#LangChat is dedicated to the discussion of topics associated with issues and trends in world language instruction and learning. Educators, administrators, learners, and aficionados of world languages are encouraged to participate and share their experiences and input on various topics such as new ways to teach vocabulary, using music in the language classroom, and making standards-based grading valid. This chat is also unique in that it brings together language educators worldwide and from different contexts (elementary, secondary, higher education, etc.) and languages.
Hola #langchat amigos! Viviana from Louisiana. I teach Spanish for the #Middles. We went on a virtual tour of Mexico today with our amazing librarian and tech leader @mrsGOMEZsays#Diadelosmuertos
Hey #langchat! Wendy, teaching French 1 and AP in NE Ohio here. I might be popping in and out but I’m excited to chat with you all. Just also swooning over my old school bae:
A1 Honestly I know next to nothing about ACTFL can-dos so I'm hoping to learn something about it from this #langchat!
But honestly, maybe they can help me structure lesson plans better.
A1: When planning, I like that the can-do statements keep my curriculum positive (literally what students are able to do and not highlighting what they aren't) and proficiency focused #langchat
Tonight #langchat is so lucky to have guest quotes from @ACTFL's one and only @PSandrock! Straight from the source, he has answered our questions for tonight's chat. The images will be separate and labeled as such. So, let's start playing, "Paul says!" with question 1! (Q1 / A1)
#langchat Stephanie in So. Coastal ME, just getting home from my own kid's PT conferences where her French Teacher she is making errors that shouldn't be made by a French 4 student. GRRRRRR
#langchat A1: hopefully...diligently? :) I'm running a pilot program this year, and working on designing units that take into account can-do statements for levels of proficiency.
A1: This summer we revised the curriculum to reflect what our Ss can do with the language at the end of each unit. Focusing on what they can do, rather than what they can’t do has really helped. #langchat
A1 For me the Can Dos are a way to reassure both myself and my students that we're making progress. Sometimes we want results faster but seeing the progression by level is comforting #langchat
A1 #langchat First thing I do after establish my essential Qs is write Can do statements for each mode of communication along with interculturality ones.
I love that idea. I'd love for students to be able to self-identify at the end of a unit. What can-dos did they feel they met/what proficiency do they feel they are at. #langchat
A1: As I learn more and more about the can-dos, I find that they give me a path to follow for student growth and also keeps in realistic in what I can hope to achieve in 4 short courses with my students. #langchat
Yeah! I've used a can-do checklist as a sub plan--I give students a list of can-dos and they rate themselves, then list words and phrases that they know that would help them accomplish that can-do! #langchat
My dept has struggled to consider difficulty of tasks when it comes to our students proficiency level and what they actually should be expected to do. Anyone else? #langchat
A1: I use the Can-Dos as my curriculum standards because our state WL standards are so vague & horribly written. Our new standards are based on the Can-Dos & go into effect next year #langchat
A2 The Can Dos made me rethink my learning targets. I need verbs that let me collect evidence of their progress to show they are meeting the Can Dos #langchat
A2 I used to have to write Learning Targets when I taught MS years ago and in other schools in the past. But it was more for admin to see what kids were doing; the trick is how do you get students to buy in to these very teacher-y things? #langchat
I use them to inform the in class feedback that I give on all writing/speeches/etc. Also, it helps me decide if an activity is appropriate / on track. #langchat
I would like to reference them at the end of the unit and have students reflect on what they feel like they can do and what they need to keep practicing, but this is a goal not actuality for me! #langchat
We are encouraged to include the CanDo Statements in our lesson plans. When I create an activity, I link the CanDo statement to it. If I can't, then I revisit my original activity. #langchat
A2: I use the Can Do statemens on a daily basis to help plan my daily goals for my Ss. It helps us to stay focused and allows me to see the progress we are making. #langchat
A2: it's always easiest to start with an end goal and go backwards from there. The can-dos can be that beacon so we're not out to sea without a goal in mind. Also gives students something to work towards #langchat
Krista Steiner Spanish Educator from Oklahoma! Jumping in late and trying to catch up. I use the CanDo statements as part of my Ss portfolio. #langchat
Ideally students would be given the can do expectation at the start of the lesson and reflect on their achievement at the end of the lesson. But I have to put my money where my mouth is 🤑 #langchat
I am also trying to improve my feedback I give to the Ss. I pick one thing as a "shout out!" and another as a "level up" piece to help them continue to grow. #langchat
A2: I have Google slides for each grade level with I cans, bellringer, and EQs. I refer to them daily and my admin is looking for them during walkthroughs. #langchat
A2: as I mentioned in A1, I use the Can-Dos as standards. At the end of each quarter, we do a reflection activity where they check off what they can do #langchat
I love that! I call mine Glow and Grow and give 2-3 pieces of specific feedback that they can work on and have them set goals for the next assessment #langchat
A2: When you are using the can dos to plan long term and keeping those goals in mind, they naturally work their way into your daily lessons without much thought...at least in my experience. I love how positive it makes the class. #langchat
I hear ya! It has taken me forever to get where I refer to them at the beginning. Next goal is at the end with a quick self-reflection (but I only get 25 min so sometimes it's pick and choose.) #langchat
A2 id like some guidance on this. I work with the youngest learners (k and first). We speak only Spanish. I think I’ve avoided this because our classes run very organically and so it’s not always clear from day to day what the can-do is. We have end of unit goals though #langchat
I say mine in English but if there's a class where I skip it, it is K and 1. They're always posted though so at least I know what we're doing and staying on track. #langchat
#langchat I give students a set up like this and they self evaluate at least three times within the unit. Growth is clear! I also do Je peux aka Puedos @SraSpanglish style so they have proof (obviously their work is proof too.
Jumping in late! A3- this is my evaluation goal this year. I want to make all my rubrics proficiency-based. Searching hi & low for examples to create my own! #langchat
A3 I use the adverbs to help with my rubrics - the mostly, partially, completely - when determining if Ss have met that target or level of proficiency in a certain mode #langchat
Use them as Performance Assessment Rubrics. ACTFL has a great book on Integrated Performance Assessments that has excellent examples of using these types of Rubrics in it. #langchat
A3 My rubric is a broken down version of the can-dos. My fave part is students can choose to work on the next level up(intermediate low instead of novice high) at any point in the year when it's good for themp #langchat
You have to remember that any single performance task (even using language from the standards and can-do doc) isn't a measure of proficiency.
You need sustained performance over time.
Can-dos are just exempla of the "types" of things someone can do at var. levels #langchat
Truth be told, the communication standard can-dos are nice and all, but really the ones to pay close attention to are the intercultural communication can-do statements.
That's the meat of what we are doing and why. Language for language sake isn't enough #langchat
A3: I haven't done this per se, but reading the responses here has the ideas flowing. I think I like using the language (adverbs, adjectives) to create continuity in what we are doing. Also like the idea that this would allow for a lot of personal growth for each kid #langchat
A3 A good rubric based on proficiency levels and targets assures us that we are setting our students up for what they can do at their level. Celebrate their successes and look for ways to level up #langchat
Sorry, I know those weren't an answer to any particular question -- just thinking a lot about can-do statements and their role in larger curricular design in advance of my #ACTFL18 talk =P
#langchat
TBH this #langchat is like reading a whole other language to me tonight, hence me being more an observer. Lots of eduspeak to decode here - can we CI this up a bit? :-) #langchat
Usually daily, but they get the grid 1/3 way through so there a few that are already met. Makes them feel accomplished yet still let's them know where they are going what they need to do. #langchat
TBH this #langchat is like reading a whole other language to me tonight, hence me being more an observer. Lots of eduspeak to decode here - can we CI this up a bit? :-) #langchat
A4: Allow your students to make up their own versions of the can-do stmts according to their own personal interests and then compare and share. Remember our Ss LOVE talking about themselves and their interests! #langchat
A4: With carefully constructed self-reflection documents. Help guide the students to recognizing the types of engagement with the language they are capable of doing.
Just don't tie it to directly to grades. Putting a grade on can-do statements kills the value #langchat
A4- I have really been pushing proficiency expectations this year; trying to help them realize they are right where they are supposed to be, and how they can progress forward. #langchat
Truth be told, the communication standard can-dos are nice and all, but really the ones to pay close attention to are the intercultural communication can-do statements.
That's the meat of what we are doing and why. Language for language sake isn't enough #langchat
A4 This is the most important piece of the puzzle. Having kids take our feedback and reflect and find evidence gives them the power to level up and shows them how everything ties together. It's the power of reflection #langchat
A4: I've been working on having my level 2 students fill out a reflection after an output session (writing). I would like to refine it so that the Can Dos are included, though. #langchat
The first part is talking about backwards planning- so look at the can do statements for the level you are targeting, then plan an assessment. After you have the assessment, refer back to the statements to focus you tasks each day. Does that help? #langchat
A4: I allow my Ss to reflect on what they can do and share those statements with me. I know I need to improve on how I do this in my room because reflection is so important. #langchat
A4: when simplified, my students can see clearly what they can do. they focus on that rather than what everyone else is doing. now if my district would let me grade in a proficiency based way instead of having a grade book that looks just like everyone else's. #langchat
A4: Allow your students to make up their own versions of the can-do stmts according to their own personal interests and then compare and share. Remember our Ss LOVE talking about themselves and their interests! #langchat
Hello #langchat! We're the Center for Language Instruction and Coordination (CLIC) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. We love ideas, PD, and language teaching & learning! We're "novice-mid" when it comes to Twitter... first #langchat ...are we doing it right??
A4 - My school is using Entreculturas and I like the fact that it provides the unit Can-dos and Intercultural Can-Dos for self-reflection. They allow students to self-reflect and focus on the areas the need to grow #langchat
A4 I need to get back on the reflection train this year... I've been so busy actually teaching them and having fun with it that I keep forgetting to do the DEA-style reflections. #langchat
A3 #langchat Hmm. I don't create new rubrics based on Unit Can Dos. I just put the ACTFL rubrics in MS friendly can do language with ways to glow and grow. Sample here of presentational. https://t.co/AvxZZunY1O
Many of the can do statements deal with things like: if students are writing simple sentences or if they are writing complex sentences with transition words etc. So you can use those statements to give feedback for students after a formative or summative assessment #langchat
A4: last year I had my Ss complete a I can "project" at the end of each unit. We took the can do statements from the start and they had to show me what they could do. They could choose how I liked it but resistance was high and I got tired.#langchat
A4 Goal setting has also been a success this year. I see students saying "I will use a wide variety of vocab" and "I will include more connecting words" which tells me they know our target for the year #langchat
A5: This is so hard for me! I over plan and don't leave enough time. BUT when it does happen, this is super powerful and informative on how to proceed for the next lesson (s) #langchat
#langchat A4 - I’m little late to the party! I love using the Can Do’s as my objectives, but I ask the students to vote on them at the beginning of a unit to select most appropriate ones for our unit, reflect at the half way mark, and review at the end of their last peer edits.
#langchat A4 - My school is using Entreculturas and I like the fact that it provides the unit Can-dos and Intercultural Can-Dos for self-reflection. They allow students to self-reflect and focus on the areas the need to grow #langchat
Okay, this one makes a lot more sense to me. I'm really amazed at my Latin 2s and their ability to read at a firmly Intermediate level. They can read 600 words of Latin per class story chapter and understand it perfectly because they helped create it. #langchat
A5- This is one of my weaknesses. I get so caught up in correcting IPAs in time for reassessment, I forget to review the unit goals before starting the next one. Hoping to find strategies here! #langchat
I feel like I just answered A5 in A3 & A4, but it does bear repeating - post-IPA/other assessment reflection is a very important step in giving our Ss the info they need to increase their proficiency #langchat
A5: Reflection is so important and we usually get so involved in the day’s lesson that there sometimes isn’t enough time for reflection. I need to make it a goal to give my Ss more reflection time. #langchat
A5 This is something I need to plan for better. Class time just flies by but I try to collect some kind of evidence of the Can Dos. I'm just not sure my kids always see that connection. #myturntolevelup#langchat
Besides my 3x a unit reflection on unit Can dos, we do 3x a year on demand writing and speaking comparing them against our standards and highlighting evidence from their work to prove they have met the standard's I can.
So true....It's all about what our students CAN DO. We have to lead them to success, or as @psandrock says, "Pull back the mystery curtain" Lol #langchat
Hello #langchat! We're the Center for Language Instruction and Coordination (CLIC) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. We love ideas, PD, and language teaching & learning! We're "novice-mid" when it comes to Twitter... first #langchat ...are we doing it right??
TA I'm glad I have my Can Dos bookmarked. I need to make the effort to revisit them when planning units, assessments, classes and reflections. They're such a powerful tool #langchat
TA: Communication of the goal and Reflection of the progress are key and I need to remember to circle and repeat not only for myself but also for my students as well. #langchat
Could we use proof of can do statements are assessment instead of traditional tests or IPA or projects? A simple "show me what you can do in L2 with these can dos, here are some ways that you can do that. Maybe the way to use can dos better is to let go of the old. #langchat
A HUGE THANK YOU (!!!) to @ACTFL's @PSandrock, who gave us so much great insight tonight, all the way from Amman, Jordan! Great #langchat, everybody! Big shoutout to @SraWilliams3 for moderating!
TA: The Can Do statements are a powerful tool that we can use so our Ss can show us what they they actually are able to do with the language. We also need to give the Ss time to reflect on what they can do with the language as they continue to work toward proficiency. #langchat
Conference night. Missed #langchat during the commute home. Will go back and check out the discussion and chime in late! It's too crucial for my professional development to skip out on my PLN.
TA if you want your Ss to grow their proficiency, it is well worth the time to go over your unit Can Dos at the beginning & end of each unit. If you write each day’s Can Do goal on the board, your Ss will be able to start making better connections #langchat
