Submitted by: Jaroa Favilla
School: Elko Middle
Summary
Amigos de distancia is a lesson that builds student vocabulary in order to develop the ability to communicate in writing with a foreign student. Students will apply prior knowledge acquired in class to develop a relationship with a native Spanish speaking student. As the “pen pal” relationship progresses, students compare between the language in the textbook and the language used by the native speaker. Students share information with the class using approved social media in order to obtain input from the entire class and move from written to oral communication with video chat opportunities with their pen pal. The pen pal is actually a High School ESL student but students do not learn this until the end.
TIPC Ratings
Approaching
In this lesson students had to assemble and organize material learned in class in order to create a letter to their pen pal. The teacher modeled strategies to guide student investigation and provided opportunities for students to synthesize information and complete an authentic task.
Target
In this lesson the teacher designed challenges that promoted collaboration within and beyond the classroom to address an authentic task in addition to prompting the students to analyze others work and to communicate changes through the use of appropriate digital tools. Providing the students with a high school editing partner aided the students as they reflected on their roles as communicators and set goals for future growth in Spanish speaking communication.
Developing
In this lesson the teacher directly instructed the students on effective questioning, critical thinking and/or problem solving strategies, and use of associated digital tools. This led students to elaborate on critical thinking or problem solving practices when prompted.
Approaching
In this lesson the students created meaningful, original work within the assignment parameters. The teacher designed opportunities for students to communicate, collaborate, and apply critical thinking skills to address an authentic task.
Download Files
- Lesson Plan
- Student Work Sample
- PenPalPhotoCredit: andreasnilsson1976 on
