Even small gestures can have a big impact on our students—a look, a smile, a word can change a student's attitude and outlook. We can make them happy or unhappy. At the beginning of the holiday season, let's allow Charles Dickens to remind us to do this. We need [...]
These are some good questions that Alex, the lead teacher of a school I am working with, has asked: What habits have you observed in excellent Spanish programs? This is what has worked for me and what I have observed: • Routines. Regular, well though-out routines and rituals. - [...]
This is an excerpt from my book Hi-Impact Reading Strategies Ping Pong Reading (AKA Volleyball Reading) This is a reading and oral interpreting exercise that you can do every so often as a review. I would not do this every day, maybe not even every week, because so much L1 [...]
Classroom jobs let you do your job. In Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick there is a short chapter entitled The Dart that correlates with teachers' need to assign classroom jobs. The chapter talks about the role of the harpooner on a whale hunt. The role of the teacher in the classroom [...]
(Download this as a pdf here.) Showing approval and giving positive feedback are important skills for teachers. Students cannot get too much praise. It is a way to engage and connect that is often overlooked. Students also need to learn how to praise and encourage one another. There is [...]
A coaching client asks: How to handle a kid wanting to go to the bathroom/nurse to avoid a game or interactive activity in class? FVR- How do you manage to keep the books organized so that kids can find their books the next time they go to read them? [...]