Utah DLI German Teacher Newsletter January 2025

Utah DLI German Teacher Newsletter

2024-2025 Events for Utah DLI German Teachers

January 21, 2025: German Bridge Spring Professional Development @ Clearfield High School Library

January 22, 2025: Elementary German DLI Professional Development

@ USBE Basement West Room. 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM; mandatory for German DLI teachers; click here for MIDAS registration information

January 23, 2025: Secondary German DLI Professional Development

@ USBE Basement West Room. 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM; mandatory for German DLI teachers; click here for MIDAS registration information

January 23-25, 2025: SWCOLT Conference @ Gila River Resort & Casino at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, AZ

February 21, 2025: Utah Foreign Language Association (UFLA) Conference @ Utah Tech University in St. George

Summit Academy Independence Performs at

SLC's Christkindlmarkt

Nothing brings the joy of the season better than our German immersion students spreading the love for the language at the annual Salt Lake City Christkindlmarkt. German immersion students from Summit Academy Independence performed favorite German Christmas songs to a packed audience. Thank you for making the season special for all of us!

Weihnachtsmarkt at West Elementary 2024

It has become a cherished tradition to celebrate the season at the annual Weihnachtsmarkt at West Elementary in Tooele. It is a favorite among students, parents, and teachers alike. That is how we get into the seasonal spirit. Thank you to all the dedicated staff and community members that helped organize this beloved event. Here are a few impressions!

Utah DLI Core Instructional Strategies

Do you remember the 6 core instructional strategies from your AUDII training? Can you name them from the top of your head? We will highlight one core strategy each month until the end of this school year to refresh our memory. This month, we are moving to the third core strategy: The Modeling Cycle!

Core Strategy #3: The Modeling Cycle

Core strategy # 3 - the modeling cycle - is an effective, research-based strategy to teach content and language in conjunction - which is at the heart of dual language immersion instruction. The modeling cycle is also referred to as "gradual release of responsibility" and is part of the explicit teaching methodology. Many teachers know it as "I do - we do - you do." It sounds like an easy concept that can easily be implemented. However, there are a few pitfalls to avoid when planning your modeling cycle.

The first step, the I do, is also referred to as the teacher in the spotlight. All cameras are on the teacher, there is no student involvement, and the teacher thinks aloud or models what students should eventually be doing independently. Beware of this pitfall: there is a difference between explaining what students should do and modeling what students should do. When we model, we are putting ourselves in the shoes of a student. The language we use indicates the difference:

Explaining:

"First, you will ... Then you will ... Keep in mind ... Make sure that ..."

Modeling:

" I am going to show you ... I want to make sure... Wait, before I get started I need to ... I read that ... Now I am going to ... I am checking that ...

When we move to the "we do" step of the modeling cycle, we call on students that represent our mid-level performers. We can be sure that our high achievers can do it, and we want to give our lower achieving students another chance to see it done by their peers. Then, we engage all students in a guided practice during the " you do" section before releasing them to independent "you all do" practice. Students should practice independently exactly in the same format that was modeled. There is a place for the learning center approach with different activities that student might rotate through later in the review portion of a unit. However, especially when we introduce new concepts, we want to make sure that we practice exactly in the same format as when we modeled.

Need guidance on how to plan your "I do"? Here is a great blog post by DLI consultant Marie Bouteillon on how to plan your gradual release lessons efficitiently with strategy-based teaching.

You might have heard about the advantages of inquiry-based learning and wonder how this fits with our DLI core strategies and the modeling cycle. As always, it should not be an either/or decision. There are instances when direct/explicit instruction and the modeling cycle is advantageous; and then there are situations when inquiry-based learning can provide opportunities for honing students' critical thinking skills and deep learning. There is a place for both in DLI. If you recall, the way we teach science in DLI with the 5 Es is inquiry-based and our counterbalance approach to grammar is also inquiry-based. The part we always have to control for in our inquiry is the vocabulary. So there usually is a vocabulary activation phase before the inquiry part of a lesson in DLI. If you want to read more on the topic here is a research study on combining both approaches called "Let's Talk Evidence - The Case for Combining Inquiry-Based and Direct Instruction."

Picture Source: https://radhikazahedi.substack.com/p/inquiry-based-or-direct-instruction

AATG Winter Newsletter

The American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) Winter Newsletter has been released. Click here to access it.

Articles Worth Reading

Do you need new ideas for OTRs? Here is a great Edutopia article on 16 variations of the classic Think- Pair- Share. Click here to be inspired.

Have you ever used Origami to reinforce Math and language productions skills? Here are some great ideas on how to use Origami in Math while also working on those productive language goals. Click here to read the article.

We know we want to move our students to higher levels of proficiency and incorporate those in independent speaking and writing. Here is a great article from the Middle School Blog on how to combine sentences and focus on more advanced academic language. You can read the article here.

Have you ever heard that if a student cannot talk about a concept they cannot write about the concept? Here is a great pre-writing activity to get your students think about and explore narrative elements before they commit their ideas to paper. Click here to see the video and read the article.

Do you have different personalities while speaking different languages? Research says yes, you do. The bilingual personalities we develop depend on the experiences we have while learning or speaking a particular language. What implications does this have for our DLI classrooms? Read more here.

Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids

Click here to learn more about the event from the Utah Film Center.

Kids Film Competition

Wouldn't it be nice if we had some DLI entries? Click here to learn more about the competition.

Lernmaterialien

Lernmaterialien vom PASCH-Netzwerk

Alle PASCH Materialien im Überblick gibt es hier. Man kann es nach Themenbereich oder Sprachniveau filtern. Eine wunderbare Ressource, wenn man auf der Jagd nach authentischem Material ist.

Here is an A2 text about Silvester and Neujahr traditions in Germany.

Here is a great resource about Winteraktivitäten und Winterferien. This resource could serve as mentor texts for a similar writing activity.

Grants and Scholarships

Language Connects Foundation Micro-Grants

LCF/Vista Classroom Microgrants for Language Educators

The LCF/Vista Microgrants Program for Language Educators is an initiative aimed at supporting and empowering those who are dedicated to promoting multilingualism and cultural diversity in the classroom. This program provides small grants to K-12 educators who are passionate about teaching languages and incorporating cultural elements into their lessons.

This program is open to all K-12 language educators regardless of setting. Eligible individuals may apply for grants of $300 to fund a variety of projects, including:

Organizing cultural events or activities for their learners, including those in collaboration with relevant community organizations; and
Creating projects that support diverse perspectives and provide opportunities to develop cultural competence.

100 microgrants of $300 each will be awarded between September 2024 and May 2025. Click here to apply.

Would You and Your Students Like to Be Featured in the February Newsletter?

Send pictures and blurbs to Michaela at mclaus-nix@utahdli.org by January 31, 2025.

Please share your hard work and the accomplishments of your students so that we can celebrate you!

Contact:

Michaela Claus-Nix, Ed.S.

German DLI Coordinator

Utah State Board of Education

mclaus-nix@utahdli.org

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