Tips and tools for creating authentic learning opportunities Jessica Verrault: West Windsor-Plainsboro HS North Using authentic materials to extend the conversation in the classroom and beyond

Taking the first step Looking at our rubrics Using the data Focusing on communicative competence and comprehensibility Creating a meaningful, authentic opportunities

What is your data telling you? Interpersonal: Intermediate mid Presentational: Intermediate mid

What next? How can we improve comprehensibility and therefore, raising language proficiency? Role-plays using age appropriate scenarios Communicative games and tasks Pair and group work Lots of visuals! Lots of language input! What do you use? Let’s share!

Example 1: Problem based learning Presentational assessment Level: Spanish 3 Honors, 9 th grade Task was based on an authentic problem: Only 1/3 of students in CR graduate high school solitude/ solitude/ Afterward, a presentation was sent to the Academic Vice Minister

Spanish 3 Honors/Grades 9-10 Creating a plan to present to the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education on how to improve the graduation rate

Example 2: Using authentic literature to get them talking! Taking literature beyond the interpretive mode… Improving interpersonal communication Asking the right questions Using reading pre-reading, reading, post-reading strategies Using the literature to make cultural comparisons Discussing real-world, contemporary issues

AP Spanish Literature and Culture-Grades Horacio Quiroga’s “El hijo”/Discussion: The right to bear arms

How do we get them there? Pre-speaking brainstorm (C.T) Inputting the vocabulary from the story Holding them accountable “Tell me the top 3 arguments used in your groups debate”

Idea share What readings do you use? How do you use them? How can you use them? What are some of the problem based learning projects you’d like to incorporate into your classroom to increase language proficiency? (ideas from participants will be typed in here…)

Extending the conversation The conversation does not need to end after your block it over! Todaysmeet.com Edmodo.com Other resources?