Contents

From https://cristinaskybox.blogspot.com/2018/11/collaborative-gaming-with-stories.html

Everyone loves to listen to stories or even tell a story. We all have heard and told stories in our lives. Storytelling can be a very useful technique for language learning and teaching. In this article, read about a multiplayer, collaborative storytelling game called Storium, which a class of students can use to create stories together. Language learners with the help of their teacher can build characters and plots in groups and within a game-like environment. 

To read the full article, visit https://cristinaskybox.blogspot.com/2018/11/collaborative-gaming-with-stories.html

From https://cristinaskybox.blogspot.com/2018/11/connecting-visuals-and-language-for.html

As language teachers know, adding visuals for learning always helps; and teachers usually use them to clarify the meaning of words or to create mental images. This article provides very good resources for visuals that could be used in language teaching. 

To read the full article, visit https://cristinaskybox.blogspot.com/2018/11/connecting-visuals-and-language-for.html

From http://teachinginthetargetlanguage.com/7-low-prep-activities-that-will-keep-students-in-the-target-language/

In this article, you will read about how teachers can come up with some easy, low-prep activities that will help students to stay motivated and to channel their energy into being productive language learners. The article also provides some easy, low prep example activities that will motivate and engage students, while keeping them in the target language. 

To read the full article, visit http://teachinginthetargetlanguage.com/7-low-prep-activities-that-will-keep-students-in-the-target-language/

From https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/do-something/

Sometimes teachers might not know enough strategies for actively engaging students in the content. In order to help students to actively engage in the process of learning, teachers need to know how to go beyond direct instruction, worksheets, and tests. In order to do so, Jennifer Gonzalez explains about some strategies that teachers can add into their instruction that will help students build more pathways in their brains, see patterns, connect to previous knowledge, and experience some novelty so they remember the material better, such as: sorting, kinesthetic work, discussions, and so on. 

To listen to the podcast or to read its transcript, visit https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/do-something/

From http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/learning-the-language/2018/11/english_learners_and_social_media.html

In this article by Corey Mitchell, read about a pair of studies from a University of Minnesota research team that aimed at using social media and the learners’ native languages to boost literacy. The findings show that guided use of social media in classrooms can help boost the literacy and language development of English learners in multiple languages. The team also sought new ways for teachers to use students' native languages to promote multilingual communication in classes, even if the teacher does not speak any of the languages of the students.

To read more about these studies, visit http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/learning-the-language/2018/11/english_learners_and_social_media.html

From https://community.eflclassroom.com/profiles/blogs/how-to-plan-your-lesson-to-suit-yourself

Memory games are spectacular for engaging students and helping them stretch their memories. In this article, read about a few memorization games that can be used in your language classrooms, such as Random Word List Game and Going on a Picnic. 

To read more, visit https://community.eflclassroom.com/profiles/blogs/how-to-plan-your-lesson-to-suit-yourself

Today’s Activity of the Week is designed to familiarize you with the TELL framework while building on your areas of strength and enthusiasm.

Start by going to http://www.tellproject.org/tools/self-assessments/ and exploring each of the seven TELL Framework areas below. For each, click on the self-assessment document. Read through the main indicators (the ones in bold print), and choose the ONE that you feel is a strength of yours or that you are especially enthusiastic about. Write the indicator in the third column on the attached reflection worksheet.

Now re-examine your seven chosen indicators. Choose the ONE that is most engaging for you at this time. Re-open the relevant self-reflection document, and read the criteria that are associated with it. Choose one criterion that you feel you are especially strong at (“I do this with confidence”), and write it on the reflection worksheet.

Finally, reflect on how your chosen strength relates to some of the other TELL Framework areas. For example, if I select “My students and I interact with the local and global target language communities to advance intercultural competencies” (under Learning Tools), I will reflection on how this strength also enhances my collaboration and professionalism.

This activity was created to help educators engage in an intention growth plan related to the TELL Framework.

Materials:
TELL (Teacher Effectiveness for Language Learning) Framework

Procedure

1. Identify your goals, making sure to not only address your areas of perceived deficiencies. It is just as important to continue honing and developing your strengths! A great tool for identifying your goals is the EPIC Growth Plan. If you need more information to begin, check out http://www.tellproject.org/tools/further-reading/.
2. As you fill out your plan, feel free to consult colleagues and mentors as you select strategies and identify resources. Multiple heads are better than one!
3. Work with a colleague, administrator, or other individual with general awareness of your goals as a professional. Establish expectations for observations (duration, frequency, and whether they will be reciprocal). Whether you choose to engage in observations for an entire class period or shorter observations, guidance regarding how to run the observations and tools to document observations and the evidence that support them are available at http://www.tellproject.org/tools/feedback/
4. Reconvene with your observation partner(s) to discuss your observation data, articulate and update your ongoing goals, and evaluate the observation framework set in Step 1.
5. Start again! Engaging in ongoing goal setting and reflection will positively impact your growth.

The Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) is committed to supporting learners and educators in their sustained development and growth. An outgrowth of this commitment is our development of a nationwide faculty learning community focused both on supporting practitioners’ engagement in reflective professional practices and on providing resources for practitioners to engage their students in reflective learning. We encourage you to nominate yourself and/or someone you know for participation in this community by filling out this form by December 1. Participants will engage in a series of five webinars (dates to be determined by participants) designed to promote introspection and to share information and resources related to national initiatives (like LinguaFolio) designed with reflection in mind. We hope to see you there!