Thursday, July 26, 2018

How will you keep Reflecting


This post is week 8 of 8 in the 8 Weeks of Summer Blog Challenge for educators

How do I commit on reflecting? That's a tough one.
I have had this blog for a lotto years and it has had its ups and downs.
In the beginning I just kept, lets say a diary with activities with my students, posted students' projects,  book-, seminar- and convention-reviews, which I continue to do, but I have realised that blog challenges keep my motivation and make me think of new things to try out with my students.
The first challenge I took part in was Shelly Terrell's 30 goals and through this experience I met so many people and I have learned so many things that helped me be a better teacher and a better person.
After that I have found a lot of people wanting to share their thoughts and ask and answer questions, for example:

  • How I started teaching
  • Sandwich reflection (share two positive experiences and a bad one)
  • Random facts about you and your teaching habbits
  • Advice to your younger self

and so much more.
This year I intend to write one post a week, sharing activities, experiences and of course I am open to any blog challenges and questions. (depending on my free time that is)
Comments and discussion are a great motivation. So, people who read this, don't hesitate to express yourself - it will be a great help!
It has been a pleasure to participate in this wonderful blog challenge!!



Thursday, July 19, 2018

Share favourite strategies


This post is week 7 of 8 in the 8 Weeks of Summer Blog Challenge for educators.
I have never liked books. I know that we can't live without them, but I am always trying to find ways t make my lessons more interesting for students.
So, every year, we try a new project.
I believe in Project Based learning as well as Inquiry Based learning. Below are some examples of student projects / inquiries over the years.

Learning missions / projects
Learning outside the classroom

I also love kinaesthetic activities, as well as using music, visual stimuli and whatever suits the student's personality (differentiated learning).

Playing with words
Running, story telling and more
Drawing, playing and singing

As far as organisation is concerned, I just live lists!
Lists of rules, lists of "to do things", lists of students, lists of projects, preferably hung on walls so that everyone can see.

Next time will be the last post of this wonderful challenge. I am really grateful I had the chance to take part!

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Incorporate Summer PL Back into the Classroom


This post is week 6 of 8 in the 8 Weeks of Summer Blog Challenge for educators.

Some people believe that teachers sit around all summer long, preferably lying on a beach drinking cocktails. And this would be an incredible summer, but people keep forgetting that because we are teachers, we have to plan for the next year, get informed and even try to learn more things and develop professionally.
Summer is still young in Greece, we are in the middle of July and my lessons will start in the middle of September. And many of us take the time to read a bit more, attend a few seminars and courses, experiment a bit on new methods and projects.
So far I have attended a few seminars, webinars and conferences, but as I mentioned, summer is still young and there is still lots to do.
Here's a list of what I have attended so far:
1. OUP Webinars on:

  • Inclusive practices
  • Project based learning
  • Learning difficulties
  • How communicative Testing helps Learning
  • Mental Health
4. Hueber / Karabatos seminar on:
5. Klett conference:
6. National Geographic/ Cengage seminar on:
  • Teaching global citizens 
7. Burlington Books seminar on:
  • Humor in the classroom
  • Lively German lessons with children 
9.  Online courses with Future Learn:
  • Social Media 
  • Teaching English online
  • Italian for beginners
  • Spanish for beginners
I still have a few webinars to attend and the big book exhibitions here in Greece are held in the end of August / beginning of September, so there is still much to learn.

Knowledge is good, but only if you use it. So I intend to use most of the techniques I have learned in my classes, use more technology and games.
I want to organise more projects about "the world", with subjects like "understanding", "tolerance", "accepting" and "communication" with my students. Teaching languages is not only about the language itself but how this opens a new window to the world. 
Taking part in seminars about behaviours, learning difficulties and inclusion has made it easier for me to understand more things, to be more tolerant, have patience with "difficult" students and be more insistent  when I face difficulties. 
Finally, the social media and teaching online courses will possibly help me this year to build a new audience (and clientele) 

To be continued with a new challenge....

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Summer experiences - back to teaching?


This post is week 5 of 8 in the 8 Weeks of Summer Blog Challenge for educators.

Summer is a wonderful time for both teachers and learners to rest, to unwind and to live new experiences in order to cope with the pressure of the school year.
What they do depends on a lot of things. Maybe they visit family in the country, maybe they travel, maybe they learn new things. Time is free and choices are unlimited for both.
Well, I have to say that maybe teachers do not rest that much since they have to plan for next year, maybe attend seminars and read to learn new things so that they can somehow "enhance" their teaching.
Summer will be over soon and we will get back to school.
Students will be full of energy and it will be weeks before they get used to their new schedule with school, extra curricular activities, studying and responsibilities.
So what better time for a new project?
Students can describe their holidays, not with the "traditional essay": how I spent my summer, but in a more advanced way.
What did they do during the summer?
Did they visit another place? Even another country? Did they take pictures or videos on their mobile phones? How about a project with information about this place and a power-point or a video presentation? (This could also be in collaboration with a geography, history or music teacher if you work at a school)
How about a new hobby or activity? This could actually be a group project "summer activities". (in collaboration with the gym teacher, again if you work at a school)
This way students can be engaged into something new, start the new school year with motivation and do something out of the ordinary.
( I don't really know if I am in the subject today, but it seemed like a good idea...)

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