When Did You Start Learning French?

About.com

About.com: French Language
By: Laura K. Lawless

Richness...

I chose the video which correlated perfectly with the reading of the first chapter. This video had a lot to do with presenting today statistics with kids and how they are using technology and thus prompting the viewer who is presumably a teacher- with how much they are using such a widely available resource to engage their students with this familiar tool. What struck me most about this video was the word "richness." After presenting the information about how kids from such a young age are already using technology at a staggering amount of hours a day, the question then comes up, "Why?" The answer, is "richness." Now this made me wonder- what was going to follow? Richness- after all, also deals with money, and if kids this under the age of 2 were already using technology to this extent, did it have something to do with the salary of their parents? No. This was the other richness, because the next question asks, "How much does your curriculum provide?" This video aims at having the view ultimately reflect on how much technology is being used to engage students in the content. It goes on to explain how our students who use these different types of technology literally all the time, could be steered in the right direction by us as teachers to use them to their academic benefit and potential. I enjoyed this video because of its ability to make the viewer reflect on their own teachings through the information it is presenting instead of simply giving facts. I feel this could be used at the beginning of the year new-hire orientations, or staff meetings.

Technological Diversity

One idea that struck me early in the reading of Blake's first chapter was his idea that dealing with technology as a, "single, homogeneous tool" is very unrealistic. I think that this single sentence and idea can go in many different directions depending on the experience and opinions of the reader.
Even though it is so early early on in my career I have been on countless interviews- all of which technology has been brought up one way or another, either by the interview committee or myself asking them what opportunities I would have to use it as a possible teacher in their district. As a foreign language teacher I have always found myself stressing the use of technology as a resource bringing authentic materials in the target language into the classroom. Different from Math, Science and English, the French curriculum makes it difficult to show the students that the content they are learning is real, and a way of life for many people in the world. Blake says, "The Internet is an ideal tool allowing students to gain access to authentic L2 materials; it might be the next best alternative to studying abroad."
Another way I interpreted this idea was that the Internet and other technologically educative resources allows students (as touched on in Mod 2) to express themselves using a tool that they are familiar with and comfortable using for social purposes. Blake describes this theory by saying, "The web gives all peoples a channel to express their voice, promote their self-image, and legitimize their goals." I think that it is important that students see the positive benefits and possibilities of the Internet and other tools through the example of their teachers in the classroom. Teachers can ask their students to continue this practice through the use of their classroom websites, blogs or online activities as homework assignments and projects.  Given the use of a familiar tool such as the Internet, students will see that they are able to use everyday tools to make the French language less foreign and abstract and more able to be related to in their lives.

Picture: student from Avon using the Smartboard to display his artistic abilities after school.

Be Yourself.

Dear Students,
Walking across the street? Learning to drive? The first thing involved in any new experience is learning the rules.  In the blogging and internet world, these rules still apply. Just as in walking across the street, we need to look both ways. While there are positive benefits to the internet world, we also must be cautious to the possibilities of negative outcomes too.

1. Sois sympa!
Be nice. Online, anywhere. Friends are friends no matter where they are. So are classmates. Treat them the same way you would wanted to be treated.

2. Protect yourself.
Passwords are similar to locker combinations- keep them to yourself! It is important to protect your privacy in the online world just as it is to protect your personal posessions.

3. Look in the mirror.
Respect yourself and what you post. Pictures and even the smallest words can have great consequences. Make good decisions.


4. YOURspace
Dont post personal information about yourself. Questions such as your gender, age, place of location, looks and email are not appropriate to be sharing over the web. Only share this information with someone you can trust in a face to face relationship.

5. Think. Pair.Share.
Tell an adult if any suspicious person contacts you or you are intimidated by any subject matter you come across. Stick to sites, resources and people you are familiar with. Report anything that may scare you.

6. Explore Within Your Reach.
Use additional links and websites to help you along the way. Links will be posted along the way to give you additional practice or restate the lesson for the day. Be sure to stay within websites of the class in order to gain the correct and relevant information.

Have fun, and enjoy staying connected~!

Common Sense-MS
Common Sense-HS 
Welcome to the Web
Newfane Web Sign Up

Blogging en Francais

French...A dot, a click and your done!

French and teachers of other LOTE subjects have always been searching for new ways to bring authentic resources to the aid of their students. What could be easier than a resource that they have already become familiar with, use on a regular basis and might just actually enjoy using? L'internet, bien sur! More specifically blogging brings the classroom and all of its immeasurable resources right into the hands of your students. ~Amuse-toi!~


1. Class Portal:
The principal will be happy because your saving paper, the parents will be happy because they no long have to stress about pulling teeth to find those dreaded lost parent letters that are somewhere in the bottom of their childs' locker, the students will be happy because they can track their absent work or lost project rubric online and you will be happy because the copying, handing out, recollecting business has all be minimized to the click of a button. Using class portals puts the use of the class syllabus, rules, curriculum, assignments, powerpoints, rubrics and other endless documents right on your page for all to view. These easily viewable documents are a simple way to connect teachers not only with their students, but parents, guardians and administration all at once.

2. Showcase Showdown
Consider its a museum, a library and a personal tutor all in one. The audio and visual aspects of blogging are endless when considering how they can positively reinforce students along the way. Whether it is posting class pictures and allowing students to comment in a more secure "Facebook" type atmosphere, posting links that allow students to do listening activities at home, "Youtube" videos that show editorials to helping with homework or missed lessons, interactive games that provide additional practice, or showcasing pictures of well-done class projects or assignments, these resources are keeping the kids signing on to a familiar resources for academic reasoning, while keeping parents informed and proud of their childs' progress.

3. IBlog
Just as we have discovered a few benefits of the internet in our classrooms, students too may find enjoyment in producing their work in different forms. Long gone are the days of in-class speaking, writing with a pen and paper and opening the dictionary to find the French equivalent. Letting the students create use their own blogs as a chance to turn in papers, voice-threads, even video projects and journals allows the new and exciting opportunities. Commenting on materials covered in class also allows insight for us as teachers that we may not have received before. Allowing students to maximize their creative abilities in different modalities will enable each of them to be successful. By creating their own blog, they have a physical and visual record of their progress throughout the year. Fellow classmates should have the opportunity and even graded task of commenting on each others pages-modern-day learning!

NYS LOTE Standards Applicable to these 3 options:
Standard 1: Students will be able to use a language other than English for communication.
Standard 2: Students will develop cross-cultural skills and understandings.

Picture: An example of a picture from example 2 that may be uploaded by a teacher. (Me with Avon students at a middle school dance).