Language Lounge

In this episode Michelle talks with Denise Wagstaff, 20-year veteran French teacher about her journey to teaching for proficiency – what she has learned and is still learning about her students, her profession and herself.  We talk about everything from setting realistic expectations for student language learning to conversations about the role of grammar to Denise’s recent deeper dive into grading practices. 

Denise Wagstaff has been a teacher for over 20 years and has spent almost her entire career at Melrose High School (MA) teaching French and occasionally Spanish.  Her professional interests include teaching for proficiency, using technology in the classroom, grading and feedback practices & UDL.  A Massachusetts native, Denise also enjoys travel, watching professional tennis and is always ready to enjoy a cup of coffee or an ice cream.

Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod

Connect with Michelle - https://twitter.com/michelleolah

Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email [email protected]

Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com

Watch this episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/wayside

Show Notes

Social Media: 

Twitter:  @mme_wagstaff 

Instagram:   @mmewagstaffmhs 

Mentioned in podcast:  

FELDMAN, J. (2019). Grading for equity: what it is, why it matters, and how it can transform schools and classrooms.

In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle talks with Samara Spielberg about the importance of positive well-being for students, and teachers, by fostering empathy, recognizing stress points, creating a safe space for learning and recognizing external elements outside of the classroom. 

Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod

Connect with Michelle - https://twitter.com/michelleolah

Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email [email protected]

Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com

Watch this episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/wayside

Show notes: 

Social media: @SamaraSpielberg (twitter) @SrtaSpielberg (insta) 

Sonia Lupien -Stress 101:  Don't Go NUTS!:  Deconstruct your stress one element at a time.

Lazarus' Theory of Stress

Resilience online

Lazarus' Theory of Stress

Julie Mundo  @MundodePepita (Twitter)

David Brooks : The Epidemic of Blindness

Dr. Heidi Hanna- The Stress Detective

Robert Waldinger https://www.ted.com/speakers/robert_waldinger

John Meeham  Edrenaline Rush : Game-Changing Student Engagement

https://edrenalinerush.com

6 word memoirs

George Couros  Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity

Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions: Exploring the Emotion Wheel

https://www.6seconds.org/2022/03/13/plutchik-wheel-emotions/

In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle talks with Matt Coss about one of the challenges that language teachers face in simultaneously addressing students’ differential level of language development with cognitive maturity. Matt talks about how language classrooms can provide opportunities for critical thinking and fully engage our students’ brains as well as their language development. 

Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod

Connect with Michelle - https://twitter.com/michelleolah

Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email [email protected]

Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com

Show notes: 

Matt Coss – Twitter: @MattLaoshi 

Some people Matt mentioned to follow on Twitter who have influenced his thinking: @UjuAnya @doriecp @TWSteacher @nelsonlflores @ProfeRandolph @staceymargarita @JoseMedinaJr89 

In this special episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle Olah talks with Valerie Rossi about how to create learning environments where ALL students can learn and produce language. Valerie describes her journey using differentiation in her language classrooms and the impact it has had on her students, as well as offers tips and examples for teachers who want to differentiate but aren’t sure where to start.

Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod

Connect with Michelle - https://twitter.com/michelleolah

Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email [email protected]

Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com

Valerie Rossi bio: Valerie Rossi is a Spanish teacher of 20 years who has taught all levels of Spanish in public and private settings and is currently teaching at a progressive, university laboratory school. She has served in various leadership roles and has mentored new teachers and interns. Valerie specializes in providing professional development in the areas of differentiated instruction and cultural competency.      

Twitter - @LaProfeRossi and Instagram @vyrossi     

Valerie headshot:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NSSuC7L1bXE6E6ROhPBvd2vq-7Fxdw9T/view?usp=sharing or  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/168fzripU6sgQeACHAQ6RIQxGHSTO3t7q/view?usp=sharing   

NFLC conference website: https://conference.nflc.umd.edu/  

NFLC Link on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GD27nMNbZ-4 

Michelle talks about the magic of music with Glenda De Hoyos in this episode of the Language Lounge. Glenda shares her “greatest hits” of using music in the early language classroom – using music for routines and transitions, to promote understanding of vocabulary, as an authentic resource, for brain breaks and more! There are ideas for incorporating music in ANY world language classroom. 

Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod

Connect with Michelle - https://twitter.com/michelleolah

Connect with Glenda - https://twitter.com/glendadehoyos

Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email [email protected]

Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com

Show notes: 

Social Media: Twitter - @glendadehoyos / Instagram - @iLearn_iTeach / LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/glendadehoyos/  

PDF Handout with resources: Magic of Music in the Early Lang Class - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mpXrgAqaWYkUXNCDnRd_OMVk6LM5gzv0/view?usp=drivesdk

Meredith White looks back at her school year and discusses some of the biggest wins and failures. She reflects on what she wants to intentionally bring forward into next year, and what she is going to leave behind. 

Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod

Connect with Michelle - https://twitter.com/michelleolah

Connect with Meredith White - https://twitter.com/PRHSspanish

Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email [email protected]

Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com

In this episode of the Language Lounge, Tim Eagan shares both the research and his personal experiences working with teachers and students, on effective use of feedback to facilitate language proficiency. Topics include feedback, formative assessments and comprehension checks, rubrics, and grades.

Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod

Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah

Connect with Timothy Eagan @tjeag - https://twitter.com/tjeag

Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email [email protected]

Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com

Show Notes:

Tim’s reading recommendations mentioned in podcast:

• Ahead of the Curve: The Power of Assessment to Transform Teaching and Learning Edited by: Douglas Reeves

• Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students By Zaretta Hammond

• Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning By Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel

• Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning By Pooja K. Agarwal, Patrice M. Bain

• Small Changes, Big Impact: Ten Strategies to Promote Student Efficacy and Lifelong Learning By: Anthony R. Reibel, Matt Thede

• Solving Disproportionality and Achieving Equity: A Leader's Guide to Using Data to Change Hearts and Minds By Edward Fergus

• The Assessment System That Made Me Love Grading Again (Yes, Really!) by Alexis Wiggins 

https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/the-assessment-system-that-made-me-love-grading-again-yes-really 

Wellesley Public Schools World Languages - Presentational Performance Rubric:

Related episodes:

Language Lounge Episode 20 - High Leverage Teaching Practices with Timothy Eagan - March 11, 2022

Language Lounge Episode 3 - Let’s Talk about Grades with Beckie Rankin - September 8, 2022

In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle talks with Claudia Elliot, FFLA (Florida Foreign Language Association) and SCOLT (Southern Conference on Language Teaching) Teacher of the Year, about her 3 pillars for teaching language – Connection, Communication and Comprehensibility. Claudia tells us about her journey of growing with proficiency and how this journey has impacted her students.

Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod

Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah

Connect with Claudia Elliott @claudiamelliott - https://twitter.com/claudiamelliott

Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email [email protected]

Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com

Show Notes:

Blog: https://growingwithproficiency.com/blog/ 

Instagram: claudiamelliott

Facebook group: Growing with CI https://www.facebook.com/groups/878066909239263/

For Neurodiversity Celebration Month, Michelle and Maureen Lamb discuss practical tips to support neurodiverse learners in language classrooms. And when a variety of supports are provided for more learners, everyone benefits! Tips include communication strategies that make expectations clear, organizational structures to support all learners, and bringing more choice and flexibility to learning tasks and assessments. 

Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod

Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah

Connect with Maureen Lamb @latintechtools - https://twitter.com/latintechtools

Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email [email protected]

Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com

Show Notes:

Mote Google Chrome extension for voice comments - https://www.mote.com/

In this episode of the Language Lounge, Michelle talks with 2021 FLAME (Foreign Language Association of Maine) Teacher of the year, and creator of Mundo de Pepita early language resources, Julie Speno. Julie talks about how she has been rethinking her learning goals for her elementary Spanish classes, so they are aligned with a greater purpose that reflect community and core values. Julie talks about how she incorporates themes of peace, social justice, global citizenship, community, equal rights, and inclusion into her Spanish classes. Julie also tells us about her personal journey to make her classroom more welcoming and inclusive to students with ADHD and other neurodiverse learners.

Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter @langloungepod - https://twitter.com/langloungepod

Connect with Michelle @michelleolah - https://twitter.com/michelleolah

Connect with Julie Speno @mundodepepita - https://twitter.com/mundodepepita

Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email [email protected]

Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com

Show Notes:

Julie Speno blog: https://www.mundodepepita.com/

Blog article: “Re-envisioning World Language Goals that Go Beyond the Language, May 25, 2019  https://www.mundodepepita.com/search?q=envision 

People mentioned in the episode: 

Françoise - @TWSteacher

Related Podcast episodes:

The Language Lounge Episode #10 “Creating an Inclusive Classroom with Joseph Parodi-Brown"