mini video clips!

Pixar mini video clips are a perfect way to have students do either a creative writing or an oral activity by having them retell the story.  The most recent one I have used is one with a snowman in a snowglobe.  The video clip has little or no dialogue in it but has some music to go along with the "story".  The mini clip with the snowman is perfect for this time of year even if you don't happen to have snow where you live.  It has a wintery feel to it mixed in with a beachside vacation and of course a "girl" in a swimsuit.   After watching the short 2-3 minute video I asked the students to "tell me what was going to happen next"!  Their imaginations are not always pushed at a high school level but it is certainly fun to hear about what will happen to the snowman next!  :) 

Bonne Année! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!  It's a new page for everyone; a fresh start to the year and a great way to welcome back your students!  I like to start with some simple things for the new year with my students such as "sorting their notebooks".  If your students are anything like mine or even my own children you will know that "Spring cleaning" needs to come much earlier than Spring and so cleaning out and reorganizing the notebook is a great start to the new year.  You  and your students may be surprised at what they find!  - work to be submitted?!  probably yes.  Remember to teach your students where they are at in their learning and your students will work at fulfilling your goals for them along with the goals they have made for themselves.  Happy Teaching! :)