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Reflections for Next Year...

It's hard to believe that the end of the year is so close, yet entirely believable.  I apologize for not writing in so very long, but with extra curricular activities (such as the school play) I found myself scrounging for time to get everything done. That being said, I've been thinking about ways to improve my lessons, and what I want to incorporate into next year. I'm compiling a list, but would really appreciate some feedback/tips as well. :)

1.) TPRS

- This is something I'm really interested in utilizing in my classes next year. I like the idea, but I can't help but have some concerns:

  • How do I learn to incorporate this the right way without any formal professional development on the matter?
  • What if one day I'm sick, or exhausted? How do I have the energy to implement this?
  • How will my students react to this format? Sometimes I feel they think Spanish is tougher than their other classes already. 
  • How can I be sure that my students will learn & become proficient in the vocabulary that they need for high school? (I'm in jr. high setting)
2.) Homework

- I just take this for completion, and it's only 10% of the students' grade.  Does it really benefit them? On one hand, I like them taking the time to practice, but on the other, I don't feel it's benefiting them. I also don't know if there's a better way to grade it.

  • I'm debating providing students with "Real World Homework " or
  • Getting rid of homework all together. 
3.) Proficiency grading

-I would LOVE to implement this. I have attended some workshops on how to begin this, but again, I think it's more of how do I want to implement this. 
  • I love CREATIVE LANGUAGE CLASS' information on proficiency grading, but I'm in the jr. high format. I feel that they need a more basic rubric, that is simplified. 
  • Administration has strict guidelines in our district about accepting late work, and students completing re-do exams. I've struggled with keeping tests/assessments valid. I do feel this would help this. 
4.) Pen-Pals

--My counter part and I did start pen-pals with our students. We sent them inner-office mail to each other. What an amount of work! We had to make copies of original letters, and then responses in case of students losing them. 
  • How can I incorporate technology into this? ePals doesn't seem too user friendly. 
  • Do I want to use a blog instead? How can I do this?

These are just some ideas that are swirling around in my head for next year. I do want to share some AMAZING teacher's blogs that I follow religiously. I especially LOVE Señora Dentlinger's. She shares so much! I love implementing her ideas/work into class. I feel as though she inspires me! 



HAVE A GREAT BEGINNING OF SUMMER! It's so close...:)

¡Hasta luego! 
Srta. Libertad






Comments

  1. CherinAugust 4, 2014 at 1:20 PM

    I'm right there with you!! I want to incorporate all of these things, I just don't know how and I'm so crazy that it needs to be done the "right" way or not at all. I have tried the Real World homework, though. I loved it and some kids did too, but most didn't complete 100 points and there was a lot of cheating so I stopped. This year I may do something less stressful and use vocabulary task cards as homework assignments. I'm not sure yet.

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  2. Srta.October 5, 2014 at 8:08 AM

    I haven't implemented the "real world homework", but I have done a reevaluation of my homework. I'm following the "two week model", so I don't give homework the first night of study. It seems to be working well. I feel as though I'll know better after I've gone through a whole unit with both of my sections. Thanks for reading! :)

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