Quizlet Live - "Deemed best game ever" by my students!

Quizlet Live is a new game option within Quizlet that practice vocabulary through student collaboration with other team members.  Quizlet Live generates teams of 3-4 students randomly from those students logged into the game.  Students must then work with their team members to decide who has the correct definition/answer for each vocabulary term.  Teams can be shuffled each game to have students work with many different classmates and the their results are live as each team answers correctly or incorrectly.    This game was so popular with my students that they didn't want to leave to go to their next class.  They consistently begged to keep playing "one more game"!  Hope you and your students enjoy this tool as much as we did!!

Video of Quizlet Live

Improving oral proficiency via the Ipads & the Smart Recorder App

Last week my Spanish 3 students utilized the Smart Recorder app to record their 5 minute conversations on a variety of topics in the target language.  Afterwards, they listened to the recording and reflected individually on their oral proficiency, using a proficiency rubric that was created by our world language department.  (The rubric was developed by using the ACTFL guidelines for oral proficiency.)   


The great thing about this activity is that it allowed students to really focus on their speaking abilities and reflect with greater precision.  I will be implementing this activity more in the future to allow students to become more comfortable speaking in the target language,  to help them improve their oral proficiency, and to become better at self reflecting and self correcting.

Google Docs + Forms = Interactive Cultural Reading

To learn more about cultural differences that exist in vacation planning, students read an article that I placed into a  Google Doc.  At the bottom of the Doc, I placed a link to a Google Form I created that assessed their reading comprehension.  The thing I really liked is that the combination provided a richer reading experience for students and made it more interactive.  In addition, with the new Google Forms features, I was able to include a map image that was needed for reference for one of the questions.  Students were much more focused on this activity than with traditional reading activities that I have done in the past.  Also, many commented on how they liked it much better!  Check out the video below to see the activity taking place!

Take a look at the activity! > Unit 1.2 Cultural Reading w/linked Google Form

Music for learning!

I like to make songs up to common tunes for my students to help them learn key concepts in class.  Today instead of just writing my lyrics on a slide and having them read/sing the words.  I created a music video fairly easily using Youtube.  Just a way to make it a little more fun and engaging!

Tools used:  Youtube, Webcam, Youtube Editor  

Take a look at my new Subjunctive song!