Kahoot for Language + Bonus Experience!

The 2016-2017 School Year is underway and we have had our first authentic experience!

Prior to the experience,  I created a Selfie Kahoot (an online quiz about myself) as a “Get to Know You” for my students. This will lead into a Selfie Kahoot they will create as a class.  I also used the Kahoot to build language. We played it first as a class.  I had embedded question and answer frames which we practiced chorally (in unison) before moving to the next question. Choral reading lowers the affective filter and promotes the use of complete sentences by even recent immigrants.  Example:

Kahoot Example

We played this as a “Blind Kahoot” which means we used the tool to teach new information.   Students were engaged and learning to attend to images.  This will be important as we move into content lessons – I will be sheltering instruction for them with visuals throughout the year.

Our bonus experience, the authentic learning opportunity, was when we had a Google Hangout with the Kahoot Staff in London, England and Austin, Texas.   The students had only been in class 3 days but the students had authentic questions they wanted answered. These “Non-English Speakers” were stepping out of their silent phase for a chance to communicate with the makers of this popular online platform.  (Thank you Steph and everyone at Kahoot!)

Erica UK2 Erica Martin Kahoot 2 Students Clapping Kahoot

I know I’m not supposed to force them to speak complete sentences too soon.  But what if they REALLY, REALLY want to??

😉

 

Great Visit to The Durham House!

IMG_3625We had an amazing visit to The Durham House on April 25th.  Owner Raj Natarajan, Jr. and Head Chef Mike McElroy gave us an inspiring talk about entrepreneurship and running a successful restaurant.

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We came ready with our questions.  We had been practicing them for many days.  Mr. Natarajan and Chef Mike answered all of them.  We learned about the benefits of owning your own restaurant and how much determination you need to rise to the top of a profession like the culinary arts.  Both men spoke to us about calculated risks, education, grit and perseverance.

They also let us present to them!  We had been using the upcoming trip to practice our language skills and make connections to science concepts like heat transfer. One of our students explained how to make an African dish using all the transition words we have been learning in class.  Cohesive devices (First, then, finally) are super important for our continued learning of the language.

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We are very appreciative of The Durham House and their support of our education!

Thank you, Mr. Natarajan nad Chef Mike!

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