It all began with a One Word Image
Every now and then the students give you a character that just needs a follow up story. Last semester we created Teresa Taco. That day I had called for a student illustrate Teresa and one student took up the challenge. In the next class she brought me the drawing and we all fell in love with Teresa Taco.
We had a great description but the students were not ready to tell her story, so we moved on to other characters, but we kept that original description.
We had a great description but the students were not ready to tell her story, so we moved on to other characters, but we kept that original description.
Out of the Blue and into Compelling
Last week we started talking about our next character, when some students looked over a Teresa on the wall and told me they want to talk about her. So we began talking. We realized she had this background story that needed to be told. How did she end up in Gordon Ramsey's jail? We knew she had committed a culinary crime, but what was it? (Just as a side note: My students respect Gordon Ramsey and see him as a person who cares deeply about the culinary arts.)
We had the basic storyline down in one class and then we wrote out the story while adding details in another class. In the meantime the original artist with the help of others drew an updated version of Teresa Taco. Two other students wrote a second version of how Teresa Taco got in jail. Now we have the class story and the version from the other two students. We now have material to compare and contrast.
We had the basic storyline down in one class and then we wrote out the story while adding details in another class. In the meantime the original artist with the help of others drew an updated version of Teresa Taco. Two other students wrote a second version of how Teresa Taco got in jail. Now we have the class story and the version from the other two students. We now have material to compare and contrast.
The language Boom
As we were creating the story about Teresa Taco we started using language that was higher than novice level. To paint the picture, I was typing on the computer while the students were looking at the projection on a screen. They were copying down the story. We were going slowly so that everyone understood, could write and discuss. At the same time I was having a formal evaluation by my administrator. She understands enough Spanish that she could follow along. She was amazed at how much the students were understanding and how engaged they were in the story.
The language boom was not me forcing the students to learn something. I was just providing the language input they wanted and needed at that moment to tell their story. When I first began using the One Word Images and the Invisibles I was worried that I would be stuck with low level vocabulary and expressions because I only teach Novice level, but I found that my students will let me give them the language they want and need when they are ready.
Click on the button to access the full story of Teresa Taco in Spanish.
The language boom was not me forcing the students to learn something. I was just providing the language input they wanted and needed at that moment to tell their story. When I first began using the One Word Images and the Invisibles I was worried that I would be stuck with low level vocabulary and expressions because I only teach Novice level, but I found that my students will let me give them the language they want and need when they are ready.
Click on the button to access the full story of Teresa Taco in Spanish.
