Shelly Ironside
@shellyi.bsky.social
Middle school Italian teacher
Thank you for sharing this. Excellent read.
January 25, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Thank you for sharing this. Excellent read.
My son went through a Pixies phase.
December 16, 2025 at 11:48 PM
My son went through a Pixies phase.
In recent years in the USA the focus has been less on prescribed vocabulary and more on language functions.
There are broad topics for AP. I do not have experience with testing at high school level, but here is an example of how they describe expectations for lang learners in MA:
There are broad topics for AP. I do not have experience with testing at high school level, but here is an example of how they describe expectations for lang learners in MA:
December 6, 2025 at 3:11 AM
In recent years in the USA the focus has been less on prescribed vocabulary and more on language functions.
There are broad topics for AP. I do not have experience with testing at high school level, but here is an example of how they describe expectations for lang learners in MA:
There are broad topics for AP. I do not have experience with testing at high school level, but here is an example of how they describe expectations for lang learners in MA:
There is also a Peppa episode called snow that includes a snowman and the words for hat, coat, gloves and boots that goes along with it. I have an Italian song as well with a dance.
December 6, 2025 at 2:51 AM
There is also a Peppa episode called snow that includes a snowman and the words for hat, coat, gloves and boots that goes along with it. I have an Italian song as well with a dance.
I use snowpeople. They have to make them reflect their personality somehow and they have to say something in TL
December 4, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I use snowpeople. They have to make them reflect their personality somehow and they have to say something in TL
Yesterday at a dept meeting with HS teachers (happens only twice a year) I was happy to see that a new colleague has read the book. I mentioned it to him. Also that HS teachers are using several games I presented a few years ago. Another teacher was upset she joined the dept after my presentation.
November 5, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Yesterday at a dept meeting with HS teachers (happens only twice a year) I was happy to see that a new colleague has read the book. I mentioned it to him. Also that HS teachers are using several games I presented a few years ago. Another teacher was upset she joined the dept after my presentation.
2/2. However today I have 2 students who have challenges. Both spontaneously used Italian - one gave me a paper gift where she had written phrases she knew. The other saw me walking on the street and whispered to his parent how to greet me in TL. I am not a fan of rigidity, just positive envirnmt
November 1, 2025 at 12:09 AM
2/2. However today I have 2 students who have challenges. Both spontaneously used Italian - one gave me a paper gift where she had written phrases she knew. The other saw me walking on the street and whispered to his parent how to greet me in TL. I am not a fan of rigidity, just positive envirnmt
1/2 I don’t have a strict policy. I encourage by teaching phrases they need in the first 2 weeks and with a positive reward system for spontaneous use in context (separate from class practice). I often hear students repeating the classroom commands they hear regularly. At novice level it’s not easy
November 1, 2025 at 12:06 AM
1/2 I don’t have a strict policy. I encourage by teaching phrases they need in the first 2 weeks and with a positive reward system for spontaneous use in context (separate from class practice). I often hear students repeating the classroom commands they hear regularly. At novice level it’s not easy
Yes I thought it was interesting knowing that in my opinion ACTFL core practices and CI diverge on certain points. My colleague is reading it too for her Master’s program. (Catherine Ritz is the dept head) so fun to be able to discuss with her.
October 5, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Yes I thought it was interesting knowing that in my opinion ACTFL core practices and CI diverge on certain points. My colleague is reading it too for her Master’s program. (Catherine Ritz is the dept head) so fun to be able to discuss with her.
Great post. Very true. Haven’t looked at the menu yet but I sent it to my work email. 😅
October 5, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Great post. Very true. Haven’t looked at the menu yet but I sent it to my work email. 😅
I had three real Ava’s in one class. I enjoy the middle schoolers too! Although I sang and chanted so much with 6th grade that I almost lost my voice.
October 2, 2025 at 1:40 AM
I had three real Ava’s in one class. I enjoy the middle schoolers too! Although I sang and chanted so much with 6th grade that I almost lost my voice.
I have not read this book, but your comments are piquing my interest! My experience with leveled readers has been good and empowering for my students. Although I have always used authentic resources, they are rarely 95% comprehensible. Some work, but you can't build a whole lesson plan with them.
September 22, 2025 at 12:02 AM
I have not read this book, but your comments are piquing my interest! My experience with leveled readers has been good and empowering for my students. Although I have always used authentic resources, they are rarely 95% comprehensible. Some work, but you can't build a whole lesson plan with them.
Showing examples of students who have succeeded because of their self motivation, and what strategies they used. I like to show the video of the teen polyglot. It’s dated but it leaves an impression. On my quarterly reflections there are some concrete goal ideas.
August 28, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Showing examples of students who have succeeded because of their self motivation, and what strategies they used. I like to show the video of the teen polyglot. It’s dated but it leaves an impression. On my quarterly reflections there are some concrete goal ideas.
I am embarrassed to remember that 10-15 years ago I gave quizzes where I graded adjective agreement and verb forms. I am doing more interpretive / translation quizzes which allow for students to show what they know.
August 20, 2025 at 11:34 PM
I am embarrassed to remember that 10-15 years ago I gave quizzes where I graded adjective agreement and verb forms. I am doing more interpretive / translation quizzes which allow for students to show what they know.
I have been doing these for a few years but would love to know some more juicy questions. I have used the same questions and it def helps them master the basics, but I felt like it was getting boring. Tx for the new ideas (guess answer, what are you afraid of)
August 20, 2025 at 11:26 PM
I have been doing these for a few years but would love to know some more juicy questions. I have used the same questions and it def helps them master the basics, but I felt like it was getting boring. Tx for the new ideas (guess answer, what are you afraid of)
You could point her in the direction of all the great podcasts talking about back to school. Even after 17 years I find myself doing that to prepare for the beginning of the year. I like Claudia Elliot’s or Liam Printer’s.
August 20, 2025 at 11:06 PM
You could point her in the direction of all the great podcasts talking about back to school. Even after 17 years I find myself doing that to prepare for the beginning of the year. I like Claudia Elliot’s or Liam Printer’s.
I admire you doing daily notes. At least the activities that bomb usually stick in my mind!
August 16, 2025 at 12:43 AM
I admire you doing daily notes. At least the activities that bomb usually stick in my mind!
I wrote a thoughtful, reflective response to the blog post, but before posting I scrolled up and filled in the "add my name to subscription list". When I scrolled back down it had deleted my response. I can't try to remember it all. Sorry! But thanks for sharing. Frustrating technology!
August 13, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I wrote a thoughtful, reflective response to the blog post, but before posting I scrolled up and filled in the "add my name to subscription list". When I scrolled back down it had deleted my response. I can't try to remember it all. Sorry! But thanks for sharing. Frustrating technology!