speak Spanish. By incorporating drama, imagination, silliness, and play into our lessons, we learn and practice the language skills they demonstrate outside of the classroom.
I do struggle with people who give my kids Jeopardy questions. #earlylang
World languages- let’s talk about emotional intelligence, perseverance, risk-taking, learning to be vulnerable, communication, LISTENING, collaboration, & the ability to CONNECT. Take the 5 C’s and notice how they apply to any and all things! Go @SenorG!! #langchat#earlylang
In 12hrs I'm presenting the Colorado Board of Education w this petition to ensure that WORLD LANGUAGES be included in guidelines for a Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness (PWR) High School Diploma Endorsement
RT if you support us!
https://t.co/Hih8Iywd6r#langchat#edcolo#actfl
Sometimes they get really creative and come up with things I wouldn't have thought of. I sometimes forget (like today) to do it and I always regret it. #EarlyLang
A5 Make sure you invite your admin to visit you! Better yet, tell them they can drop by WHENEVER because it's always fun and they're practically always playing. #EarlyLang
A5: heck, even w/ kids, we need to help them understand play. I mentioned "work" to Kindergarten once and they said "we don't work in your room, we go there to play!" #earlylang
Do you know how lovely it is to open up Twitter have a whack of - okay a few in a row - tweets from @SECottrell filling your feed...even if you don't work in #earlylang? Love reading your stuff amiga!
A5 #EarlyLang Educate stakeholders about proficiency. I studied Spanish formally for 12 yrs. I could conjugate verbs, but the first time I travelled I couldn’t do anything with it. “I drink, you drink, he/she/it drinks ...” but I couldn’t say, I need something to drink.
A5 Story of my (our) life! 😆 I’ve learned that if children are happy, learning and having fun, everyone is happy The issue is when the play is perceived as wasting time #EarlyLang
One of my goals that I actually wrote up and brought to my supervisor is to create space for silliness in my classroom. Nothing will create a stronger class connection than a contagion of the giggles! And that opens everyone up to the hard stuff. #earlylang
Yes, as a special area teacher sometimes other teachers think all we do is play (but in a bad way.) It's important to make sure people do understand they're learning activities. #EarlyLang
A5 - I'm so proud to say that my school support play, promote play and believe in the power of play to learn academic, social & emotional skills. #EarlyLang
A5 Check out this article about Finland's high-performing schools...15 minutes of recess per 45 minutes of instruction #EarlyLanghttps://t.co/VbKj6uz47m
A5 #EarlyLang Educate stakeholders about proficiency. I studied Spanish formally for 12 yrs. I could conjugate verbs, but the first time I travelled I couldn’t do anything with it. “I drink, you drink, he/she/it drinks ...” but I couldn’t say, I need something to drink.
RF I hope to bring more (scripted, measured, structured) play to my squirrely 4th graders. I like what @Sra_Kennedy said about class environment - we all want to be part of the group so let's play together. #earlylang
