DISTRICT/BUILDING PAYS - What I requested for 2018-19
- Flipgrid Teacher - $65/year - I use Flipgrid for both formative work and summative assessment. As I use it for assessment purposes - including for the state teacher evaluation assessments (SLO) - I thought it was appropriate for the district/building to pay for it.
- InsertLearning - $40/year - If you aren't familiar with InsertLearning, it allows you to insert questions (and videos, and EdPuzzles, and notes...appsmash!) into a web page or Google Doc. This is ideal for using authentic resources for practice and assessment in the WL classroom. I adore using this for reading practice and assessment. It also integrates with Google Classroom, which is my delivery platform for blended instruction. I haven't smashed it up with Google Docs/YouTube/EdPuzzle yet, but I definitely foresee doing so in the future. In any case, given that I use web resources frequently for input and assessment, this was a no-brainer to request.
- AAPPL testing - $20 full test (4 parts), $5 for Writing or Listening/Reading alone - After my experience with STAMP testing this year, based on their national averages in French (see here for that data), and anecdotal evidence from peers around the country using AAPPL, I determined it would be in our best interest to use AAPPL for standardized assessment purposes. I haven't been approved for this yet, but my tentative plan was to test Writing only for Level 1, Reading/Listening for Level 2, and the full test for Levels 3 (and up, if I ever get French 4 again). Having the students take parts of the test in lower levels provides both teacher and student with feedback about their progress, and gives the student practice taking the assessment. The purpose of the full assessment in Level 3 is to see if any can reach the Seal of Biliteracy. Yes, I know that's early, but I haven't had the ability/support/schedule to offer any higher levels for years, so at least this way we have given the students the opportunity to try.
- headphones/earbuds - <$2 each - This might seem silly, but when we do EdPuzzles or Duolingo and 15 students are playing it out loud because their stupid iPhone or Bluetooth headphones won't work with district Chromebooks or computers....it's cacophony. And cacophony makes for a very crabby Madame. My requests for all students to purchase/keep a pair of compliant headphones in the classroom were unheeded by 99% of students, and this was one thing I was absolutely unwilling to fund out of my pocket.
OUT-OF-POCKET
The following things I might/probably will pay for out of pocket. They are for gamified learning and I can't justify asking for money out of the budget when I absolutely want the above items paid for assessment purposes.
- Quizlet Teacher - $34.99/year - The Teacher version of the free Quizlet app/site allows me to track student progress, manipulate Quizlet Live teams (necessary with a diverse group of students who often CANNOT work with just anyone in the classroom), organize Sets, removes ads...I've paid for this for several years now, and likely will continue to. Can be used for out of class study, free apps available for Android/iOS, easy import from .txt/.xls lists, diagrams for visual learning.
- Gimkit - THE new gamified learning tool out there! If you haven't already tried this out, do it! My students love this, even more than Quizlet Live. It can be played live in class, as teams, done as homework. Links with Google Classroom for assignment/tracking purposes. Check out pricing here.
- Online French reading of some kind - I haven't decided if I want to bite the bullet and buy a monquotidien subscription, Phosphore, Okapi...something like that...for reading resources for my students. Whatever I decide, I will blog about later this summer!
FREE/OER!
- Français Interactif - My entire curriculum is built on this wonderful OER from the University of Texas. I use Ch 0-6 as basis for French 1, 6-11 for French 2, and pull from all chapters as foundation for French 3. There are video resources (native speakers) you can use online or download and turn into EdPuzzles (how I will be spending my summer), self-correcting grammar practice, and links to songs and other cultural activities. Check it out HERE.
- EdPuzzle - https://edpuzzle.com/ - This has completely revolutionized listening comprehension for my students. It is completely free, although they do have a School version and it is possible to get a single teacher account via PO from your school. I opted not to request this, as the School version was more expensive than I knew anyone would approve, and the single teacher version for $85 would have provided me with a gradebook option, but I think I'd rather have my Flipgrid and InsertLearning paid for. In an ideal world, I would have asked for the $85 version for myself, and if we had a real WL department in our district, it would make sense to purchase the School version. Someday...
- Quizizz - https://quizizz.com/ - Free. I use this for practice, gamified learning, and assessment. Integrates with Google Classroom. Import from Quizlet or other text files, use images. Shared resources/bank means you can find resources made in your target language for native speakers to use - I love using thematic quizzes made for native speakers as input! For example, my French 3 was studying the environment, so I used quizzes I found that were made for Quebecois science students as authentic documents/input. The students love Quizizz and will ask to redo their assessments immediately if they are not happy with their results.
- Duolingo - free - app or web-based. - If this choice offends you, just move on. I love Duolingo for encouraging NOTICING and for providing implicit grammar instruction. When I use Duolingo for homework, students enjoy it, and they will use what they learn from Duolingo in the classroom. Last year I only used it sporadically, but I intend to incorporate again as out-of-class practice (homework) next year.
- Screencastify Chrome Extension - I use the free version to create listening practice and assessment (smash with EdPuzzle), provide blended instruction (grammar/vocabulary lessons), and for students to do presentations (smash with Slides) for speaking practice and assessment.
- ClassDojo - I use this for participation tracking, behavior management, parent communication, and I am hoping the Portfolio option will be available to me when I go back in August. I'm a Class Dojo mentor - I love the data it gives me for tracking engagement, and correlating engagement to results.
Do you use anything fantastic that isn't on this list? Let me know! I've got 2 months to tweak and add more tools to my tech wallet...