Elementary World Language Teacher Summit
24 sessions & PD Certificate for 14 hours
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Elementary World Language Teacher Summit
4 Lessons
Elizabeth Roberts shares five engaging vocabulary games for early elementary world language classrooms: charades, bingo, repeat if correct, where is the paper clip, and what is missing. These games are designed to help young students acquire vocabulary through repetition and interactive play, with options for whole class, partner, or small group formats to enhance engagement. Roberts emphasizes the importance of routine in her teaching approach, detailing specific setup and management techniques for each game to maximize classroom efficiency and student participation.
Jenniffer Whyte discusses the power of storytelling to present black historical figures as intelligent and brave, using creative activities such as picture talks, drawing, and a "dream big" mural inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech. Jenniffer shares various strategies, including crafts to explore African culture and simplified storytelling for young children with the book "Hair Love." Highlighting the importance of inclusivity and celebration, she incorporates local black history and cultural artifacts into her teachings, ensuring Black History is taught year-round rather than only in February, promoting a diverse and respectful learning environment.
Joshua Cabral links language proficiency goals with important child development principles in this informative presentation for elementary and middle school world language teachers. He offers teachers an in-depth approach to interactive teaching methods that promote language proficiency and foster a deeper understanding of global cultures in students. From this presentation, you will gain an understanding of the link between child development principles and language proficiency, along with a clear approach to designing activities for different proficiency levels and an implementable classroom activity.
In this presentation, Maria shares her ideas for using Special Person Interviews for Kindergarten through fifth grade students. She provides suggestions for adapting this strategy across grade levels by changing the unit theme that provides the context for the interviews. As the students move from focusing on their family in kindergarten, through topics such as Birthdays, Food and Celebrations, they incorporate increasingly complex vocabulary and grammar in their interviews and presentations.
In this presentation, Elizabeth Roberts and Denise Clivas discuss their Real Language Write Away programs for French, Spanish, and Mandarin. They've developed these programs to improve student communication through engaging partner conversations. They highlight the importance of practice-focused learning, starting with scripted dialogues and moving toward spontaneous use. They provide various tools like vocabulary cards, chants, and written activities to aid learning. The program includes teacher kits and student activity books, with distinct levels for different grades. They emphasize student engagement, motivation through real communication, and practical classroom strategies like role-play and thematic units. They also provide full previews and additional resources online.
In this session, Albert Fernández emphasizes comprehensible input over rigid grammar drills, which helps decrease planning and paperwork for teachers. Albert uses the TPRS method to make learning engaging, leading to creative student outputs. While parents may initially be skeptical, they often become supportive after seeing their kids improve. He stresses the importance of a positive learning environment to reduce student anxiety. Practical strategies include adapting textbook activities and setting clear, proficiency-focused goals.
Allison Wienhold shares practical tips for sustainable planning, especially for world language teachers managing multiple preps or as a one-person department. Key strategies include reaching out for support, using consistent routines, and utilizing digital tools for streamlined lesson planning. Alison emphasizes that "done is better than perfect," and suggests sharing weekly takeaways on social media or jotting down improvements. She advises teachers to stagger high-energy activities to avoid burnout and to incorporate brain breaks to keep students engaged. Alison also highlights the value of collaborating with colleagues and involving student help for a smoother classroom flow.
Using Educational Robotics and Minecraft Education in the L2 Elementary Classroom by Dida Papalexiou
Dida Papalexiou highlights the affordability and practicality of virtual educational robotics for resource-limited schools and explains how tools like Lego Mindstorms and Minecraft Education promote creativity, problem solving, collaboration, and critical thinking through authentic, task-based learning. Papalexiou outlines strategies to shift from teacher-centered to learner-centered environments, encouraging digital literacy and lifelong learning through connectivism and constructivism. Additionally, she provides practical resources, including a teacher’s guide, lesson plan, and video links, to help educators effectively incorporate these technologies into their teaching.
Claudia Langbehn shares her experience teaching Spanish to 5th and 6th graders. Growing up in Argentina, Chile, and Congo, Claudia emphasizes the importance of a caring and inclusive environment. She discusses her unique blend of two teaching methods: "Real Spanish Right Away" and "T.A.L.K." The first method uses partner conversations to build language skills, while TALK focuses on staying on topic, accuracy, listening, and kindness. Claudia highlights the importance of real-life conversations and a supportive classroom atmosphere for effective learning.
Carmen Reyes explores the integration of musical content to enhance Spanish language acquisition in elementary schools. She demonstrates the use of Total Physical Response (TPR) and Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS) techniques with songs to facilitate vocabulary growth, grammar comprehension, and cultural understanding. Reyes emphasizes the importance of routine and transition songs for classroom management, providing examples of how songs can signal actions like cleaning up or being silent, thus fostering a structured learning environment. Additionally, she highlights engaging methods such as incorporating popular songs, interactive games, and movement-based videos to promote personal interaction and confidence in speaking Spanish among students. Educators can expect to learn practical, music-based strategies for making language learning both effective and enjoyable for students.
Albert Fernández shares practical strategies like using the TPRS method to make classes more engaging and effective. Through creative activities such as storytelling, personalized Q&A, and using authentic resources, students build language skills naturally. Fernández suggests integrating high-frequency vocabulary and focusing on communication over rote grammar drills. Key classroom ideas include creating character-driven stories, playing interactive games, and adapting textbook activities to prioritize comprehension and usage.
Carolina Gómez explores the significance of daily routines in elementary classrooms to maximize language input and facilitate smooth class operations. She introduces practical strategies such as "Person of the Day," "Guess the Temperature," and "Weekend Chat" to engage students in using the target language consistently. Carolina emphasizes the use of visual aids, movement breaks, and visual signals to enhance communication and ensure effective classroom management. Through structured yet adaptive routines, Carolina highlights the importance of providing a safe and predictable environment that supports both cognitive load management and active student participation.
Noemí Rodríguez shares her passion for integrating authentic music into elementary Spanish classrooms. She introduces her Lo Logramos Model, emphasizing the cycle of strategizing, observing, applying, and reflecting. Noemí highlights the benefits of using music for engagement, emotional connections, and brain development. She walks through strategies like using songs for timers, brain breaks, and reading activities, and showcases her favorite song, "Soy Yo" for teaching identity. Tips include pre-teaching vocabulary, using movie talks, and engaging students with activities like dance competitions, word clouds, and March Madness-style music brackets.
Carmen Reyes highlights the power of drama in teaching Spanish to elementary students using the TPRS approach. She dives into activities where students act silently using props to create stories, which boosts engagement and vocabulary retention. Key strategies include recognizing cognates, using "Super 7" verbs, and aligning activities with TPR for physical language association. Fun exercises like "Charade of Trees" and "Broken Phone" make learning interactive and effective. Learn techniques to improve students' writing and reading skills while making language classes more dynamic and enjoyable.
Carolina Gómez discusses practical ways to plan and deliver engaging language lessons for K-8 students. She highlights using materials that resonate with students' age and proficiency levels, like identity cards and global warming projects. Key strategies include staying in the target language, using songs and storybooks, and connecting lessons to students' lives and interests. Carolina also shares tips for managing lively classrooms, such as incorporating students' schedules into activities and creating routines with fun, relatable content. Leave with refreshed ideas to make learning interactive and culturally inclusive, leveraging tools like virtual trips and personalized projects.
Trisha McMurray explores the challenges faced by language teachers when dealing with apathetic students and offers strategies to engage and motivate them. Drawing upon her own personal experiences and diverse cultural influences, Trisha shares valuable insights on building classroom culture and student confidence. She highlights the importance of understanding individual identities and leveraging student interests to create a supportive learning environment. She delves into specific techniques for different grade levels.
Rocio Jacoby shares innovative methods for language acquisition in elementary classrooms, emphasizing the power of storytelling and student engagement. She discusses the use of story creation and sequencing through drawings, Reader Theater for role-playing, and comprehension demonstrated via "read and draw" activities. Rocio outlines interactive decision-making strategies like voting and using the Wheel of Names to involve students actively in story development. The presentation provides practical insights into incorporating gestures, visuals, and movement to enhance understanding and maintain classroom engagement.
In this session, Andrea Olatunji guides educators on choosing short, age-appropriate, and relatable stories. She suggests using props like puppets, music, and costumes to make storytelling engaging. Andrea also highlights the benefits of storytelling for boosting memory, facilitating conversations, and promoting intercultural understanding. She encourages teachers to let students create and share their own stories, making the language learning process more fun and meaningful.
Albert Fernandez explains his shift from a grammar-focused curriculum to one emphasizing communication and student confidence. Albert highlights the effectiveness of storytelling for engaging students, making language learning authentic, and providing opportunities in presentational, interpretive, and interpersonal activities. He offers practical tips such as using high-frequency verbs, keeping vocabulary simple, and incorporating humor. Albert encourages teachers to start with personal or relatable stories, gradually integrating storytelling into their teaching to make language learning more interactive and enjoyable.
In this session, Carolina Gómez and Valentina Correa dive into using stories for teaching languages. Valentina shares practical tips like using a song-based brain break called "toma tomate" for muscle control and the importance of high-frequency vocabulary in stories. They discuss including cultural elements to engage students, using various formats of storytelling to reinforce learning, and keeping stories short but compelling. Carolina introduces creative activities, like memory games and interactive storytelling using gestures. Both speakers highlight the use of visuals, games, and songs to keep language lessons dynamic and engaging, ensuring students stay hooked and participate actively.
Denise Clivas and Elizabeth Roberts discuss the importance of keeping instruction in the target language, providing students with practical tools and structured conversations, and incorporating interactive, fun activities to boost engagement and confidence. Key strategies include setting clear expectations, rewarding effort, using visuals and gestures for comprehension, and facilitating consistent practice through partner dialogues and role-playing. The presentation highlights the value of making language learning a joyful and active experience to promote long-term motivation and proficiency.
Albert Fernández emphasizes the value of interactive activities like school announcements in the target language and cultural festivals. He highlights the importance of using games and Total Physical Response (TPR) to practice vocabulary and pronunciation, promoting a comfortable and encouraging learning environment. Fernández's assessment approach prioritizes comprehension over grammatical precision, and his flexible classroom setup promotes a community feel. Learn effective strategies to manage limited class time, enhance student interaction, and maintain a balanced lesson plan to avoid overwhelming students while focusing on essential vocabulary and routines that support language acquisition.
Julie Speno is in her 25th year teaching languages, and she feels lucky to have worked with students of all ages, from preschool to adults in their 70s. Julie is the FLES representative for her state organization, FLAME (Foreign Language Association of Maine), and she is a former NNELL (National Network for Early Language Learning) representative for Maine. Julie’s passion for drawing and illustration is second only to her passion for teaching languages, and her designs appear in all of her teaching resources. When she isn’t drawing or thinking about languages, Julie loves to go hiking and snowshoeing as well as being with her husband, who is her partner in everything.
In this session of EWLTS25, Valentina Correa shares her dynamic approach to managing an elementary CI classroom. She highlights using visuals, calling responses, and humor to keep students engaged. Valentina introduces new call responses every two months and utilizes a "magic box" for playful material introductions. She emphasizes the importance of routines, like classroom jobs and structured storytimes, to help students know when tasks start and end. Cultural elements and brain breaks maintain students' attention, and she leverages storytelling, acting, and props to make learning interactive and fun. Practical tips include maintaining consistent routines and incorporating movement.
9 Lessons
A guidebook for teachers who want to use real music in their elementary language classes. Includes a sample lesson plan that teachers can use as a model for their own classes. It also has a list of resources, like websites and Facebook groups, that can help teachers find music and activities.
A guide for teachers, especially those teaching a new language to kids in elementary school. It's all about using fun acting games and stories to help students learn. It gives teachers specific ideas for games and lessons that they can use. For example, it talks about a game called "Broken Phone" and using stories with pictures. There's also a sample lesson plan.
A guide for teachers who want to help their students learn a new language. It's about how to make learning fun and interesting, especially for students who might not be excited about it at first. It provides specific examples of activities teachers can use. One example is having students listen to a song, read the lyrics, and talk about how it makes them feel, and then learn about the culture of the music.
The guide explains that having consistent routines helps kids know what to expect and makes it easier for the teacher to manage the class. When kids know the rules, they behave better.
This framework includes a step-by-step process for introducing new routines, which includes practicing and reviewing. This helps make sure everyone knows what they should be doing.
An implementation framework for enhancing language proficiency in elementary and middle school students. It emphasizes adapting activity complexity, not materials, to suit diverse proficiency levels. It gives ideas for games like "Battleship" and "Path of Cards" that teachers can use in the classroom. These games can be changed to fit different language levels by having students say a word, describe it, make a sentence, or ask questions.
Optimize Spanish language acquisition through a fun, musically-driven approach! This framework gives teachers examples of songs they can use and activities they can do with their students. It provides a sample lesson plan where students can introduce themselves in Spanish.
This framework provides practical strategies for selecting age-appropriate stories, incorporating props, and extending learning beyond the story itself to enhance comprehension and cultural understanding. Specific examples of lesson plans and activities are included, highlighting how storytelling can improve engagement and memory retention.
BONUS 9: 📖 Using Stories to Aid Language Acquisition: Transformation Framework and Sample Activities
This framework details methods for using storytelling to teach languages. It provides examples of stories and activities, including a step-by-step guide to crafting teacher-created stories and adapting existing ones.