Author: James Hosler
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Teachers Need More than Your “Support”
Of course teachers need “support,” but we don’t mean making photocopies in a pinch, or hosting a taco bar, or playing a funny song on the intercom. Much more often than not the support they need from a principal is for the principal to exercise their unique job functions, such as enforcing student discipline and…
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Timeless Goals (and Obstacles) for PLCs
However, it is hard to ignore that these are just intermediary, preparatory steps. They might be ingredients, but what’s the recipe? Plan time might be necessary, but what is supposed to happen during the plan time?
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Glaser, Where to Begin? Issue vs. Problem
Where to begin a grounded theory study can be confusing, especially when one is advised to avoid bringing in ideas from a existing theory and literature. We are told that even the research problem itself should emerge. We are allowed an “area” of research, but we should go in without a preconceived problem: In vital…
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Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning and Levels of Abstraction
Describing the methodology of grounded theory, Glaser and Strauss (1967) imply a helpful distinction between inductive and deductive reasoning: This is an inductive method of theory development. To make theoretical sense of so much diversity in his data, the analyst is forced to develop ideas on a level of generality higher in conceptual abstraction than…
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Notes on The Talent Code, Coyle (2009)
Coyle, Daniel. The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. New York, Bantam, 2009. page 5: Myelin’s vital role is to wrap those nerve fibers the same way that rubber insulation wraps a copper wire, making the signal stronger and faster by preventing the electrical impulses from leaking out. pages 14-15: The conventional way to explain…
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What is “circling”? With examples!
“Circling” is a technique for asking repetitive questions in the target language. We do this all the time in TPRS and CI-based instruction in order to provide students with more repetitions of target structures (i.e., new vocabulary and grammar). The basic pattern of circling is: You follow this pattern to ask questions about the subject…
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Observation Guide for Foreign Langauge Classrooms
Based on the examples of Susan Gross (.pdf) and Bryce Hedstrom (.pdf), I have created a guide for observing foreign language classrooms. Since so many observation guides are state- or district-mandated, they often lack relevancy for foreign language classrooms. I have made this guide to be applicable to the method of comprehensible input (CI) and Teaching Proficiency through Reading and…
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A Look at Jobs in the TPRS Classroom
Ben Slavic is a great resource for information about student jobs. This post is largely inspired by his work. If you are serious about using these (and many more) jobs in your classes, you’ll all least want to buy his books and will probably also want to subscribe to his online group. Giving various students jobs to do during…
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Declension Relay
Activity Name Declension Relay Purpose for students to review the case endings of Latin nouns and adjectives Objectives Students will be able to… -choose the correct set of endings for particular nouns and adjectives -utilize an ending correctly based on case and number -maintain a constant stem throughout a declension -spell the endings correctly Standards …