F.A.Q.s

Where can I find the updated curriculum documents?

Curriculum documents are found on the Instructional Planning site for the Office of Curriculum and Instruction (OCI). The link to this site is highlighted in the Curriculum tab.

Isn't the ¡Así se dice! textbook our curriculum?

No. The textbook is one of many possible resources one could use.

The pacing, themes, and standards for the curriculum are outlined in the curricular documents on the OCI site and recommended instructional practices are found in the Quarters-at-a-Glance and the Instruction section of this site. In places where the textbook does not fit the curriculum of the District, teachers should follow the recommendations here, as these reflect alignment with the Framework of the Office of Academic Supports. For more information, see the¡Así se dice! FAQ section of this page.

Where are the PA Standards?

The state offers the option to use the PA Standards (proposed, but not signed in 2002) or another of equivalent or higher rigor. The national standards from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). ACTFL Standards encompass the skills pf the PA Standards, but further unpack levels and aspects of second-language proficiency.

How do I assess for the Standards?

Proficiency rubrics are linked in each of the Quarters-at-a-Glance documents and in the Curriculum tab of this Site. Each Quarter document also has suggestions for summative tasks or prompts.

HOW do I register?

for Synchronous (live) Sessions ...

• Registration for District-Wide Sessions is available on Cornerstone by going to Learner Home and searching by title

• Registration for Tune-up Tuesday, is best accessible through Cornerstone's Calendar Feature (click here for video)

for asynchronous sessions ...

• Pre-registration is not required for asynchronous sessions, they are accessible through the PD Catalog for that date (Catalog is shared by Meredith and Principals)

WHEN do I register?

as soon as possible! Liz sends offerings in the Updates emails as sessions are posted!

• District-Wide Sessions close two days before the session and tend to fill up quickly!

• Tune-up Tuesday session registration closes the FRIDAY before the session date

What if I am waitlisted?

• It's always a better idea to add yourself to the waitlist than not! It doesn't guarantee you a spot, but as registrations are managed spaces do open-up and you CANNOT be added if you aren't on the waitlist

How do I get myself tech-ready for a PD? Click here for a video on splitting Zoom and SLSO

Where can I go for help?

You have LOTS of options

• The EdTech team has put together a helpful site (note that everything is accessible via the top black navigation bar)

• The Lesson Plan Activity Bank has a TechNeeds Tab (you navigate the tabs by their titles in grey at the bottom of the spreadsheet)

• Liz is happy to help with questions if you send an email.

• For a complete list for the School District, click here for this list compiled by the Office of Teaching and Learning

Where can I find the Approved Apps?

The list of SDP-approved free apps can be found at this link.

Can we use Duolingo?

No. Duolingo is not approved for student use and should not be assigned in any way. Duolingo might be a useful app for an already-motivated individual to brush up on a language they already know, but won't offer students what they need to communicate in the language. The best place to look for ideas is to check out the asynchronous activities from the posted plans and the gamification features available from SLSO.

What are the best apps on the list for WL Teachers?

It depends on your goals! You can do A LOT with the Google Suite and the SMART Learning Suite online. EdPuzzle and TeachVid are very good for making or finding interactive content based on videos. Vocaroo, Screencastify, and Flipgrid are good for recording voice/video.

When the textbook and the curriculum don't match, how should I plan?

Use the Curriculum's content, themes, and essential questions and your students' interests! The book is there as a possible source of content, it is not the curriculum. Curricular documents reflect proficiency goals and are accessible on the OCI website (linked in the NHO one-stop and on the Curriculum Tab of the WL Site). Your teaching responds to your own students' needs and gives them at-level input and interaction; the book was mass-produced. Its videos and readings may be useful as input sources, but be very critical of which exercises focus on comprehension and communication of meaning or on rote memorization and form. Consult the instructional practices outlined in the World Languages section of the Academic Framework for more information.