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Annabelle Williamson
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In Annabelle's own words...
La Maestra Loca, means the crazy teacher. It was a name that was given me by a group of third graders this past year, and before that a group of 10 year olds in China. I absolutely embrace the title.
Teaching with Comprehensible Input (TCI) is the teaching methodology and approach that I use in my classroom. I also use Organic World Language (OWL) strategies. I am constantly trying to revise my teaching practices to provide the best combination of methodologies to my students. I want my students to ACQUIRE the Spanish language rather than learn about it. There are many branches under the TCI umbrella including, TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling), Circling, PQA (Personalized Questions and answers), movie talk, and so much more. The most important thing that you should know about how my classroom works is that I am
speaking in SPANISH 90% of the time. I am sheltering my language and limiting it to the Spanish I know that the students know and throughout the year this vocabulary will grow and develop and they will acquire the language naturally rather than memorize it and study its grammar.
La Maestra Loca, means the crazy teacher. It was a name that was given me by a group of third graders this past year, and before that a group of 10 year olds in China. I absolutely embrace the title.
Teaching with Comprehensible Input (TCI) is the teaching methodology and approach that I use in my classroom. I also use Organic World Language (OWL) strategies. I am constantly trying to revise my teaching practices to provide the best combination of methodologies to my students. I want my students to ACQUIRE the Spanish language rather than learn about it. There are many branches under the TCI umbrella including, TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling), Circling, PQA (Personalized Questions and answers), movie talk, and so much more. The most important thing that you should know about how my classroom works is that I am
speaking in SPANISH 90% of the time. I am sheltering my language and limiting it to the Spanish I know that the students know and throughout the year this vocabulary will grow and develop and they will acquire the language naturally rather than memorize it and study its grammar.
So often when I speak to adults they tell me that they took a language in high school or college, but “can’t speak a word”. That is VERY normal. Language teachers hear this ALL the time. Next they proceed to tell me that they are just not good at language. That is impossible. If you can learn one language you can learn them all. It is all about how you are taught. I failed Spanish all through school. I struggled and worked SO hard because I desperately wanted to be “good” and communicate. The problem was that I wasn’t being taught to communicate. I was being taught ABOUT Spanish. I was learning the grammar and conjugations, and all of the rules. I wasn’t acquiring the language for communication. My failure in Spanish is the reason I teach the way I do. EVERYONE can learn language.
Friday Pre-Conference Workshop
Brain Breaks: Improving Engagement, Proficiency and Joy!
This interactive presentation, will re-energize and motivate teachers, providing them with opportunities to engage in brain breaks that can be applied to any language and any classroom. Participants will learn the research behind the power of using brain breaks in the language classroom. When set up as a routine, brain breaks double as a great classroom management tool. Teachers will participate in brain breaks and will watch videos of students at various levels and ages using them in the classroom. Incorporating a few quick movement games into any class, students are provided with a rest in rigor, and an opportunity to interact with their peers in the target language. Building a safe, interactive classroom community, creates an environment where students are eager and ready to take risks in the target language! When given the proper tools, teachers can set up these brain breaks as part of their classroom routine and procedure and will see an enormous increase in engagement and joy.
This interactive presentation, will re-energize and motivate teachers, providing them with opportunities to engage in brain breaks that can be applied to any language and any classroom. Participants will learn the research behind the power of using brain breaks in the language classroom. When set up as a routine, brain breaks double as a great classroom management tool. Teachers will participate in brain breaks and will watch videos of students at various levels and ages using them in the classroom. Incorporating a few quick movement games into any class, students are provided with a rest in rigor, and an opportunity to interact with their peers in the target language. Building a safe, interactive classroom community, creates an environment where students are eager and ready to take risks in the target language! When given the proper tools, teachers can set up these brain breaks as part of their classroom routine and procedure and will see an enormous increase in engagement and joy.
NOTE: This requires a separate registration and additional fee. See our 2020 Conference Registration page for details!
Friday Keynote
LA's Got Talent
We have so much talent in this state! Each of us is unique and brings so much to our individual spaces! We have so much to learn and share with each other! Through showcasing our talents and sharing ours strengths with our colleagues, we can learn from each other! In doing this we are making our state and students stronger communicators who will continue to grow in proficiency as well as become culturally competent and engaged citizens in this rapidly changing world!
We have so much talent in this state! Each of us is unique and brings so much to our individual spaces! We have so much to learn and share with each other! Through showcasing our talents and sharing ours strengths with our colleagues, we can learn from each other! In doing this we are making our state and students stronger communicators who will continue to grow in proficiency as well as become culturally competent and engaged citizens in this rapidly changing world!
Saturday Workshop
Building Community through Communication: from Micro to Macro
As world language teachers we have an opportunity in our classes unlike any other space in the school. Our curriculum can be built around our students. We can focus first on building relationships and community in our classes and do so while facilitating acquisition and building proficiency in the target language! We can build the communicative and cultural competencies all while creating a safe, inclusive classroom community where all students are seen, heard and valued. Teachers will experience what it feels like to acquire a language through compelling comprehensible input as we connect and collaborate with each other! Come prepared to engage, move, and play! You’ll leave this workshop feeling re-energized, enthusiastic, and eager to get back to your classes to inspire your students and lead them further down the path to proficiency than ever before! YOU are Louisiana’s talent! Let’s unlock your potential together!
As world language teachers we have an opportunity in our classes unlike any other space in the school. Our curriculum can be built around our students. We can focus first on building relationships and community in our classes and do so while facilitating acquisition and building proficiency in the target language! We can build the communicative and cultural competencies all while creating a safe, inclusive classroom community where all students are seen, heard and valued. Teachers will experience what it feels like to acquire a language through compelling comprehensible input as we connect and collaborate with each other! Come prepared to engage, move, and play! You’ll leave this workshop feeling re-energized, enthusiastic, and eager to get back to your classes to inspire your students and lead them further down the path to proficiency than ever before! YOU are Louisiana’s talent! Let’s unlock your potential together!