I vividly remember what it was like to participate in my first university level French class. It seemed like everyone else was talking easily, having conversations and responding to the professor's questions in French. I, on the other hand, felt totally inadequate. Nothing in my high school French experience had prepared me for this. We … Continue reading
As a high school teacher, I have heard from colleagues that they don't know why I use stations in my classes. They tend to see stations as something that happens in elementary schools, but not at our level. I have learned that breaking down the barriers between elementary and secondary is often one of the … Continue reading
Truth: Change is hard. Here in B.C., we've gone through a period of curriculum change that has transitioned through draft documents, public feedback, revisions, and then implementation periods. The end result was that every single course at every single grade level got a new curriculum document. Think about that for a minute - every school, … Continue reading
In my school, staff meetings are necessary events that teachers have to attend, but I think it's fair to say that they are not generally seen as more than that. As department head, I also hold one meeting per month, and I've done the same in my roles on various committees. Whatever the topic, it's … Continue reading
The week before Christmas holidays is usually a busy one in schools, and often a time when students' attention may wander. There are many Christmas-themed worksheets and quick activities available, but this year my collaboration partner and I have put together a series of stations for our students to explore some cultural aspects of the … Continue reading
The more I am working on moving to more skill based instruction, implementing BC's new curriculum redesign, the more I am finding that using stations are a good instructional design to allow students to practice those skills using communicative activities, and receive feedback in class. The more I use them, the more they are becoming … Continue reading
Authentic texts in a language course are fun to explore, and engaging for students - the ability to read something that was not created at a given level for a textbook, or the ability to choose something that the student is genuinely interested in makes for a powerful learning experience. The challenges for a teacher … Continue reading
I don't know if this happens to everyone, but sometimes I get an idea that just doesn't leave. Like ever. And the only way to deal with it is to explore it, dig into it, follow it where it takes you. This past summer, my collaboration partner and I read a book that we had … Continue reading
I know what to plan for if I want to engage my students quickly - almost anything to do with culture. People love learning about other people. What food do they eat? What music do they listen to? What is school like there? And a million other questions. Culture works. It's interesting, memorable and fun. … Continue reading
For most of my life, I haven't thought of myself as a math person - in high school, math was my most difficult subject. I struggled through Algebra 12 and finished with a C+, which was a huge accomplishment for me. My teacher took a dim view of my academic potential, and told me that … Continue reading
