TIPS FOR SUCCESS
Eric Frohlich, top American rower, had this to say about Teamwork: "Teams can achieve success only when they have a clear goal that everyone agrees on and works for. Each person in the group has to understand how their contributions move everyone forward."
Tips and Best Practices
As an educator, I am a teammate with students, administrators AND parents, helping to facilitate and achieve a common goal. It takes us all working together as a TEAM (Equipo). My contribution to your my student's success is marked with providing them the right tools, encouragement and methods to learn, apply and connect what they learn in my classroom to other elements of their lives. Tips I believe to be proven methods of obtaining success in Language Learning will also work in other areas.
Ms. Barbee's Strategy - The Trifecta
VOCAB - Memorize the VOCAB. This is best done by writing the vocab in your notebook, playing memory games, creating and using flashcards. Online games like Kahoot and Quizlet are really effective, but nothing is more effective generally, than writing and repetition. Write the words...say the words. Say your words in a mirror and practice with a buddy or loved one. This makes all the difference in the world. Students who have trouble with Spanish generally are not speaking/practicing Spanish at home.
RULES - Learn the grammar rules. Apply what you've learned and communicate effectively in a second language.
APPLICATION - Vocabulary and Grammar are the building blocks to any language. I talk about the sandbox with my students. Imagine we're at a beach or playground. We want to make a castle using the tools and molds that are in the sandbox. As we continue to use these tools, we'll get better at making our castles and even make bigger, more elaborate castles. This is the gist of language a second language. I'm so excited that your student will be able apply what they've learned quickly to make sentence castles in week one of Spanish I.
How to Succeed in our class
1. Eat and sleep well prior to school starting.
2. Be present, not just physically, but really engage.
3. Partner with one or more students and practice via phone or video chat
4. Don't wait until you get behind to reach out to me
5. Preparation prevents poor performance. Prepare..especially for our speaking assessments.
6. Ask questions during class and be organized
7. Practice your vocab daily - say the words out loud. Don't just read them.
8. Write your spanish vocab and notes in a notebook or binder section dedicated for Spanish.
9. Spend at least 20 to 25 minutes daily on an online practice site like Quizlet or Duolingo
10. Breathe, relax, enjoy. I'm here for you. It may feel like you're alone but you're not.