Category: Professional Learning Community - Talia Block

The Moments in Between

1/9/2019

#earlylang colleagues at ACTFL 2019

Attending a conference is a fabulous way to learn and grow, but wading through the number of sessions offered can feel overwhelming. While it is important to get your money’s worth (especially if your district or company is paying), it is also essential to make time to engage with other participants. I’m not talking about a 3 hour lunch or happy hour instead of attending sessions, but rather taking the time to network and interface outside of a planned session.

Do you know the feeling you get after attending a great session? You leave with so many ideas you feel like you might burst with excitement but also that your head is swimming with where to begin. This is an ideal time for a small conversation that can lead to big changes. Often we try to rush off to another session when it might be more valuable to stop and chat with another attendee. You both received the same information through a different set of eyes and perspective; sharing and conversing can give you both a way to see the application in what you learned. Not only did you have a shared experience, but your differing previous experiences allow you to sift through things in distinct ways creating more ideas between the two of you. This is a great opportunity to bounce ideas or share reactions, and to create a connection point for future conversation.

17 for '17

1/5/2017

A friend of mine mentioned a post by Adam Dovico with 17 goals for 2017 and also shared with me her goals for the year. This got me thinking about the opportunity a new year brings to make changes and to see things differently. 2016 was a big year for me with the birth of my first child. I always knew that having a child would change my life, but I didn’t realize in what way. So after some reflection, here are my 17 in ’17:

Patience from understanding. While patience for everyone in every situation is a hefty goal, I think it is important to begin to tackle it, especially in the classroom. No one is perfect and we all get frustrated with students sometimes, but patience from understanding means taking a step back, taking a breath and assessing whether frustration or exasperation is really the best reaction. Showing a bit of patience may be the difference for a successful day in the classroom for both the students and me.
Accept the things I cannot change. Logically, this is an easy one. I know I can only change my behavior and how I interact with people, but sometimes the emotion overpowers the logic. Both personally and professionally, this goal will create less tension and negativity, making things flow more easily.
Positivity reigns. It can be so easy to get into a cycle of negativity, especially with colleagues in the lunchroom. Once the negativity starts, it can be so difficult to break the cycle. I’d like to have just one day, to start, where I focus on the positive. Once I tackle a day, then a week. I can only imaging what a difference focusing on the positive will make for me.
Not every day is an A day. I try to give my all each and every day I am at work. Sometimes this results in an A day and sometimes it is nothing more than a B or B+. . If I didn’t quite bring it one day, there is always the next day.
Be a better mentor. My colleague moved from full time at the middle school to half and half with the elementary school. I wasn’t there to support her move as I was away on leave. While she has done a great job, I want to be more available to her. It's a huge transition – I still remember the challenge when I moved 6 years ago – which is made even more difficult when you have to face it alone. Now that I am settled, I want to give her the attention she deserves to help make the rest of the year even better.
Jump back in. Before my maternity leave, I felt I was in a sweet spot. I was connecting with my PLN through Twitter, presenting at conferences, and feeling like I was helping lead the pack - at least within my district and area. Now that I'm back from leave, it's time to get back on track and to jump in head first. I want to participate in #langchat at least once a month and tweet what is going on in the classroom at least once a week.
Say “yes”…selectively. I’ve never been one to say no. I am always volunteering for extras at school and to take on more responsibility. While this isn’t always a bad thing, I have to learn to take a step back and participate in only those things that I really enjoy. This goes for my personal life too – not every family function is a must-attend event!
Get more involved in the "right" opportunities. Saying "yes" less doesn't mean not participating. I want to be more involved in my local language organization. Doing so connects me to a greater network of colleagues, opens me to more opportunities, and keeps me learning from others in my profession.
Attend conferences with purpose. I've always attended PD with some idea of what I want to learn, but I want to have more focus. Conferences afford the opportunity to see and learn so much that it can be overwhelming. For this years' conference, I want to focus on the strand of community, to help students see how learning a language has purpose outside the four walls of the classroom and that language can be a way in which to connect with other communities and people across the world.
Present on a new topic. I am slated to present at a conference this March, which is awesome, but I want to do more! I love sharing what I know, because I often learn so much at the same time. I tend to keep my presentations within a certain range of topics, but it is time to explore a new avenue of my work and to build a presentation around that topic.
Blog more. It seems silly to make blogging a goal as I write this post, but I want to write 3 posts a month. Whether my audience is big or small, writing posts helps me reflect on what works and what doesn't. Writing helps me reassess my lessons and build and improve.
Play more! Play is good for everyone. Whether it is playing games in class, having students use their imagination, or just enjoying time together. We get so caught up in the work itself, that we often forget that play can be a great way to engage with the language. Playing a game does not mean the students aren’t learning, but rather that I, as the teacher, need to ensure the students can engage with the target language while playing.
Go digital. (I’m jumping on Dovico’s bandwagon with this one.) We are 1-to-1 at our school. There is so much that can be done on the iPads that it isn’t too difficult to jump to the digital. While I believe in the power of writing and its’ connection to the brain remembering, so much of our learning is conversation based. Moving forward, if writing is not required, my goal is to have it on the iPad.
Seize opportunity. There is always so much going on in the world and so much of it is related to the things we study in class. A parent sent me an e-mail over the break about how her daughters and their friends have not stopped singing the song Bumboleo by the Gypsy Kings ever since they saw the movie Sing! This is a great opportunity to make a connection between the classroom and the real world. By bringing the use of Spanish to the students’ attention, they begin to see that the language is not just for the classroom.
Travel. Before baby, travel was a given in our house. Whether we went for the weekend or a few weeks, we knew we would go on at least a few trips a year. Travel is a time for my husband and I to spend time together without worrying about other commitments. Although the destinations may change – I’m not quite brave enough for a long flight with a 6 month old – the idea is still the same. Anything we can do to get some quality family time is worth it.
Train. This is not your typical “work out more” resolution, but rather that I want to train with a purpose. My long-term goal is to complete a triathlon sprint this summer, but in the meantime, I want to find something to work toward. This keeps me focused on what I need to do and helps me push myself toward my limit.
Find balance. Finding a life-work balance is always a struggle, especially with a baby in the house. I love my work and want to be the best teacher and colleague I can be, but I also want to give my family the attention they need and deserve. Right now, I want to get a quick workout in after school and pick my little one up by 4:30 at the latest. I want to participate in school events, but I will limit the events to the ones where my family can join me. When I'm at work, my focus is on flushing out any ideas or changes I want to make, but the paperwork stays at school. As the little guy grows and changes, so too will my definition of balance. The important thing is to constantly reassess and adapt to make it work.

What are your 17 for ’17?

Staying Home But Not StayinG Away

8/24/2016

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.

10 Confessions

5/21/2016

I the year comes to an end, I always like to look back at how both the students and I have changed. This change is not just apparent in the activities we do or in the amount of target language the students use, but also in how we feel as we crawl toward the end. As I read my Twitter feed, Allison Wienhold's (@SraWienhold) 10 Confessions blog post appeared, and it made me realize that there are some things I should confess as well. So here are my 10 confessions of an end of the year teacher:

As I get closer to my due date at the end of June, walking around the classroom is less and less appealing; especially since I can barely squeeze between the chairs and the bookshelves!
Drawing quietly as part of a project is no longer a homework assignment, but a legit in class activity.
I can't seem to cook more than one or two dinners a week, which leaves both lunch and dinner a scramble.
Most years, watching kids "graduate" from 5th to 6th grade is a exciting and a pleasure. This year, I'm happy for them, of course, but I will miss this groups' curiosity, interest, and excitement for learning.
The end of this year is bittersweet, as I'm exhausted and ready to meet baby, but I'm totally freaking out about having a sub to start the year.
I will not be sad if I never see (or more correctly hear) a student chewing gum in class again.
We may be three weeks away from the end of the year, but I am more than a little tempted to start taking things off the walls and to purge unnecessary files and other things.
I've worn sneakers to work every day for the past 3 months straight. Dresses, pants - it doesn'T matter. I'm totally ready for mismatch day next week.
I'm definitely counting the days until June 10th when I can put my feet up on the couch and watch hours of Gran Hotel without interruption!
Despite my complete exhaustion at this point, I know that I will look forward to returning to school after maternity leave. I look forward to having a lot of time to think about new goals for the coming year and to what I want to accomplish, but also to what I'm willing to let go of as I embark on a new journey that requires balancing a baby and teaching.

I'm always glad to know that I'm not alone in letting things go as the year comes to an end, but also knowing that the need to relax and recharge is balanced with the excitement we all feel as we look forward to the new school year.

Now I'll pose the same question as Sra. Wienhold: What are your confessio

Central States Conference 2016 Reflections and takeaways

3/19/2016

Just a week out from Central States Conference 2016, and I think I'm finally ready to put what I've learned into words. As I reflected on my time at the conference, I realized that aside from the classroom and student focused takeaways, there are some big picture ideas that really stuck with me. My growth and learning came to more than buzzwords and targeted practices, but also in the importance of sharing time with colleagues and learning from those colleagues. We may not all be experts in anything, but we have a passion for language and teaching and we want what is best for our students. The presentations and conversations at Central States made this very clear. So here’s some stuff I picked up:

Everyone is doing their best to make learning better for their students.
No matter where my colleagues are in their career or in the process of writing or rewriting curriculum, we are all working hard to take the baby steps necessary to make huge changes. The way we teach language has changed drastically over the past years and there is a lot to take in and learn. It isn't just about what and how to implement ideas, but an incredible shift in the way we view language teaching. Just accepting this shift is a huge accomplishment. Diving in and making those changes is just a part of the process. Each time we take a small step, we really can't have a big impact on the students learning. Just the small steps can lead us to where we want to go with her teaching to where we want our students to go. It doesn't have to happen overnight and we, As teachers, have to be OK with making one change at a time to reach our bigger goal.

Sometimes all we need is a spark.
As I started the weekend at Central states, I was feeling a little lost as to what I really wanted to get out of the conference. I feel really good about where we are in our curriculum as a district, but it just isn't enough. I really couldn't decide what it was I wanted to focus on. After Amy Lenord's presentation on ditching the vocabulary list, however, I realize that I wasn't looking for a solution, but a spark. Just one idea can have a huge impact in changing the way we think about curriculum and how we teach. Why was I picking vocabulary (seemingly out of thin air) when I could use my authentic resources to dictate? Add this to Laura Terrill's idea of starting with culture and content and the pieces begin to come together. Neither one had the whole answer, but each of pieces begin to fit together to help solve the puzzle of how to push students to higher language proficiency.

Don't forget the conversation
The amount and variation in the sessions offered at Central states was incredible. But sometimes conversation after and between sessions is more valuable than attending twice as many sessions. Not only is it a time to continue the learning from the session, but to brainstorm ideas and connect with other colleagues. The more connections we make, the more potential there is for sharing and collaborating down the road. I am a person that likes to process information with other people; I like to talk it out to help formulate ideas and thoughts. Without these conversations, I’m not sure I would necessarily come to the same ideas or conclusions that I do when sharing and brainstorming with others. Not only do they have different perspectives and come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds and situations, but also they have differing experiences that lead to seeing material in distinctive ways.

Social media isn’t just a distraction
Despite constant commentary about millennials and technology, Twitter played an extremely important role in Central States for me. Not only is it impossible to attend all of the sessions, but it is also impossible to take everything in over the three day conference. The backchannel Twitter conversation provides an archive of thoughts, ideas, conversation and more that occurred during, between, and after sessions. Days, weeks, and months later, I can return to that “archive” under the #CSCTFL16 and review these ideas or moments to spark a new idea. Not only that, it is a great way to process ideas and have conversation even if you aren’t sitting next to the person in that moment. The amount of sessions I was able to “attend” was expanded just by virtue of reading the ideas or thoughts of others. Moreover, everyone hears the information differently, even if they are in the same room. The ability to read another perspective opens my mind to greater possibilities.

Central States this year didn't really feel like a regional conference. It was amazing to hear from some of the top people in the field and to connect with those who are facing the same everyday struggle to make language learning more effective and authentic for our students. Looking forward to next year in Chicago!

Why Failure IS important

3/7/2016

No one ever wants to fail. Ever. But the truth is, periodic failure offers much more than perfection. If you are perfect (and who can really say they are?!?!) then there is no room to learn and grow.

As a teacher, I feel like I often spend hours crafting what I hope is the most amazing and exciting lesson or activity. I think I’ve considered all angles, worked through giving the directions, thought about the vocabulary my students need, etc.; I’ve got this lesson in the bag. And then – EPIC FAIL!!

https://chrishildrew.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/becoming-a-growth-mindset-school/

But is it really a failure? Or is it only a failure if you never learn and grow? We ask our students to learn from their mistakes, so shouldn’t we, as teachers, model that behavior for them? Taking a failed lesson and reflecting and working through it to make it better is really no longer a failure. Not only is the lesson better, but also you as a teacher are better. Growth mindset is the current buzzword in education, but it is more than that, it is a choice to look at and reflect on your teaching to make it better for you and for your students.

Reflecting on failure has a benefit for our students as well. Imagine a teacher that never tried new ideas and always played it safe. Not only might the class be a bit boring, but also she sends the message to her students that risk-taking and change are not important. A teacher who looks for new opportunities and ideas, however, demonstrates the importance of taking risks. We constantly encourage our students, especially World Language students, to take risks and put their language use out there. If we don’t model that behavior with our teaching, why should they believe us?

It isn’t, however, just the risk-taking that we model. When an assignment or activity doesn’t work quite right, it is important that we model the reflection process with our students as well. Including them in the reflection not only provides us as teachers with a different perspective, but also teaches students that mistakes are great, but reflecting and improving is even better!

Failure provides that real-life, teachable moment. So grab your epic fails by the horns and reflect and change to make the failure worthwhile.

Top 5 Reason Language Teachers Should Travel

1/4/2016

Winter break is over and it’s back to work, but this year, the first day back is a bit different. I spent the past two weeks in Panama, living the culture and the language. Other than having a great time and enjoying the warm weather, it made me realize how important travel is for a language teacher.

Travel is fun. It can be relaxing, educational, inspiring and more! For language teachers, however, travel can be much, much more. For many language teachers, the opportunities to practice their target language (TL), is rare. While many of us may have chance to use our TL in our everyday lives, it is often at a surface level. Travel, on the other hand, opens us to a world of possibility to learning and practice, which we bring back to our classrooms in both planned and unplanned ways.

1. Brush up on your language.
Whether or not you use language in the classroom every day, I would imagine your TL could use a bit of a brush-up. Speaking classroom language to 8 years old (in my case) is not ensuring I maintain my language skills. Many of our classroom conversations are limited; travel expands the topics of conversation, challenges our language negotiation skills, and often pushes us out of our comfort zone. It is also a great reminder of what our students go through everyday as we acclimate to new vocabulary and situations.

Top tips for Getting the Most out of Professional Conferences

12/4/2015

It's been just a week since I've returned home from #ACTFL15, but my brain is still buzzing with everything I learned. Not only was the conference held in the gorgeous San Diego, but also it has been a while since I’ve attended a conference of this size. It was a whirlwind of learning, connecting, and sharing. At such a large conference, it can be extremely difficult to make the most of your time. There are so many sessions and so many workshops, that it can feel impossible to choose, and you certainly cannot make it to them all. To make the most of any conference, whether big or small, here are a few tips:

1. Plan ahead.
Before you go, it is essential to determine your goals. What do you need to work on the most? What are you hoping to achieve from the conference? Once you determine your goal, spend some time going over the conference guide and decide on sessions that could help you meet that goal. By focusing your attention on those sessions, you are sure to walk away with ideas and activities that support your needs. As you read over the session descriptions, search for keywords and phrases such as: activities, ready to use, and tricks and tips. Spend some time looking at the presenters. Do you teach elementary school? If so, university presenter probably won't be your best bet. It's not to say that their presentation won't be good, but rather that they may not have the boots-on-the-ground experience you're looking for.

2. Don't be afraid to meet new people.
One of the best parts about attending a conference is meeting other professionals like you. These attendees are looking for the same things you are; that's why they're there! Pick their brains, share information, and ask lots of questions! Other attendees may have suggestions on sessions to attend, great websites and blogs to follow, or, they may just provide you with great conversation. It never hurts to broaden your professional learning community (PLC).

3. Connect with social media
Many conferences these days use Twitter as a way to connect attendees and cull information. This is a great way to share information from sessions you’ve attended and gain insights from those you couldn’t make. Further, Twitter gives a platform to reread highlights and re-explore ideas. By using Twitter during the conference, you also expand your PLC, which helps extend your learning beyond the few days spent at the conference. With so many attendees and so many points of view, the Twitter cache is sure to have tips and ideas you missed during your session.

4. Take time to process.
Attending a conference does not necessarily mean attending a session at every time slot. While sessions are a must, so is conversation and processing time; there is only so much you can take in at one time. Attending more sessions does not necessarily guarantee taking more back to your classroom. Some of my best learning and creating, in fact, takes place between sessions or at lunch. Focus on a few ideas that truly stood out to you and spend some time thinking them through. What will the idea look like in your classroom? How can you adapt it for your students? Look back at your notes and annotate with how these ideas connect to your classroom.

Taking time to process on your own is important, but so is conversation with colleagues. Invite a new friend to lunch or to grab coffee between a session you just attended together. Take the time to not only get to know them, but to process the workshop together. The back and forth can lead to bigger and better ideas, and to ways to begin implementing ideas on Monday when you return.

Attending a conference can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With these quick tips, you can make the most of your time and create a scenario for continued learning and improving even once you return home.

Top Instagram Accounts for the Spanish Classroom

11/18/2015

As I mentioned in my previous post, Instagram is a great authentic resource for our students. Instagram bills itself as a platform to “capture and share the world’s moments”, making it a fabulous resource for the language classroom. With engaging visuals and language-rich descriptions, Instagram provides a stream of authentic resources at your fingertips. These visuals can be used as a hook to any lesson, as the center of interpretive activity, a jumping-off point for interpersonal conversation, or as a way to introduce authentic content into a unit. The possibilities are endless! Below are some Instagram accounts worth following for Spanish resources. (If you are not a Spanish teacher, scroll to the bottom for tips on finding good accounts for the classroom.)

Places/Travel
These accounts are pictures and descriptions of places around the world. Some are country specific, while others explore the world.

Photo by Kristen Ryan via @natgeoesp

@natgeoesp
@natgeocast @Latinoamericaneando
@Viajaportupais (Argentina)
@Colombianiando
@Chiletravel
@Peru
@Ecuadortravel_ig

Food
Whether you need cooking inspiration or just love food, these sites have it all. Just make sure you have a snack on hand!

@hellofood_mexico

@Comidaven – Explore the food of Venezuela, from the typical to the foreign.
@Recetasveggies –
@Hellofood_mexico – A food delivery service with witty commentary & fun photos
@Comidala – Photos and videos of food from all over Latin America
@Comidabuena

Sports/Activities

@eubeisbol

@decathlones – Exploring all types of sports and activities
@rbdseleccion – All about basketball in the Dominican Republic
@eubeisbol – Venezuelans in the MLB
@ligabbvufut – The official Instagram of La Liga fútbol

Arts/Words

@wawawiwadesign

@wawawiwadesign – Illustrations and designs by Andrés Colmenares; often includes play on words and puns.
@jheycoco – Literal illustrations
@igers.design.mx – Designers and photographers professional and amateur from Mexico

This, of course, is not an exhaustive list. Some tips for finding other accounts to fit your needs:

- Search hashtags (#) in the target language that reflect what you are interested in. You can search by country (#peru), by topic (#viaje), or by idea (#chevre)
- Search accounts (@) in the same way.
- Use the tags in the accounts you follow as a pathway to other fabulous and interesting accounts.
- See the account followers and the accounts being followed. People tend to follow and be followed by those interested in the same things.

Using Instagram for INterpretive Activities

11/4/2015

Instagram is a social network platform of images and descriptions from around the world. By following people on Instagram, you receive photographs and videos in a constant stream. These visuals, posted by native speakers from around the world, offer a wealth of resources for the World Language classroom. Posts are done by native speakers, for native speakers, and make for the perfect piece for classroom activities. These images are great for activities in all three modes, but especially for the interpretive.

One of my favorite accounts is National Geographic in Spanish (@Natgeoesp). As expected, the images in this account are gorgeous, and offer stunning scenery and animal shots. The photo below is one of my favorites, and is perfect for my novice-level unit on animals and the food chain! Not only does the picture capture the food chain in motion, but the caption “¡La captura! ¡La caputra en el aire!” gives a jumping-off point for a conversation around the animals, their eating habits, and the food chain in general.