As a French teacher my ultimate goal is to prepare my students to think and act like accountable world citizens. My students should think independently and trust their own intelligence, so I use teaching techniques and resources to help them. In the classroom I have three tasks: creating a respectful learning-focused atmosphere, using multiple teaching strategies and giving constant corrective feedback. Outside the classroom it is my duty to collaborate, improve and protect the integrity of the teaching profession.
My first task is helping my students understand their own perceptions of other cultures and what different cultures have to teach them. I encourage my students to think critically about how they view other languages, cultures, disciplines, and ideas. By evoking respect for and interest in the lives of others, students value their personal experiences as knowledge that can be brought to the classroom. These experiences are valuable topics to discuss, read and write about. I create a respectful and safe environment by focusing on student strengths, encouraging laughter, killing negativity, and promoting the spirit of each class while keeping the specific needs of the individual in mind. I have tried a variety of tactics through the years: games that encourage praise and teamwork, classroom applause, social contracts, inside jokes with each class, honest praise, classroom parties, and field trips.
My second task is using teaching strategies that hold the interest of every student. In class we explore the ways foreign language teaches us about our own language. We bridge the gap between French and other disciplines by speaking, reading and writing about these topics. Each year my students take a learning styles test to determine their two ideal learning styles. I create a chart and post it in the classroom. There are differentiated tasks to choose from with different lessons. I use guided note-taking handouts, warm-ups, exit tickets, Rosetta Stone, skits, charts, peer tutoring, maps, group work, paragraph shrinks, websites, text jumbles, videos, movies, index card and post-it note games, guest speakers, collages, station teaching and worksheets to ensure the success of students at every learning level.
My third task is to give constant corrective feedback and collect data of progress. I keep a data chart in class for overall class assessment progress. I also keep a chart for individual progress with grading levels 1-5 for each assignment. Mandatory tutoring is assigned to those with levels 1 and 2. Every task in the classroom is collected and graded: essays, homework, class work, worksheets, presentations, reflections, dialogues, tests, and portfolios. I also provide rubrics and study guides for each three-week assessment. I provide these rubrics and study guides on my teacher website as well.
Outside the classroom it is important to grow and protect the mission of the school as well as the integrity of the teaching profession. I collaborate with other teachers with lesson plans, field trips and create professional development for the entire school staff. I collaborate with mentors, teachers and administrators by observing them, videotaping them, and listening to their feedback.
I fell in love with the French language in high school because my teacher made her class fun and challenging. She made the language and culture accessible and interesting. It is my daily goal to challenge and encourage my students the same way.