For practice, I am going to write out how I think I could differentiate the game Codenames right out of the box. These thoughts came to me while I watched my ESL class play. I tried to observe all the different skills involved with the game and how the students were interacting. I noticedContinue reading “Differentiating Codenames”
Category Archives: Education Blog
Differentiation with Translation Apps
As a language teacher, translation apps and devices matter a lot to me. I have come to terms with the fact that my students will be using these technologies to complete their assignments. I work to develop activities and exercises that stress skills that are augmented by this technology. These tools can be helpful.Continue reading “Differentiation with Translation Apps”
Differentiation in Board Games
I am working on integrating board games into my ESL curricula for next year. Board gaming is a personal hobby of mine, and games can bring lots of educational and developmental value to a classroom. One benefit is that certain board games lend themselves well to differentiation. “Family games” is the moniker used forContinue reading “Differentiation in Board Games”
Board of Executive Function
My son’s school recently hosted a TEDx Youth event – Reflect Restart Reconnect. They invited parents to present, so I jumped at the opportunity to sing the praises of board games. I focused on brain development and age-appropriate skills our children and students can practice through board gaming. Based on the audience reaction, especially allContinue reading “Board of Executive Function”
Scaffolded Splendor
I swear by two educational strategies and try to regularly implement them in my classes: scaffolding and spaced repetition. Of course, hundreds of other strategies exist, but these are my favorites. Scaffolded instruction is a simple idea. Content in skills should be taught in a “scaffolded” manner from simple to more complex. For example, aContinue reading “Scaffolded Splendor”
Taboo Talk Around
Speaking tasks are important for language learners. Speaking puts students on the spot and forces them to be quick and use their language in real time. This is difficult and might not be the best measure of a student’s ability, but speaking is fundamental to communication, so all language courses incorporate these activities. One ofContinue reading “Taboo Talk Around”
Codenames
Codenames, designed by Vlaada Chvátil and published by Czech Games Edition, is one of the highest-ranked party games on BoardGameGeek. I think it is easier to adapt good games to a classroom than try to convince students edutainment games are good. When I use a game for class, I want the students to have funContinue reading “Codenames”
Chapter 10: Why is Teaching not Working?
Why is the way we are teaching today not working, and what are the main reasons it must be changed? Teaching today is not working because like everything else in our world, it is an outcome-oriented, not process-oriented, endeavor. Standardized tests are only the symptoms, not the root causes. As long as the goal ofContinue reading “Chapter 10: Why is Teaching not Working?”
Play and Direct Learning
As an early childhood educator, my mom collects all sorts of books devoted to childhood development. When I told her she was going to be a grandmother, she dug through her library to pass on a few choice titles. One book was Play With a Purpose by Dr. Dorothy Einon. It must have been aContinue reading “Play and Direct Learning”
Chapter 9: Global Citizenship
How do the roles and responsibilities of being a global digital citizen affect our decisions locally, nationally, and internationally? Digital citizenship has the paradoxical effect of allowing people to show their true selves to the world at the same time it provides many incentives for people to lie. Truthfully, as a digital citizen, you shouldContinue reading “Chapter 9: Global Citizenship”
The Keasy Depot 