Welcome back to Growing With Proficiency The Podcast! In today's episode, we're talking about story asking – a powerful strategy that can help you deliver a ton of comprehensible and compelling input while building a strong community inside your class.

In this episode I’ll share what story asking is, why it’s so successful, and how you can effectively implement it in your lessons. We'll explore both scripted and unscripted approaches to story asking, highlighting the benefits of each. I'll also walk you through my personal process, providing practical tips to get you started.

Highlights:

• What is Story Asking? Discover the essence of this strategy.
• Why Story Asking Works: Understand the powerful impact of story asking on student engagement and language acquisition.
• Scripted vs. Unscripted Story Asking: Learn the advantages and processes of both approaches.
• My Story Asking Process: Get a step-by-step guide on how I facilitate storyasking in my classroom.
• Next Steps: Find out how to begin incorporating story asking into your teaching practice, with tips for starting small and building confidence.

Whether you're new to story-asking or looking to refine your technique, this episode is packed with insights and practical advice to help you make your language classes more engaging and effective.

Tune in and discover how story-asking can be a game-changer for your teaching toolbox!

**Resources.

🏫 Join our waitlist for Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy

👩🏽‍💻 Our Blog: Growing With Proficiency

📲 Join our free FB Community: Growing With CI

📳 Follow us on social media for updates and morse support: IG @claudiamelliott FB @claudiamelliott

🖇️ TPT Store: Growing With Proficiency

More resources:

Episode 17

Episode 24

Stories co-created with my classes

Don’t miss this episode – it’s time to explore the magic of story asking and elevate your language teaching!

Are you looking for an interactive and engaging activity to boost your students' participation and build a strong classroom community at the end of the school year? In this episode of "Growing With Proficiency, the podcast," we explore a unique twist on the popular Card Talk activity that my students absolutely loved!

In this activity, I’ll share with you how to turn the simple drawings our students do in card talk into a pair-reading activity plus a gallery walk.

Main Highlights:

• Introduction to Card Talk and its benefits for student engagement and comprehensible input.
• Detailed activity setup with the prompt: "The Best and the Worst in the School Year."
• Step-by-step process from drawing, writing, hallway gallery walk, and class discussion.
• Personal connection and community building through shared experiences.
• Extending Card Talk: Ideas for adapting Card Talk for different thematic units such as clothing, food, and travel.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Free Teacher Guide: "How to Shift to A Comprehensible and Communicative Teaching Approach" – growingwithproficiency.com/guide
• Episode 82: Previous discussion on Card Talk with Ben Fisher
• Follow Claudia on Instagram: @claudiamelliott
• Connect on Facebook: Claudia M Elliott
• Join our waitlist for Growing With Proficiency The Spanish Teacher Academy

Thank you for tuning in to "Growing With Proficiency, the podcast." Until next time, keep growing and keep teaching with passion. ¡Hasta luego!

Is our assessment and grading system aligned with how we teach? We’re opening the episode with this important question.

Join me in this conversation with Michelle Olah while we discuss aligning grading practices with actual language proficiency. We discuss the disconnect between traditional grading systems and what we do in class, discussing the need for a shift towards proficiency-based assessments.

We also explore the implications of such a shift, including the philosophical and logistical changes required to implement grading practices that genuinely reflect students' abilities to communicate and understand the language.

Throughout the discussion, we provide insights into transitioning from a traditional grading system, which often emphasizes rote memorization and penalizes mistakes, to a more dynamic, proficiency-based approach that celebrates communicative competence and real-world language use. The episode also highlights practical strategies for developing rubrics aligned with proficiency standards, engaging with students and parents about the changes, and ensuring grading practices promote equity and motivation.

Key Highlights:

• Understanding Proficiency-Based Grading.
• Practical Tips on Implementing Changes.
• Rubrics
• Reflections on Equity in Grading.

Resources Mentioned:

• ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
• Claudia's community on Facebook: Growing with CI
• Follow Claudia on Instagram: @ClaudiaMElliott
• Follow Michelle on Instagram: @WorldLangCoach
• Comprehensible & Communicative Langauge Teaching Teacher Guide
• Waitlist GWP The Spanish Teacher Academy
• Growing with Proficiency Blog

Bio:

Michelle Olah is a world language leader, podcaster, facilitator, and instructional coach. As the Professional Development Manager at Wayside Publishing, she empowers World Language educators by providing coaching and professional development in proficiency-based teaching. With over 17 years of experience, Michelle has conducted workshops on standards-based instruction, ACTFL's core practices, leadership, target language use, assessment and more. Michelle is also a dedicated advocate for early language learners, serving as Past President and board member of NNELL (National Network for Early Language Learning), collaborating to support language educators and students. Michelle's mission is to equip educators with the tools for engaging, effective, and meaningful language learning experiences.