The following language educators met on January 25 at Brewer High School:
Anita Tassel - Bangor Montessori; Leslee Fiveland - Bucksport Middle;
Paula Martel Tarr - Brewer High School; Katharine Wormus - Glenburn
Elementary; Susan McCallum - Brewer Middle School; Janice Clain - Hermon High School;
Fred Raven - Brewer High School

The focus of the meeting was cross curricular connections. At a time when
school budgets and national and state standards impact elective programs,
many programs in Modern and Classical Languages, especially at the
elementary and middle school levels, are in jeopardy of cuts. Language
staff would benefit from documentation of ways in which their lessons
support and enhance programs in other content areas. Instructors at those
levels might be well served by consulting with teachers to find out when
certain lessons are presented in other core subjects, and then planning
their own sequences to coincide.

Attendees gave the following examples of cross curricular lessons:

Health - presenting foods vocabulary and discussing healthy eating / the
food pyramid, discussing favorite activities and the the amount of energy expended
in them

Math - practicing math problems to practice numbers
learning about the metric system measurements

Science - talking about weather, learning animals vocabulary, describing animals and talking about their habitat and habits, having students create a children's book about the "weirdest" animals

Social Studies: learning geography terms, labeling maps, creating a display board of famous world historic and political figures and using them for descriptions and for practicing family vocabulary, playing "Quien soy? "Qui suis-je" with world figures, having students prepare fact sheets on world cultures topics, having students research and report on countries or ethnic areas of theUS

Visual and Performing arts: reports on artists or composers / musicians

Problem solving - using puzzles in the target language

English / Language arts / literacy - vocabulary, word roots, almost any
grammar lessons

Paula Tarr cited conclusions published in the AATF Bulletin that credit
language study for enhancing verbal skills and vocabulary; students who
know another language can expect to do better on standardized testing than
those who have not studied another language. Students who have studied
another language also show improvements in problem solving and self
discipline over their peers who have not learned a second (third, etc.)
language.
Paula also said she describes the study of a foreign language as a Global
Study.

Janice Cain will use information from this presentation and from a
workshop session at the FLAME Conference to compile a list of
cross-curricular connections and ways in which language study enhances the
curriculum in other content area. The report will be posted to the FLAME
web site for use by teachers who may find their own programs threatened by
cuts.

The next meeting of the Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative will
take place on March 22 at Brewer High School. The topic for that meeting
will be a swap of lessons and activities that members have found to be
effective.

Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative
March 22, 2006

In attendance:
Claudette O'Connell - Brewer HS Katherine Warmus - Glenburn School
Paula Martel Tarr - Brewer HS Gisela Hoecherl-Alden - UMO
Fred Ravan - Brewer HS Betsy Hudson - John Bapst Mem. HS
Susan McCallum - Brewer MS Leslee Fiveland - Bucksport  MS
Anita Tassel - Bangor Montessori Tricia Carver - Reeds Brook MS
Janice Clain - Hermon HS

The assembled group congratulated Claudette O'Connell for her Sister
Solange Bernier Lifetime Achievement Award which she received at the FLAME
Conference on March 10 and shared a fruit torte in her honor.

Gisela Hoecherl-Alden updated the group on the MAT program and courses
offered this summer on the Orono Campus and at the Hutchinson Center in
Belfast. It seems that the university administration has heard the plea
for support for instructors of Modern and Classical Languages and will
provide opportunities for certification and recertification. (Check the
university web site http://dll.umaine.edu/summer for course listings.)
Those who attended the FLAME Conference commented favorably on the
program. Ray Pelletier's book club format discussion was mentioned in
particular. This was a good opportunity to practice oral communication on
a topic outside our normal class topics.

Suggestions for future workshop topics included curriculum development,
vertical teaming, hands-on training in rubric writing, and TPRS. Janice
Clain will solicit input from the collaborative as to other topics
conference attendees feel would be beneficial.

Attendees shared the following ideas for classroom activities:
Leslee Fiveland reported on her experience with the Kolb experiential
method she learned about at the conference. Students looked at photos of a
cultural event. They first listed, either in writing or orally just what
they could observe, just the facts, such as objects and colors. They then
offered a hypothesis of their interpretation. The next step was to express
their feelings and then they justified their their interpretations. Leslee
reported that she and her students were surprised by how much they could
communicate,

Susan McCullum offered examples of two games. The first, 99, is a card
game (similar to UNO) that involves using numbers, addition, wild cards
and strategy. The second is patterned after Wheel of Fortune, and is an
excellent way to review the alphabet, numbers, vocabulary and grammar.
Students roll dice to determine play, and have copies of the alphabet and
numbers pronunciation to help them ask for letters.

Gisela Hoecherl-Alden brought an example of a black line illustration
used for directed drawing. Students work in partners with one "running" to
observe the drawing and then returning to give a partner instructions on
what and how to draw. This is good practice for prepositions. (For younger
students, this activity my be done with colored shapes given to partners
in an envelope and one student directing the other how to arrange the
shapes to duplicate a cue.)

Claudette O'Connell shared a form she developed to register student
accountability. Students who do not complete homework state in writing
their reason. This document is kept by the teacher for future use; a
simple idea, but effective!

Betsy Hudson shared a copy of a newspaper created by her Spanish 3 class,
Each student in the class contributed an article about a group or an
activity in the school. Articles were then compiled into a newspaper that
is distributed to all students of Spanish at the school and to parents at
an open house.

Fred Ravan shared an idea he tried after attending a FLAME conference
session on dictation. Using a piece of paper folded into thirds, students
working in pairs write "Before" on the left hand column and "After" on the
right hand column. The teacher dictates a simple sentence, which one of
the students writes in the center column.  One student will write first
one, then two, then three, then four words in the "before" column, and the
other will do the same in the :after" column. The new sentences must make
sense with the added words.

Paula Tarr also shared an idea adapted from the FLAME session on
dictation. She and her students constructed a synopsis of a film and she
wrote the ten sentences of the synopsis (numbered) on strips of colored
paper, alternating colors. These cues were placed in various locations in
the room. Working in pairs, students went to the correct sentence and
memorized all or parts, and then returned to dictate the words to the
partner, who must be seated to write.

Leslee Fiveland described a similar activity, using commands. The class
is divided into teams and is assigned a color. Several commands are
written on colored pieces of paper and placed in the center of the room. A
runner from each team retrieves one command at a time and delivers it to
the team, which then performs the activity as described. When all commands
have been retrieved, the team review all (with actions) and the winning
team receives a prize.

Katherine Warmus is organizing her seventh grade class around the broad
theme of preparing for a trip. One of their latest activities was to
complete a visa application downloaded from the Internet. Students
practiced writing, reviewed the date and self description. They have
already created brochures for their destination and passports. They will
next pack their bags.

More creative ideas can be found at www.theworld.org    and www.culturefocus.com 

The next meeting of the Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative will be
the end-of-year social, probably in the second or third week of May.
Suggestions for a meeting place include the Chinese Buffet on Stillwater
Avenue, Thai Charda in Brewer and Baldacci's, in Bangor. Suggestions may
be sent to Janice Clain, and she will notify collaborative members in
early May.

Oct 4, 2006

The following language educators attended the first meeting for the
current school year of the Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative on
October 4, 2006:
Gisela Hoechel-Alden - University of Maine (German)
Jane Smith - University of Maine (French)
Silvana Cuello - Bluehill Consolidated School (Spanish)
Leslee Fiveland - Bucksport Middle School (Spanish)
Anette Ruppel Rodrigues - University of Maine (German)
Janice Clain - Hermon High School (Spanish and German)

Jane Smith spoke of the success of the French MAT program; there are
currently six MAT students who have begun the process of acquiring
certification to teach French. An equivalent program for prospective
teachers of Spanish is in the planning stages.

Jane also encourages all language teachers to examine the latest revision
of the Maine Learning Results content standard. Concerns or comments
should be forwarded to Jane or to Don Reutershan before the next meeting
of the review panel, on October 13.

Teachers of French who would be interested in bringing students to a day
long immersion at the University of Maine should contact Jane Smith. (The
FLAME Board is also considering a "Languages Day", similar to the AATG
Sprachfest and the workshops organized many years ago by the UM MLC
department.)

Those in attendance discussed topics for meetings throughout this school
year. The list of topics for  consideration is:
       Advocacy - taking steps to apprise the administrators and university
administrators of the urgency of providing opportunities to train highly
qualified language instructors
      Maine Learning Results - reviewing the changes in the Modern Languages
and Classics content standard
      Assessment- creating and evaluating authentic assessments and alternative
assessments
     Swap Shop - sharing what works--Attendees to future meetings are encouraged to bring a brief description
/ example of a lesson or activity that they have found to be successful.

Leslee Fiveland has invited the Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative
to hold its next meeting at Bucksport Middle School. That meeting is
scheduled for Wednesday, November 1, at 3:30. The topic will be "Advocacy
for Modern and Classical Languages":. Attendees will draft a letter or a
series of letters to administrators K-16 to highlight the urgency of
providing opportunities for training qualified language instructors.
Please bring an activity or lesson that you can share with others.
For further information, contact Janice Clain at Hermon High School.

Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative
Meeting November 1, 2006

The following world languages instructors met at Bucksport Middle School on November 1:
Anette Rodrigues - U-Maine (German)
Silvana Cuello - Blue Hill Consolidated School (Spanish)
Johanna Bridges - Bucksport High School (Spanish)
Carolyn Horth - Hermon Middle School (French)
Kate Morse- Dedham School (French)
Gisela Hoecherl-Alden - U-Maine (German)
Jane Smith - U-Maine (French)
Leslee Fiveland - Bucksport Middle School (Spanish)
Jo Clark - Bucksport High School (Spanish)
Janice Clain - Hermon High School (Spanish, German , French)

Janice Clain has proposed a workshop session for the FLAME conference in
March and asked for opinions and helpers. The session would be geared to
new teachers, and would offer tips on classroom management as well as
language specific strategies. Format would be a question and answer
session with a panel of experienced teachers. Leslee Fiveland and Carolyn
Horth agreed to participate.
Jane Smith has contacted teachers of French in the greater Bangor area
regarding plans for a total immersion day in the spring, similar to the
German Sprachfest. Two teachers responded. Jane is looking for teachers
who would like to help prepare an experience for high school students, and
for teachers who would like to bring students to the Orono campus for a
day of activities in French. Jane's proposal is similar to a project
proposed by the FLAME board to promote the study of languages. Eventually
the immersion experience would be expanded to other language. If any
instructors are interested in attending or in helping with preparations,
contact Jane (Jane.Smith@umit.maine.edu)
Leslee Fiveland and Silvana Cuello attended the FLES conference at Hall
Dale and found the information helpful.
Most of the meeting time was spent discussing plans to compose a document
to be sent to university (and, perhaps, state certification officials) to
express support for language programs that will ensure implementation of
the Maine Learning Results, and to highlight the dire need to provide
opportunities for potential instructors to access courses leading to
certification. Janice Clain will compose a draft of a letter and will
distribute it via e-mail so other collaborative members can make additions
and corrections. The finished product will be ready for the next meeting
of the collaborative.
The next meeting of the Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative will
take place on Wednesday, December 6 at 3:30 pm at Bucksport Middle School.

Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative
Meeting December 6, 2006

The following language educators met at Bucksport Middle School on
December 6, 2006:
Claudette O'Connell - Brewer High School - French
Jo Clark - Bucksport High School - Spanish
Leslee Fiveland - Bucksport Middle School - Spanish
Anette Rodrigues - U Maine - German
Kate Morse - Dedham School - French

Announcements:
Chris Crocker and her students are again organizing a Spanish total
immersion. The program is scheduled for March 16-17 and is open to
students from high school level 2 or beyond. Contact Chris if you have not
received information. (ccrocker@orono.u87.k12.me.us)
Jane Smith has heard from three French teachers who are interested in
bringing students to a French total immersion, though no one has stepped
forward to help with planning. Jane has decided to postpone plans and try
again for in the spring for a program the following year.
Anette Rodriques announced that there would be a Weihnachtsmarkt at the
Bangor Historical Museum on Saturday afternoon. If you missed it this
year, make plans to attend next year; it's very well done, with
traditional German cakes and coffee / tea.

Those in attendance shared some ideas they use in classes to promote oral
and written conversation. Janice shared examples of "El libro de mi vida"
that students prepared using text in the two past tenses and photos or
other illustrations. Anette Rodrigues described directed drawing, having
students describe a drawing to a partner, who then draws the scene. Jo
Clark has students describe to each other illustrations of their TPRS
stories. Some textbooks now include a drawing or illustration to accompany
the chapter theme; as a warm up, students may state or write a sentence to
describe something in the illustration.
The group worked on the draft letter composed after the last meeting. The
second draft was sent to those in attendance. When finished, copies will
be sent to university officials. At the next meeting, we'll discuss what
more can be done to impress on university officials the need to provide
more opportunities for educators to access language training.
The next meeting of the collaborative will take place on January 31, 2007,
at 3:30 at Bucksport Middle School. The focus of that meeting will be to
complete work on the letter to university officials and to share
experiences with creating and evaluating authentic assessments. Meetings
are open to all language instructors. Please pass information along to new
teachers.