#194

Where do you find opportunities for exploring language and culture beyond the classroom? Have you found ways to involve your students in service learning projects? In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Chris Howell who is the co-founder of the Pulsera Project. This is an organization that supports artisans in Guatemala and Nicaragua through direct connections with schools and students in the United States. My school, Tower School in Marblehead, MA has partnered with Chris and the Pulsera Project. I have so much respect for the work that he and his organization do that I had to have him on the podcast to share all about it.

Topics in this Episode:

• what the Pulsera Project is and what inspired Chris to co-found the organization
• how the mission has evolved since 2009
• how the Pulsera Project fosters meaningful connections between U.S. students and artisans
• educating students on Fair Trade
• success stories of artisans and communities that has been positively impacted by the Pulsera Project
• advice for language teachers who want to incorporate service learning and global citizenship into their classrooms

Connect with Chris Howell and the Pulsera Project:

• Website: pulseraproject.org
• Facebook: /pulseraproject
• Instagram: @pulseraprojec
• TikTok: @pulsera.project
• X/Twitter: @pulseraproject
• Pinterest: pulseraproject/

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

• wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter): @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram: @wlclassroom
• Facebook: /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district? Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
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Sign up for Talking Points to get tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
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Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#193

Do you use task cards? How can we get the most out of them in our language classrooms? Task cards are useful tools for building engagement, supporting proficiency, and adding variety to your routines. In this episode, we’re looking at 15 creative ways to use task cards. You might already have a few that you like to use, and after this episode you have lots more.

Blog Post with all 15 ways to use task cards in your language classroom.

Topics in this Episode:

• what task cards are
• what to put on task cards
• 15 ways to use task cards in the language classroom
  • Warm-Ups (Do Nows)
  • Fast Finishers
  • Exit Ticket
  • Station Activity
  • Scoot
  • Differentiation
  • Back to Back
  • Traditional Board Games
  • Quiz Games
  • Interactive Bulletin Board
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Individual Boards
  • Sub Activity
  • Binder Sheets
  • Assessments

Blog Post with all 15 ways to use task cards in your language classroom.

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

• wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter): @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram: @wlclassroom
• Facebook: /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district? Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
______________________________
Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode on the podcast.

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#192

How much flexibility or autonomy do you have over your curriculum? Are you able to integrate CI techniques and procedures? This can be a bit challenging if our curriculum is aligned with chapters in a textbook or prescribed units. Today I speak with Ashley Mikkelsen, a Spanish teacher in North Dakota. Ashley talks us through her personal journey and experience integrating CI activities into her textbook-aligned curriculum that also includes common assessments. And these assessments are not always proficiency-based. Is this possible? Ashley shows us how with her quintessential realistic lens.

Topics in this Episode:

• Challenges teachers face when trying to incorporate Comprehensible Input (CI) within a textbook-driven curriculum
• strategies and techniques for blending CI with the requirements of a textbook curriculum
• specific examples of successfully integrating CI into a textbook lesson
• how teachers can make sure that their use of CI aligns with the learning objectives and assessments outlined in the textbook
• recommendations for teachers who are new to CI but are required to follow a textbook curriculum
• Ep 86: Lots of Activities for Any Reading with Ashley Mikkelsen

Connect with Ashley Mikkelsen:

• Instagram: @srta_spanish
• TikTok: @srta_spanish
• X/Twitter:@afulks2013
• Website: srtaspanish.com

Connect with Joshua and the World Language Classroom Community:

• wlclassrom.com
• X (aka Twitter): @wlclassroom
• Threads: @wlclassroom
• Instagram: @wlclassroom
• Facebook: /wlclassroom
• WLClassroom Facebook Group

__________________________
Interested in having Joshua work directly with your department, school or district? Look at options for collaborating in person or remotely.
______________________________
Sign up for Talking Points to get tips, tools and resources for your language teaching.
______________________________
Join Joshua as a guest on the podcast.
______________________________
Join Joshua for a Leveling Up Coaching Episode on the podcast.

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.