The end is near....

Hi there!!!!

Just a line to remind you that you have until next Tuesday to finish the presentation on How to Teach Writing.... So far only two groups have shared their Googledocs with me...

Come on!! One last effort!!

Last but not least

More feedback

Here we have more!!


Feedback

and

Feedback

Feedback

Feedback

Hi mates we have read your short story “Groomed” and now we are going to provide

feedback on it. We are going to use the model of the ‘traffic light’.  We really liked the story, we are just going to comment on the aspects that we enjoyed more and those which we consider  can be improved.      

                                                      

Positive aspects:

• Catchy cover, good selection of imagery.
• Good use of repetition at the beginning of the first paragraph.
• We liked the way you presented the characters, you developed them gradually through the first page.
• Effective use of dialogues.
• Real to life theme.!! It is great how you could create a short story based on one of the most important and problematic topics of our society.
• MORAL: At the end of the story, you presented and transmitted a specific message to the reader… When we finished reading “Groomed”, we could appreciate that you wanted to show the reader how dangerous/ beneficial technology can be in our society. You left a clear ending/message in the last paragraph of the short story.        

Suggestions:

• The selection of pictures (except the first one) was a bit flat. Some of them did not reflect the mood of the story.
• Some adjectives were repeated several times. For example, the adjective ‘handsome’, maybe next time you can use synonyms to refer to the same word.
• Little use of visual, auditory and kinesthetic images. We expected to have a more detailed description of the place where she was kept and the way in which she was kidnaped.  
• A twist ending can give the reader a jolt. We were expecting something to happen in the end other than something “happy” but it was not the case. In a sense it was a bit predictable.

To bear in mind

• I would have liked to have a little more action towards the end.
• When she writes to this fictitious boy where she will meet him, it reads “12:30 am” but you can tell it’s really 12:30 pm.
• Also, Jane tells her mother she is going to be late because she will do some homework with a friend, but then when Summer asks Carol if her daughter is supposed to be home, Carol says that she is. That is a bit incoherent.

The story is overall well written, though a little flat. The action rises in a real pace but almost as soon as it hits the turning point it goes down again for the purpose of the moral.

The characters are very relatable and so is the scenario, which makes the story interesting from the point of view of its plausibility: this is something which could happen to any of us, and that makes us feel uneasy, which is a good characteristic to have in a short story. We also found it as a resource any teacher of english could use for a themed lesson since it is easy to read. Finally, although it was written collaboratively by four people with different tastes, you can hardly tell since the story maintains a general structure from beginning to end.

Well done!!!

Play...feedback and more!

Hi!!

How are you?? Just starting the weekend?? Way to go!!

Yesterday we did not have classes....because we had the fairy tale festival. In fact, many of you participated in the performance of Hamlet.... Congrats!! It was really good!!!

I have already received the feedback of one of the groups... I'm sure I'll receive the others during the weekend... I'll have a look and then we'll share in the blog.

I'll also be reading your blogs these days, since I've noticed many of you have posted....

Finally, next week we have a new workshop.... are you ready??

And remember you have to start with the presentations on "How to teach writing", based on your reading, and on your experiences as teachers, and as students and also reflecting on this experience of the assessment project. Do it in a Google doc and remember to share it with me.

Well, that's all for now....

Hi!!!

How are you??

Last Thursday we had another workshop... this time on Teaching Reading.... it was excellent!!! It was entertaining, original, enriching.... congratulations!!!!

This week you have to work on the feedback of one of the short stories, as part of the assessment project. I know you are tired... but there is so little left.... you can do it!!!

Remember to contact me if you have any doubts!!!

Second Workshop...check!

Hi there!!

How are you?? Tired? Probably yes... but you have only one more month to go!! You can do it!!

Last Thursday we had the second workshop on Teaching Listening, delivered by Carolina, Emiliano and Julia. You then wrote some feedback for them.... We all enjoyed the workshop and would have liked it to be longer!!

Today I'll finishe correcting the short stories and then you have to give them an attractive layout, using some application. After that, we'll have the feedback step of the assessment project.

And, next Thursday we have the workshop on Teaching Reading!!

First workshop...check!!

Hi my dear 4th!!  How are you? I hope you are doing well!!!

Last Thursday we had the first Workshop, delivered by Cecilia, Celeste and Belén. It was about Direct and Indirect Strategies. They told us about the classification and all the options there are as regards strategies. They made us play too!!

For next class, I need you (the ones who were present on Thursday) to write some feedback for the girls (you should hand it in to me).

In fact, the last part of the class was devoted to dealing with how to provide feedback and with how important it is to provide enriching, and adequate feedback.

Next Thursday we have the workshop on Teaching Listening...I'm really looking forward to it!! Also, next Thursday is the deadline for the short stories! (In the Google document so I can correct...later you will use an application to illustrate it and give it a more attractive presntation).

Well... that's all for now...

Mistakes, feedback and others....

Hi!!

How are you? How is your weekend going?

On Thursday we worked on the chapter on Mistakes and Feedback. First, we did a grouping activity based on a classification of people difficult to cope with. We reflected s little on the different types of difficult people, and the idea is to try to think about how to deal with them... You should select two of the categories and write in your blogs about how you think you should deal with them.

Once you were organized in groups, you worked on a questionnaire....I walked around the class, trying to help clear doubts and clarify concepts.

We are next meeting on September 28th, since on  the 21st we have the day off. That day we are having the first workshop, the one about Teaching Strategies (direct and indirect), so you should read the two chapters on this topic.

I'll be correcting your presentations and providing feedback... so we'll be in touch!

And remember the deadline for the short stories of our assesment project is October 12th.

Learning Styles, assessment project and workshops

Hi there!!

How are you on this rainy Sunday??

Last class we worked on learning styles, explaining what they are, what determines them and what are some of the ways of classifying them. Next Thursday we'll continue working on this and we'll start dealing with personality factors. So, for next class you must read chapter 6 by Brown on Personality Factors.

Also, remember that you have this and next week to work on your presentations on Characteristics of Good Short Stories.

Last but not least, here I share the information on the Workshops you will deliver for us:

Group	Topic	Likely date
Celeste, Belén and Cecilia	Teaching strategies	September 28th
Emiliano, Carolina and Julia	Teaching listening	October 5th
Joaquín, Matías, Daiana and Noelia	Teaching reading	October 12th
Eugenia, Gustavo and Marina	Teaching writing	October 19th
Johanna, Aldana and Claudio	Teaching speaking	November 2nd

This is exactly what we discussed  before the Winter Break. The only change is in the date of the last workshop because on Ocotber 26th there is the Fairy Tale Festival.

Well, that's all ... I'll start viviting your Google docs in a few minutes !!

Last class and links to short stories

Hi there!!

How has your weekend been?? I hope great!!

Last class we spent most of the time discussing our assessment project....The rest of the class we devoted to going through some general ideas related to syllabus design and coursebooks.

Here I share with you the links to three short stories I would like you to read to start working on your presentations on what the characteristics of good short stories are:

The Kiss
The Way up to Heaven
The Masque of the Red Death

Bear in mind that in the last two links there are several stories. The ones I want you to read are the ones I name in the links.

Of course you are free to read more stories (and also to recommend other stories to us)!!

The presentation should be ready by September 14th. Remember to do it in Google docs and to add me to the list of people who can edit: sracker2000@gmail,.com .

Whatever doubts you may have...we'll be in touch!!