Is our assessment and grading system aligned with how we teach? We’re opening the episode with this important question.

Join me in this conversation with Michelle Olah while we discuss aligning grading practices with actual language proficiency. We discuss the disconnect between traditional grading systems and what we do in class, discussing the need for a shift towards proficiency-based assessments.

We also explore the implications of such a shift, including the philosophical and logistical changes required to implement grading practices that genuinely reflect students' abilities to communicate and understand the language.

Throughout the discussion, we provide insights into transitioning from a traditional grading system, which often emphasizes rote memorization and penalizes mistakes, to a more dynamic, proficiency-based approach that celebrates communicative competence and real-world language use. The episode also highlights practical strategies for developing rubrics aligned with proficiency standards, engaging with students and parents about the changes, and ensuring grading practices promote equity and motivation.

Key Highlights:

• Understanding Proficiency-Based Grading.
• Practical Tips on Implementing Changes.
• Rubrics
• Reflections on Equity in Grading.

Resources Mentioned:

• ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
• Claudia's community on Facebook: Growing with CI
• Follow Claudia on Instagram: @ClaudiaMElliott
• Follow Michelle on Instagram: @WorldLangCoach
• Comprehensible & Communicative Langauge Teaching Teacher Guide
• Waitlist GWP The Spanish Teacher Academy
• Growing with Proficiency Blog

Bio:

Michelle Olah is a world language leader, podcaster, facilitator, and instructional coach. As the Professional Development Manager at Wayside Publishing, she empowers World Language educators by providing coaching and professional development in proficiency-based teaching. With over 17 years of experience, Michelle has conducted workshops on standards-based instruction, ACTFL's core practices, leadership, target language use, assessment and more. Michelle is also a dedicated advocate for early language learners, serving as Past President and board member of NNELL (National Network for Early Language Learning), collaborating to support language educators and students. Michelle's mission is to equip educators with the tools for engaging, effective, and meaningful language learning experiences.

Brace yourself for an authentic exploration of assessments in the world language classroom. In this episode, I share personal struggles and transformative insights that reframe how we assess language learning. Discover strategies that emphasize growth and celebrate student progress.

Highlights:

• Reflecting on personal challenges with traditional assessment methods.
• Examining the focus of our assessments: from knowledge to functional use.
• Understanding the purpose behind our assessments.
• Interpreting what assessment results truly mean for educators and students.
• A Celebratory Approach to Assessment
  • Implementing effective and efficient assessment methods that highlight student progress.
  • Strategies for Implementing Celebratory Assessments
  • Introducing practical, station-based activities that assess various language skills.
  • Encouraging creativity and interaction through diverse classroom tasks.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

ACTFL Performance Descriptors

Unlock the Magic of Stations

Make Free Voluntary Reading Work With AC Quintero

How To Transform Administrator Observations into Celebrations of Our Teaching Practices with Dr. Pablo Martinez

Teacher Guide: How to Shift to A Comprehensible and Communicative Teaching Approach

Free stories for Spanish teachers

Growing With Proficiency The Blog

Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist

Growing With Proficiency TPT Store

Free FB Community: Growing With CI

Claudia @‌IG

¿Te perdiste la conferencia de CI Mitten? No te preocupes, en este episodio te traemos un cargamento de actividades y estrategias que Nelly Andrade, Dahiana Castro y yo descubrimos y exploramos durante el evento. Desde herramientas interactivas como Flippity, hasta técnicas para crear historias con tus estudiantes, pasando por métodos innovadores para evaluar oralmente y divertidos juegos para dinamizar tus clases, hoy te compartimos una abundancia de recursos útiles.

Te invitamos a escuchar este episodio para conocer estas ideas y reflexionar sobre cómo podrías adaptarlas a tu entorno educativo. Además, nos encantaría que compartieras con nosotros cómo te fue al implementar estas estrategias en tus clases.

Este episodio es ideal para que te relajes y disfrutes de tu bebida favorita, mientras sientes que estás en una amena reunión con colegas.

¡Dale play y sumérgete en un mundo de aprendizaje y diversión!

Recursos de este episodio:

Flippity

Blog post de la Sra. Chase

Blog de Dahiana Castro

Movie Talk by Dr. Ashley Hastings

Teacher Guide: How to Shift to A Comprehensible and Communicative Teaching Approach

Growing With Proficiency The Blog

Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist

Growing With Proficiency TPT Store

Free FB Community: Growing With CI

Claudia @‌IG

In this in-person episode from the CI Mitten conference, Dr. Diane Neubauer and AnneMarie Chase joined me to talk about the multifaceted concept of student engagement in the world language classroom.

We uncover and challenge traditional views of engagement, offering innovative strategies and real-life applications that will inspire and empower educators.

**Show Notes:**

What is engagement?

• Diane Newbauer discusses her PhD research, providing a nuanced definition of engagement that includes cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral dimensions.
• Discussion on recognizing various forms of student engagement, supported by real classroom anecdotes.

Innovative Strategies for Engagement:

• Anne Marie Chase shares effective techniques for increasing student involvement, including physical activities, gamification, and novel games tailored for end-of-year excitement.
• Introduction of "Centric Circles" for oral assessment and a great way to celebrate progress, fostering a low-stress environment where students can express themselves freely.

Practical Ideas for the End of the Year:

• Explanation of a scavenger hunt activity that utilizes picture talks from the year, enhancing review and comprehension through an engaging, interactive format.
• Discussion of "Movie Talk," a strategy to enhance comprehension and engagement through narrated movie scenes, ideal for end-of-year learning.

Reflection:

• Reflective conversation on the importance of adapting teaching approaches to meet the diverse needs of students.
• Encouragement for educators to experiment with new methods, especially towards the end of the school year, to rejuvenate their classrooms and celebrate student progress.

This episode serves as a toolkit for educators aiming to enhance engagement in their classrooms through thoughtful, innovative, and practical strategies that resonate with both students and teachers alike.

Resources:

AnneMarie Chase Blogcito

Dr. Diane Neubauer’s Podcast: Conversations about Language Teaching

Audio: https://conversationsaboutlanguage.buzzsprout.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationsaboutLanguage

Hiver, P., Al-Hoorie, A. H., & Mercer, S. (2020). Student engagement in the language classroom. Multilingual Matters.

Jacknick, C. M. (2021). Multimodal participation and engagement: Social interaction in the classroom. Edinburgh University Press.

Neubauer, D. (2022). Chinese Language Instruction with Novice Learners: Target Language Topic Development, Engagement, and Comprehension in Online and Hybrid Classrooms. The University of Iowa.

More resources:

Teacher Guide: How to Shift to A Comprehensible and Communicative Teaching Approach

Free stories for Spanish teachers

Growing With Proficiency The Blog

Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist

Growing With Proficiency TPT Store

Free FB Community: Growing With CI

Claudia @‌IG

Are you searching for low-prep games perfect for this busy time of year? Look no further! In this episode, join us as we welcome two incredible educators from Colombia, Profe Valentina and Carolina Gómez. They're here to share five engaging, low-prep games that are ideal for any classroom setting. These games are designed to boost engagement, foster community, review content, and add some fun to your daily routine. Who doesn't need a little extra fun, right?

In this discussion, Profe Valentina and Carolina also dive into the significance of establishing routines and modeling effective game play in the classroom. Plus, they offer advice on troubleshooting common challenges, such as when classes or individual students are hesitant to participate in game activities.

Tune in now and be part of this great conversation with my paisanas!

Key Takeaways:

• Establishing Effective Routines: Learn how to set up routines that make game play smooth and beneficial.
• 5 Engaging Classroom Games: Discover games you can seamlessly integrate into your lessons at any time of the year.
• Adapting Games for Different Levels: Gain insights on how to modify games to challenge and engage middle and high school students.
• Consistency in Game Play: Understand the importance of playing the same game repeatedly to enhance the use of the target language in your classroom.

Don't miss this opportunity to add these practical, fun-filled games to your class. Subscribe and share with fellow educators looking to uplevel their language classes!

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Guest Bios:

Profe Valentina was born and raised in Colombia and has been teaching Spanish for over 16 years. She has experience teaching students from Pre-K through 8th grade, but her passion lies in elementary education. Valentina's language teaching approach aligns with the latest second language acquisition theories and incorporates culturally responsive practices. Her workshops and presentations are as creative, dynamic, and enthusiastic as her classes.

Carolina Gómez is a Colombian language educator with over 20 years of experience. She holds a B.A. in Languages and Education from the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia, and a Master's degree in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She is currently a PreK-3 Spanish teacher at an independent school in Cambridge, MA. Carolina combines her passion for teaching her language and culture through stories in the classroom. She enjoys connecting and creating a community with other educators through her blog "Fun for Spanish Teachers," different social media outlets, conferences, and workshops.

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Resources:

Carolina’s blog: https://funforspanishteachers.com/

Carolina’s IG account: https://www.instagram.com/funforspanishteachers/

Valentina’s blog: https://profevalentina.com/

Valentina’s IG account: https://www.instagram.com/profevalentina/

Teacher Guide: How to Shift to A Comprehensible and Communicative Teaching Approach
Growing With Proficiency The Blog
Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist
Growing With Proficiency TPT Store
Free FB Community: Growing With CI
Claudia @‌IG

Welcome back to our conversation with Dr. Bill VanPatten. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, click here to listen.

In this second part, we continue exploring the intricacies of language acquisition, focusing on the role of grammar, the importance of input, and the evolution of output in language learning.

Dr. VanPatten shares his insights on creating engaging and effective language teaching environments, emphasizing the need for compelling content and genuine connections with students.

Key Takeaways:

• Grammar instruction can be whatever each teacher wants, but it's crucial to understand that it does not directly lead to language acquisition.
• Language acquisition is primarily driven by interaction with comprehensible input, rather than by producing output. However, when that interaction happens, output will happen too.
• The progression of output in language learning moves from dependence on the teacher to independent language use. This transition requires patience and understanding from educators.
• Engaging students in language learning involves creating compelling content and fostering authentic connections.

Resources:

Teacher Guide: How to Shift to A Comprehensible and Communicative Teaching Approach

Growing With Proficiency The Blog
Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist
Growing With Proficiency TPT Store
Free FB Community: Growing With CI
Claudia @‌IG

In this special, we’re joined by an exceptional guest, Dr. Bill VanPatten. In this conversation, Dr. VanPatten shares with us the importance of acknowledging the undeniable role of input in language acquisition, the true nature of language, and the limitations of traditional instruction.

Dr. VanPatten shares his insights on how language acquisition really unfolds and offers practical advice for language teachers seeking to foster genuine communication and growth in their students.

Join us in this incredible episode!

Key Takeaways:

• The role of input in language acquisition is a fact, not a hypothesis.
• Understanding the nature of language is crucial.
• Language development in learners cannot be measured with traditional assessments.
• Teachers should focus on interaction and communication as the core of language classes.

Bio:

Prof. VanPatten is widely known for his work in second language acquisition and second language instruction, with special emphases on input processing, processing and parsing more generally, the interface between input processing and acquisition, morpho-syntactic relationships, and instructed SLA.

He has published eight books, eight edited volumes, six language textbooks (including the movies Sol y viento, Liaisons, and the tele series Destinos), and close to 200 articles and book chapters. In 2018 he left academia to pursue writing full-time.

His debut novel, Seidon's Tale, was the recipient of the 2019 Kops-Fetherling International Books Silver Phoenix Award for Best New Voice in Fiction. His second novel, Looks Are Deceiving, received the bronze medal from the International Readers' Favorite Book Awards for LGBTQ fiction. He is currently working on his sixth novel.

For more information, check out his personal website at http://www.billvanpatten.net

___________________________________________

More resources:

Teacher Guide: How to Shift to A Comprehensible and Communicative Teaching Approach

Growing With Proficiency The Blog
Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist
Growing With Proficiency TPT Store
Free FB Community: Growing With CI
Claudia @‌IG

In Episode 86 of "Growing With Proficiency The Podcast," we had a powerful conversation with AC Quintero, a remarkable Spanish teacher, writer, presenter, trainer, and coach in language acquisition.

In this conversation, we dove into the significance of free voluntary reading in the classroom, exploring how to make reading an engaging and meaningful experience for students of all levels. Alicia emphasized the importance of building a supportive community and understanding students' diverse relationships with reading before initiating free voluntary reading activities.

Throughout the episode, we discussed the social benefits of reading, implemented engaging pre-activities, and shared practical strategies for fostering student engagement with reading materials.

Alicia also provided valuable insights into her approach to teaching reading, including the incorporation of pre-loading essential literary vocabulary during discussions.

Join us for a great conversation where we explore the power of free voluntary reading and its impact on students' language acquisition and cultural competence. So, grab your favorite beverage, get comfy, and tune in to this inspiring episode!

A.C. Quintero is currently a Spanish Teacher at College Preparatory in Chicago, IL. She has 18 years of cumulative experience as an International Baccalaureate middle school teacher, high school teacher, and adjunct instructor. She holds a Master’s in Latin American Literature and Cultures coupled with a Master’s in Educational Leadership. These dual degrees have afforded her a vantage point from both ends of the educational spectrum. A.C. has been sharing her unique perspective on pedagogy and language acquisition for over ten years at national, regional and state conferences. She was most recently recognized by AATSP for her role in improving DEI initiatives for students. In addition to championing equity both inside and outside the classroom, A.C. is also an accomplished author. She has authored several compelling comprehensible novels such as La clase de confesiones, El escape, y Las apariencias engañan that allow students to solidify their language skills while experiencing a wide range of different cultures.

AC Quintero TPT Store

Books by AC Quintero

AC Blog

Upping the Ante: Free Voluntary Reading with Upper-Level Students

How to set up your library for free:

• https://www.donorschoose.org/
• https://educationfoundation.com/linksforteachers/classroom-grants/
• Revista literal

Growing With Proficiency The Blog
Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy Waitlist
Growing With Proficiency TPT Store
Free FB Community: Growing With CI
Claudia @‌IG