Talia Block
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A Beginner's Mind

8/28/2017

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I started a new workout program this week and it is really challenging, not just physically, but also mentally. At the end of today’s session, the trainer talked about a Japanese concept: Shoshin - the concept of a beginner's mind. This Buddhist concept encourages a person to enter a new situation with an open mind and enthusiasm, to surrender ego and to be challenged to grow. It is the skill of being a student. (Read more here.)
 
As a language teacher, it's often difficult, if not impossible, to remember what it was like to begin our language journey; the struggles with understanding language and with finding the words we want to use. I do remember when I went abroad and, despite years of school learning, I struggled to communicate. I remember feeling overwhelmed and lost, but being in a different country, I did not have the choice to quit. I want my students to feel that despite being overwhelmed and lost that they can improve; they don’t have to quit. We have the opportunity to share this concept with our students and to invite them to be into this beginner’s mindset as they start the year. 
 
Create a safe and welcoming environment. 
Even when using the target language on day one you can begin to build relationships. Include pictures of you and your family as you talk about summer or show your school pride by wearing school gear on the first day. Welcome students at the door with smiles or take the last few minutes at the end of class in English to check in. (You do get 10%!) 
 
Create activities that are engaging and authentic. 
Use authentic resources to draw students in and ignite passion for the language. Help them connect what they're seeing and learning to their own lives with photos or other things related to the topic. Create cultural comparisons with examples from your students’ lives.
 
Teach how to be a student.
It sounds silly, but learning how to learn a language is actually more essential in the beginning than what vocabulary a student remembers. By giving students the skills they need to learn, we provide the building blocks they need to be successful. As they learn how to be a student, the language piece comes much more easily and they gain confidence in themselves and their work.
 
Have fun and be yourself!
Enjoy your time with your students. Show your passion for what you do and let parts of you come out in each and every one of your lessons. Make mistakes and learn along with your students. They take their cues from you, so be a good beginner along with them.
 
As I wrote each of these and reread them, they hit me as obvious. No matter how many years you’ve been teaching or how many first days you’ve had, it is always important to remember what being a beginner is like.
 
Have a great school year!
 

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Staying Home But Not StayinG Away

8/24/2016

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Today is the first day of school. And I'm not there. My son was born in June and I have the privilege to stay home with him until November. This is amazing! But it's also really tough. 
 
The beginning of the school year is one of my favorite times. The week before the kids come back all the teachers are back and getting the rooms ready; everyone's buzzing with excitement and talking about the fabulous summer they had. This is a great time to reconnect with colleagues and just get excited for a brand-new school year. Then the first days come and the students arrive in their best clothes and with brand-new school supplies. Everyone is excited for the possibilities a new school year holds.
 
This year, however, I don't get to experience this. While I thought I would be content not to go back to school, there is a part of me that is really sad. That being said, I am so thankful to spend this wonderful time with my son. I get to watch him grow and change over the next few weeks and months. I know how lucky I am. Most parents barely get 12 weeks, if that. Knowing this, the question is, how do I create a new balance in my life? How do I stay present for my son, but also keep my foothold in the World Language and teaching community? 
 
Each of us finds balance in a different way, but here some ideas to maintain the connection with work while enjoying the precious minutes with your little one:
 
Stay connected through social media. 
Whether checking school email or reading tweets, it can feel good just to know what is going on at school and in your personal learning community. While the little one is sleeping or while pumping, take the time to scroll through emails, tweets, pins, etc. There is no need to respond unless you feel like it, but just reading can help make you feel like a continued part of the school community. If you want more, participate in a Twitter chat, such as #langchat. In doing so, you carve out time for yourself while staying up to date and part of the conversation.
 
Stay connected to the material. 
I'm hoping my son will be bilingual, so I speak to him in Spanish, but talking to myself all day can be tiring. There are plenty of books and thousands of songs available. Not only does it give me a break, but also keeps me connected to my subject matter. As I come across new songs or other things that relate to my classroom, I take note and tuck it away for my return to school. 
 
Stay connected to your colleagues
Making coffee or dinner dates with friends from school does more than just get you out of the house. By staying connected with colleagues, you stay connected to the school community; even if it’s just for the latest gossip. If I maintain relationships with my colleagues, school, and district, it will be a smoother transition back into school. If at all possible, try to attend a special assembly or holiday party that doesn’t feel too disruptive to you or the school. For those at the elementary level, visiting for Halloween can be fun for both you and the students, especially if you dress the little one up for the parade. Bring your little one to a special concert or holiday show. The students will love to meet the baby and it will help you continue to be a part of the community.
 
Stay connected to your goals.
What is it that you want to get out of your time at home? What are you hoping to accomplish once you get back to work? Your priorities have probably shifted, so it is essential to take time to reassess your short-term, and possibly long-term, goals. It is possible that your goals have not changed at all, but rather that the way in which you reach them has changed.   
 
There is no right or wrong to creating a new balance to your life. It has to be about what works for you in that moment, knowing very well that it could all change once you return to work. No matter what, be sure to enjoy your leave as a way to re-energize yourself for work, and take work time to re-energize yourself for home.
 

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To review or not to review

8/25/2015

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For many of us, the start of school is just days away. The room is (almost) ready and the excitement is building, but what are you actually going to teach on the first day? Do you dive right in, or do you spend time reviewing and warming up your students’ brains? I’m always torn on how much time I should spend reviewing. While it seems to help ease the students back in, I’m not sure that it actually elevates their learning in any way. Every year, I feel like I go back and forth on how and what to review and how much time to spend.

In years past, I feel like I’ve tried everything. Some years, students create Facebook pages or write short books all about themselves. These activities pull in vocabulary, such as colors and activities, which we’ve learned the previous year. (See some samples below.) Other years, I skip the projects and do more interactive getting-to-know-you activities like human bingo. There is NOTHING wrong with these activities! It eases students back into school while allowing them to share about themselves and learn from others. (Truthfully, I think it also eases me back into the school year.)


Facebook Review.pdf
File Size: 42 kb
File Type: pdf
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Human Bingo.doc
File Size: 34 kb
File Type: doc
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Keeping it in the target language from day 1 to 180

8/10/2015

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As a language teacher, I know my students need large amounts of input in order to be successful. I am also aware that the only place they truly receive that input is the 30 minutes a day they are in my classroom. With such a small window of opportunity, it is essential I use every minute to the fullest and fill their nimble minds with as much target language (TL) as possible. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL, 2015) recommends “language educators and their students use the target language as exclusively as possible (90% plus) at all levels of instruction.” Our goal is to set up them for success in travel and interaction with speakers of the TL, so it only makes sense to surround them with language in the classroom.

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If you are new to the 90/10 model, it can be daunting at first. I couldn’t imagine how teaching elementary school students in the TL from day one; they would have a melt down! Our students, however, are extremely receptive if you approach the use of language in context and with plenty of support. Here are a few ideas for getting your year started off right at any level:

Use classroom decorations that double as input
While we don’t want to overwhelm our students, there are plenty of decorations that do double duty. Signs with essential phrases, such as “Can I go to the bathroom?” or “I have a question.” are a must! If you post classroom rules, make them bilingual so you don’t have to translate as you go. By mid-year, the first language side can be removed and you can continue to refer to the rules in the TL only. Keep the rules simple and easy to understand. 

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As presented by Moeller, A.J. & Roberts, A. at Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Language, 2014.

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Making 90% Target Language Work For you

5/15/2014

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Picturehttp://tinyurl.com/m4g536a
I never thought teaching in the target language (TL) was possible; it just seemed too difficult. How would the students understand me? How could I give instructions they could follow? What would classroom management look like? I struggled to comprehend how both my students and I would function.

Looking back it seems somewhat silly to not use the TL for instruction in a World Language classroom. What is the language classroom for, if not for immersing students in a language-rich environment that mimics the real world? Thinking back to my own study abroad experience, I remember the first few weeks as terrifying - I couldn't understand or respond to anyone! Is that what I really wanted for my students? TL usage had to change in my classroom. 

Moving from 90% English to 90% TL, however, was not just about me, the teacher, but also the curriculum, the approach, and, of course, the students. Here are some quick and easy ways to make TL use the norm rather than the exception:


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The First Days of School

8/24/2013

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It is officially back to school! The first day is always the best - the kids are fresh and so am I. We are excited to start the year and jump in to new learning. This year, I wanted to go with the idea that I'm a guide on an adventure of learning Spanish and everything associated with it. After two years, I think I've finally got this whole elementary thing down and my welcome letter is finally cute!

The first day of class can be extremely scary for my 3rd graders, as they've never taken Spanish before. From the moment they walk into class, we are Spanish only. In the past, most of the class was spent talking over the "huh" and "what is she saying?" and other minor freak outs. This year, though, they were right with me. It was incredible! At the end of class, when I asked them how the y felt, many said they were nervous, but were so excited to be in Spanish. :)

I can't believe this is the 3rd year of our program. I'm excited for this year to see where my 5th graders are and will end up and see how the language needs change as they gain more and more experience.



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