Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative

Meeting January 29, 2008

The following World Languages instructors met on January 29 and shared ideas
they have used for class projects:

Norm Fineman - Holbrook Elementary School - French
Lynda Millar - Connors-Emerson School - MDI - French
Leslee Fiveland - Bucksport Middle School - Spanish
Janice Clain - Hermon High School - Spanish and German

Norm has his students prepare and present a project on culture
and geography. Most work alone or with one or two partners to explore
a French-speaking country. Each student in the group researches the culture,
history, customs, food and other aspects of the country. They share this
information with the class. The presentation includes a greeting with some
type of "party favor", a display of a piece of clothing from the country, a
10 minute presentation (in English) that includes a brief history, the
people, school life, travel tips, foods, sports, music, politics, religion,
human rights issues and economic issues.

They also have to explain and share a dish or drink from the country.

They are graded as follows: up to 15 points for greeting / party favor
up to 15 points for clothing
up to 50 points for the classroom presentation
up to 15 points for the food presentation
5 points for references

Norm also has his students prepare a poster board verb display,
with illustrations of the action.


Lynda Millar explained her maison d'escargot project. Each student has an escargot
(snail) and creates a home for it. Work is done at home. The maison has to
be vertical, like a doll house. They must present the house in class and
must describe it orally. Lynda is in the process of preparing a rubric to
grade the project, and includes oral presentation and creativity in the
assessment criteria.


Leslee Fiveland has her students create a country specific menu.
Students have to take into account the climate of the country and
native foods. Prices have to be listed in the currency of that
country. Students score themselves on their projects. Leslee also
assesses each project using a rubric.

Leslee also has her students create a holiday mini project. They have
to name the holiday, tell what traditions are associated with it and  foods
prepared for the celebration. They also must compare the holiday with one
observed in the United States.

Leslee has been working with the technology teacher to create a boat from
a Latin American country. Items to be incorporated include: currency, flag,
climate, natural resources of the country.


JaniceClain has her second year students prepare a "Book of My Life"
to demonstrate mastery of uses of the two past tenses. Students may include
photos, and are assessed with a rubric that includes use of language and
creativity / design.

Janice's students also create a brochure for a hotel, and may use hand
created illustrations or photos from the internet. Because the project
is done in conjunction with lessons on the future and comparisons,
both those grammar constructions must be included. The grading
rubric includes vocabulary, language and appearance / creativity.


The next meeting of the Penosbcot Foreign Language Collaborative will take
place on Tuesday, March 18. The topic will be "How to create a rubric".
Attendees should bring an assignment they use, or would like to use, and
their current rubric, if they have one.

Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative

March 18, 2008

The following language educators met at Bucksport Middle School on March 18, 2008:

Lynda Millar – Connors -Emerson School, Mount Desert

Leslee Fiveland – Bucksport Middle School

Janice Clain – Hermon High School

Leslee shared a list of websites she acquired at a workshop session at the FLAME conference. She also explained how she uses the Noteshare web site to post notes and assignments for her students.

Lynda brought a rubric she created for a “New Language Project”. She has her eighth grade students investigate a language for which they have no personal experience. Students have to learn phrases from the new language, record their findings and reflect on why they might like to learn the new language. This project helps students make reasoned choices regarding the language they will study at the high school level. Lynda had a basic rubric to evaluate the project, but asked for input to refine the standards listed. Leslee provided tips for stating standards in positive terms.

Janice brought examples of rubrics from the ACTFL publication The Keys to the Classroom. This basic manual has provided helpful tips for beginning language teachers. The book, available from (www.actfl.org) has proved to be a useful resource for the two new teachers at Hermon High School.

Janice also brought examples of rubrics she uses in classes, including one to assess a Maine geography report for her second year students.

The next meeting of the Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative will be a social meeting, on May 7, at Fresh Ginger, in Hampden. Language teachers from the Penobscot Valley area are invited to get together for the social evening, even if they have not been able to attend meetings throughout the year. Look for more information at the beginning of May.