Quiz games for learning
Differentiation, literacy, Technology, Vocabulary

Up your Kahoot game: 18 ways to add word work and build L2 vocabulary for any grade level

Kahoot has been around for a comparatively long time in edtech circles and is one of the biggest names in quiz-based learning. Founded in Norway in 2012, Kahoot is now available in over 200 countries and regions around the world. If you haven't tried Kahoot yet, check out this link for a good introduction to … Continue reading

Differentiation, Growth mentality, literacy, Multimedia, Technology

Designing learning through research: An analysis of Memrise for language learning.

This blog post came to be as a result of an assignment in a course I took this summer. I'm taking the Professional Master of Education program through Queens University, and I've chosen a literacy concentration. I wanted to share this information because it was one of the best pieces of learning that came my … Continue reading

Communication, Critical thinking, Culture, Differentiation, literacy, Personalized Learning

Tech with purpose: Digital magnetic poetry.

When I first started learning my second language, vocabulary was its own exercise and not strongly connected to the unit content. Learning vocabulary often meant studying large banks of words and trying to memorize them for a quiz. And shortly after the quiz, many of those words would be forgotten because I wasn't using them … Continue reading

collaboration, Communication, Critical thinking, Differentiation, Growth mentality, Listening

8 ways to get more out of listening resources in second language instruction.

In a second language environment, one of the most challenging skills is listening. I've heard anecdotal evidence in my school district to confirm that this is the area of greatest challenge for most of our secondary level language students, and I've seen firsthand in my classes that it can lead to high levels of frustration. … Continue reading

collaboration, Critical thinking

Field notes: Research on collaborative inquiry in second language learning.

I'm currently in the final portion of a course on collaborative inquiry, and wrapping up a 4 member group collaboration that dug into an inquiry question that evolved to end up here: What supports will benefit teachers and students in an L2 (second language) learning environment so that students can engage in collaboration and inquiry? … Continue reading

Assessment, Critical thinking, Curriculum, Growth mentality, Learning Maps, Lesson ideas

How I’m introducing learning maps to my students.

As I've gone through course work this summer I've dug deep into my own thinking behind learning maps and developed a better understanding of what they are and how I will be integrating them into my instruction. My students, however, were not along for that ride. Some of them have not used learning maps before, … Continue reading

Assessment, Critical thinking, Differentiation, Growth mentality, Learning Maps, Personalized Learning, Self-Regulated Learning, writing

Getting down to specifics: How I’m connecting learning maps with day to day writing assessment.

As I've been documenting on this blog, I spent 7 weeks of my summer completing the first two of 10 courses towards earning an MEd degree from Queen's University. One of those courses, PME 800 or Self-Regulated Inquiry and Learning, required me to complete an inquiry project and to learn how self-regulated learning facilitates and … Continue reading

Uncategorized

Field notes: What I’m learning about how to teach listening skills.

In 22 years of teaching a second language, I have learned that all students, now matter how good their academic ability in any other area, struggle with listening. I've asked them how they see listening tasks, and their answers are pretty consistent. They say things like "you either get it or you don't", "sometimes I … Continue reading