A teacher asked, “How do you keep CI truly comprehensible when some students come from previous teachers who used mostly English, some students from previous teachers who used Spanish but in such a way that students didn’t understand and tuned out, and some students from previous teachers who use the target language and can follow along?”
I teach such a class of Spanish One, part Two to eighth graders!
I am a big believer in providing engaging visual and audio and musical CI in every lesson every day. I script the lesson in what I call a daily tech guide.
I make a flip chart for each day and provide visual slides for each activity. (You can use PPT, Smart, Active Inspire, whatever projects onto your board.)
I insert a musical transition video before each activity and soon students are using the words in the videos to express themselves. We are able to stay in the target language because those who had teachers last year who didn’t use Spanish that much in the classroom rely on the visual for cues, those who heard Spanish but didn’t understand read the words to the videos, and those accustomed to hearing classroom Spanish rely on listening to the videos.
I have them check in with their seat partner for understanding.
_85 Chequeen con tu compañeroT from ellen shrager on Vimeo.
It levels the playing ground!
I use a clicker or remote mouse to be anywhere in the room during the lesson.
If you want to see some examples of my lessons, try these links.
Videos of First Week’s Lessons
If you want to see how to structure your lesson using the transition videos, go here.
