ASB English Programs Newsletter
Mar. 11-16, 2024
Take a Peek Inside our Classrooms!
Saturday Class A1
Students in Ms. Adelina's Drama class practice a play called "The Magic Carpet" using their imagination to believe that they are flying on a magic carpet.
Saturday Class A2
Students in Ms. Anna's class designed their own dinosaurs and described their different body parts.
Saturday Class K4
Ms. Jenny's students read the book, The Itsy Spider. They did finger play and the movement actions to act out the rhyme and then used props to sing the song.
Building a Classroom Culture of Understanding
Dear ELC Weekday and Saturday Staff,
As an ELL and learning support teacher, my classroom experience includes a lot of trial and error in creating space that encourages students to have a better understanding of themselves and each other in a safe learning environment. I am always looking for easy ways to do this. Perhaps due to my counseling training, I try to build a culture of understanding for what is going on within each student under the surface of their proverbial “iceberg.”
One way I do this is starting class by asking students how ready they are to learn today. This can be on paper, a check-in scale, or simply a number shown with fingers. I ask students why they chose their rating. Some of the most common factors preventing learning are being stressed, hungry, tired, sad, among other emotions. This simple act of identifying these factors sets the tone for class and reminds me that sometimes students' learning and retention are about more than just what is happening in the classroom.
I also use class time to regularly build vocabulary that relates to executive functioning for students who struggle with organization, planning, and time management. I model these skills in my teaching. For example, saying things like “I am having a hard time initiating this task,” or “I can’t visualize the finished product here,” or “I am going to plan my time management by breaking this down into digestible small steps.” Talking to the class about my own process using this vocabulary normalizes it for students who struggle and invites them to try out these strategies in their own learning. Having a name for things makes them less personally vulnerable and solvable. As a wise learning support colleague once told me, "You have to name it to tame it."
Another strategy to build a classroom culture of understanding is by making roadblocks a norm in our classrooms. This allows for permission to get stuck as part of a process, so shame doesn’t stop our students’ momentum. Before tackling a project or longer assignment, we brainstorm as a class what potential roadblocks might come up, and I have the students suggest solutions with their peers.
Imagine an inclusive classroom culture that promotes learning to benefit everyone in the room. Students are connected to each other and essential to their success and ability to learn and solve problems.
Just a few ideas to start your week off...
With appreciation,
Meg
Reminder: ELC Calçotada this Sat., Mar. 16
Our ELC Calçotada will be at Restaurant Font de Les Planes is on the FGC line, the stop is called Les Planes. (Address: BV-1462, Carrer Vallvidrera a Sant Cugat, Km. 6.5, 08017 Barcelona) Free shuttle bus service leaving from ASB (Bus Exit on Avda. Miranda) at 2:30pm to the restaurant. Return to Barcelona on FGC line.
Important Dates
What's Happening in March and April...
WEEKDAY PROGRAM
Wed., Mar. 13 - Weekday Semester 2 Report cards emailed to parents (not Cambridge)
Wed., Mar. 11-20 - Cambridge Mock 2 Exams (PET, FCE, CAE)
Sat., Mar. 16 - ELC Calçotada
Sun., Mar. 17 -🍀 St. Patrick's Day - May the luck of the Irish be with you! Check out these resources!
Tues., Mar. 19 - Father's Day in Spain
Wed., Mar. 20 - First day of Spring 🌸
Sat., Mar. 23 - Mon., Apr. 1 - Spring Break
Wed., Apr. 3 - Share April unit plans with families (Classes A and B)
SATURDAY PROGRAM
Sat., Mar. 9 - 16 - Cambridge Mock 2 Exams (PET, FCE, CAE)
Fri., Mar. 15 - Saturday Semester 2 Report cards emailed to parents (not Cambridge)
Sat., Mar. 16 - ELC Calçotada.
Sun., Mar. 17 -🍀 St. Patrick's Day - May the luck of the Irish be with you! Check out these resources!
Tues., Mar. 19 - Father's Day in Spain
Wed., Mar. 20 - First day of Spring 🌸
Sat., Mar. 23 - Mon., Apr. 1 - Spring Break
Fri., Apr. 5 - Share April unit plans with families (Classes K, A and B)
CAMBRIDGE MOCK 2 EXAMS
Wed., Apr. 3 - Cambridge Weekday Mock 2 Exam make-ups for absences
Thur., Apr. 4 - Cambridge Weekday Report Card comments due
Sat., Apr. 6 - Cambridge Saturday Mock 2 Exam make-ups for absences
Mon., Apr. 8 - Cambridge Saturday Report Card comments due
Mon., Apr. 8 - All Cambridge Mock 2 Progress Reports scores and Report Cards due in PWS.
Tues., Apr. 9 - Cambridge Saturday and Weekday Progress Reports and Report Cards emailed to parents
Sat., Apr. 6 @ 10:30am - Summer 2024 Campus Tour 4 for prospective families.
Wed., Apr. 10 @ 6:30-7:30pm - Summer 2024 Campus Tour 5 for prospective families.
Edutopia's Collection of Animated Videos Explaining Educational Research
Edutopia publishes excellent, short videos about education issues. Among them, they produce a small number of animated ones explaining education research. They include links to the research itself and a transcript, as well. They recently put all of those in one place.
Here’s one example:
EL Teaching Resources
KINDER/PRIMARY RESOURCES:
BrainPOP's graphic organizers are a great tool to use when introducing students to new topics. They also encourage students to apply their knowledge and make connections.
Check out these resources on Seesaw this month:
Dance to “Get the Wiggles Out” for a fun brain break for Music in Schools Month (PK-1)
Listen to or read an informational text about Spring Holidays Around the World (K-2)
Twinkl has so many resources for St. Patrick's Day! Here are just a couple:
Let’s Doodle! St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day Trivia for Kids Test your knowledge!
Explore the full Special Days collection in the Seesaw Library to find lessons for Spring Break Workshop, March Maker Month, Deaf History Month, and more!
Also on Seesaw...Have your students learn about phenomenal women who changed history with their brilliant discoveries, bravery, and contributions. Check out these activities from other educators and try one with your class!
Say What?! is a clever new digital series about animal expressions from PBS Learning Media. The eight short videos and accompanying support materials below shed light on the funny backstories and meanings of idioms.
Templates and Ideas for Making Differentiated Choice Boards - star this link in favorites!
SECONDARY RESOURCES
Computer-based Cambridge exam preparation for A2 Key to C2 Proficiency: If you are preparing students for our computer-based exams, Teaching Tips for the Computer-Based Cambridge English Qualifications has lots of ideas and activities. This booklet helps you familiarise students with completing tasks on the Cambridge exam platform and covers practising English reading, writing and listening tasks on-screen and with headphones.
The World Café: a Powerful Strategy to Enhance Speaking Skills - The World Café is a way of facilitating group conversation. It is a powerful speaking strategy that encourages everyone to work together, share their ideas and perspectives, ask questions, and collectively come up with new insights and this, in a relaxed environment that helps students get to know each other and build community.
Blog de Cristina created this Google Site to help students work on Passive Sentences.
PD WEBINARS and PODCASTS
Listen to this podcast by Cult of Pedagogy's Jennifer González about "8 Tech Tools to Try in 2024."
PBS KIDS offers this FREE special collection of flexible self-paced learning to help inspire PreK-2 teachers and provide support for the classroom. Choose from a variety of learning topics!
Sharpen your instructional skills with these professional development resources from PBS Learning Media.
Supporting teachers in teaching English to learners with special educational needs and disabilities. Download this guide with practical advice on how to support teachers in teaching English to learners with special educational needs and disabilities.
April Unit Plans
Unit Plans for Weekday and Saturday classes are due the week we return from Spring Break in April. See dates above. Please try to include a few suggestions for parents of links to online videos, songs, games, and online books that you use in class or recommend that might be valuable for extra practice, reinforcement or as extension activities to the instruction you provide in class.
A Little Something to Get You Through the Week
😂 Today's Chuckle 😂
Watch this TikTok video to the end to find out whom Oklahoma City, Okla., principal Aaron Kellert is counseling in his office.
ASB English Language Center
Email: english@asbarcelona.com
Website: https://www.asbarcelona.com/programs/elc
Location: Carrer de Jaume Balmes, 7, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
Phone: 93.371.4016