More Spanish

Student created storytelling prompts

I love any kind of story, and I enjoy using stories in my classroom.  This year I wanted to move the storytelling responsibility to my students.  One of my homework options is for kids to create a cartoon using the lesson’s vocabulary.  They can use an online site like Goanimate or they can draw it on unlined paper.  Initially I only had a couple of students who would turn these in, but the more we use cartoons in class, the more students are doing as a homework option.

As cute as the Goanimate cartoons turn out, my favorite are still the paper ones.  I find they are very versatile.  My favorite way to use them is for partner storytelling.  I will set the timer to 5-8 minutes and have partners take turns narrating the events in the cartoon.  Sometimes, I will turn that activity into an assessment by having them call into GoogleVoice after a quick run through with their peer, and re-tell the story individually.  Sometimes I will use the cartoons to practice asking and answering questions.  For our semester exam this year, I used different cartoons as writing prompts for the written preterit vs imperfect assessment.

I have purchased several storytelling cartoon books, but none have been as effective as what my students are producing.  The vocabulary in their cartoons is specific to what they have learned or are currently learning, and even the kids who draw stick figures come up with some creative stories that are perfect to use in a partner conversation.  The students who are drawing the cartoons are also reinforcing their vocabulary knowledge.  Many label items or provide a basic dialogue in the target language.   My students like seeing their cartoon used in class, and their classmates provide an authentic audience for their drawing & storytelling.

Here are a couple of examples:

Dana S - Realidades 2: 5B Accident & Injury & Body parts topic

Paige W - Realidades 2 6A: Sporting event vocabulary

 

Por vs Para partner Tic-Tac-Toe

We have started comparing the two prepositions POR vs PARA in our Spanish 3 class. I use mnemonic devices whenever possible, and I will be using ATTRACTED to remember POR usage again this year.

A - around a time or place

T - through a place/location

T - transportation or means of communication

R - reason (porque/ por eso)

A - going After something

C - cost

T - thanks for..

E- exchange/ substitution

D - duration (how long)

As a way to introduce the material had my students look and listen to the Voicethreads last year’s Spanish 3 students put together using this mnemonic device.   Monday I had partners practice using the preposition by creating original sentences in Spanish.  They used a TicTacToe grid labeled with the corresponding mnemonic device in each block.  When the student got three in a row before their partner, he/she won.  I asked partners to play at least three games, and they were not be able to  repeat similar sentences  used in previous games.  

You can download the PDF of the grid below. 

Download Attracted to POR

 

Happy Foreign Language Week

Here is a little poster you can download for use in your classroom.  Amy Sumrall designed the children clip art & Anna Aspnes designed the digital brushes used. Look for the PDF under the digital poster. How are you celebrating Foreign Language Week?

Download Mapposter1