Japanese+Demonstration+Class+for+Participants

Here are all of the lesson plans and handouts related to the demonstration class.



Here are additional documents that I use in my home classes. First, here is the backpack interpretive assessment that I use. I don't have the kids draw their own backpacks for this; instead, I made these standardized backpacks and I use Japanese names in romanization to be sure that nothing interferes with the kids getting it correct. I have three of the same thing on the first page for ease of copying. I give the second page to all students in color, protected in a plastic sleeve so that I can use it every year.

Next, I use the following pair-work mini assessment for Interpersonal. I actually haven't done the "backpack game" that we did before. Usually, I do this next activity. I have two backpacks per page just for ease of copying. On the first day, kids draw four things in a back pack. On the second day, they pair up with partners to ask and answer questions and try to recreate the drawing on a new backpack (see second page). The rubric for this is on the third page.

Finally, as a short reading quiz (not very contextual, just a quiz really), I use the following.

__How do I plan? A few teachers asked me to post this....__ First, I use the 3 modes of communication to think about the whole unit, trying to find a theme that can also tie in culture, connections, comparisons, and communities. Then, I ask myself the following questions about the unit that I am working on... 1. Why should it matter to students? Why should they want to learn this? Why should they want to participate in the unit and the assessment? 2. How is the language that I am trying to teach really used in the country? Am I teaching it how it would really be used? (for example, would you answer the question "do you like it?" with "yes, I like it" or "yes"? Students want to learn the most natural answer) 3. Is it worth knowing? (For example, do the kids really need need to know all of the parts of a skeleton in a FLES class? Do they really need to know how to __give__ street directions, or just understand them? The answer might be different depending on your language and you community. Change your unit focus to match what they really need.)

I also try to remember that... The brain filters what it remembers through meaning, purpose, emotional involvement, and physical movement. So, if you can give your units a lot of meaning and purpose for students, either through real-world applications or very interesting assessments, they will remember what they learn. If you can add emotional involvement and physical movement, they will remember more of what they learn. This has helped me a lot! user:jhaxhi