La noche boca arriba – Exploring magical realism in Spanish IV.

Last year, during a unit on the city, I was looking for a piece of literature that would work well in this unit.

I landed on the short story La noche boca arriba as it not only has some elements of city vocabulary but is in the past tense.

Furthermore, I like that it explores magical realism and I can juxtapose that style with social realism which we touch on with a part of the unit about Diego Rivera’s murals.

In addition, I can connect the story to our discussion of the Aztecs, sacrifice and the flower wars.

For resources I have used the embedded reading by Kristy Placido, available for free on TPT.

I start the unit with a ton of vocab review with games on quizlet and blooket to prepare the students.

From this story, I want students to get an understanding of the elements of magical realism. Reading in and of itself will be an interpretive activity, so the end game is to have a group discussion about this as an interpersonal activity. Presentationally, they will work in groups to finish a story report/reflection.

I created a basic presentational group assignment a year ago: here.

This year I created a book report type group assignment, using a template from google docs: here.

This year’s group work features sections on:

• the author with questions,
• describing the setting and inserting pictures,
• organizing the events of the story,
• and picking out the elements of magical realism

As we read the story and work in groups to complete the story report, we also watch a great animated video that goes with the story as well. Perfect for movie talk using vocabulary learned.

Memes and Mexico City

As I explore Mexico City and life there with my students, I have come to find that the Meme can offer insights into city living and certain aspects of the city that deserve illustration.

The Meme can also offer the personal perspective of a person from the city.

I see them as a great way to introduce a topic about the city before we dive deeper with readings, videos or presentations.

It can serve as an interpretive activity as well as interpersonal one that offers some comprehensible input as well.

We can explore the history of the city:

and some of the issues it faces:

Hopefully, these will help spark a conversation.

First class of 2021

Starting the year virtually, I will be having my students in break out rooms in pairs, doing a speed dating activity asking each other about their time off and their plans for 2021. See my template here.

Otherwise, to start the new year I plan on playing 2020 Bingo to recap some of the odd things that may have happened to my students last year.

Bingo squares are filled with preterite verbs.

Here is my example: https://flippity.net/bi-pl.php?k=1Po8YgJ0x-chS1R_DGxVadWTZJXv2hHhgG6fChLYic-4

Here is the website to help you make a Bingo board which you can print out or play on a web page: https://flippity.net/Bingo.htm

Great youtube video – Los origines de MS-13 – The origins of MS-13

Even before beginning the novel or reading the prologue of the novel, which explains the origins of the gang, the class and I went through this documentary from Univision.

Great video to accompany prologue of Vida y Muerte

This video touches on all the points that the prologue does:

• the civil war in El Salvador
• the number of displaced refugees and where they fled to (LA)
• the different gangs in LA, the problems the Salvodoraneans dealt with
• how the gang first formed and why
• mass deportations back to El Salvador and the how the gang expanded influence

Great visuals and stats supplement the all Spanish narration.  A good place to use movie talk and start discussions on essential questions.

 

 

 

Vida y muerte en la mara salvatrucha link list

I am teaching the TPRS novel Vida y muerte en la mara salvatrucha by Fluency Matters for the second time.

I am extremely grateful to other bloggers who have shared ideas and content related to the book.

As others have, I started the novel with a 2 week unit on the civil war in El Salvador:

• Great resources and ideas for organization from Kristy Placido

Here are some links I have found useful for the book:

• Somewhere to Share blog 
• Mis clases locas blog
• El mundo de Birch blog
• Feisty language teacher blog

Student Discipline

Here is what I wrote on a recent job application.

My philosophy on Student Discipline:

Classroom management skills are critical to effective instruction. As such, a teacher needs to be competent in a number of skills that aid in student discipline. A teacher must establish routines and norms in the classroom that create an atmosphere of clear expectations. At the same time, students must be treated in an equitable fashion that makes them feel comfortable and respected. Creating trust in the classroom not only means knowing the students in the class but planning activities that are tailored to their abilities and interests. A teacher’s efficacy in the classroom often depends on the ability to discipline students.

From the first time that students enter a classroom they make judgments about their surroundings and the classroom in front of them. If a classroom is not set up for success in terms of organization and appearance students will assume a certain level of control on their own. Because of this, it is the teacher’s job to establish routines and procedures from the outset. These norms help establish expectations for the classroom and provide students with a structured environment which they crave. Students must be trained and practice these routines so they know what to expect.

Expectations and rules ensure that students are treated equally and consistently. Having rules posted in the classroom is important as the teacher can reference the rules as students learn and memorize them. In this way the teacher can address problems by referencing the rules and norms. By referring to the rules and having students know them the teacher can make students assume responsibility for their actions. Consequences must also be posted in the classroom and enforced consistently. All efforts must be made to avoid dehumanizing students in order maintain mutual respect.

When students trust a teacher and are aware of the rules and procedures of the classroom they are more likely to respect the teacher and cooperate. Students must also know that the teacher cares about them. Because of this student discipline extends beyond the classroom. A teacher can display an interest in their students by incorporating their interests into lesson plans, and also by attending extracurricular activities. Outside the class, contact with parents and guardians on a regular basis will also help maintain student discipline.

The art of teaching cannot do without good student discipline and classroom management. One of the main purposes of education is to grow our students as learners. Yet, we must also grow them as people and citizens. In order to do so each classroom must use a system that everyone is familiar with and agrees to participate in. in the end, the way that educators relate to and control their pupils in school can determine the relative success or failure of these objectives.