Here you will find my articles and materials which pertain directly to the Latin classroom (as well as other languages).
Getting started:
Here’s where to begin. Practical advice for setting up your classroom practices:
The No-fail, No-burnout classroom.
weekly structure (with links to more specific activities and resources like those listed below.
Resource list. These are the books and other publications that I rely on for my Latin classes.
Classroom practices and activities:
(* indicates core weekly or daily)
Videos of Latin teachers in their classrooms
It really helps to see other teachers in action, using Latin.
My Weekly Schedule, containing a breakdown of the routines I do each day of the week in all my classes
*Write and Discuss. While I don’t do it every day, this practice is one of my core activities, especially for Latin 1
*Calendar Talk. Each day we begin class by reciting the date and weather. Here’s how and why.
Description of the first weeks in a CI Latin classroom
Here you can see how I use “card talk/circling with balls” to build community and use Latin to discuss student interests and co-create relevant Latin readings from week one.
*Using Latin songs in the classroom. This is trickier than you think, but I have found that a few details make a big difference.
How I deal with teaching grammar in a CI Latin classroom
NEW CALP-inspired Unit Design (based on our ACL 2019 presentation)
National Latin Exam. Compatible with an inclusive CI-based classroom? maybe. Here’s what I am doing with the NLE.
Classroom Rules and Expectations (including poster text and rubric)
Latin Rejoinders (call and response phrases for use in the classroom)
How and Why I use Quizlet in my Classes
*Movie Talk Description and Resources (including link to many Latin-specific MT materials)
*listen write draw (based on dictation and story listening)
Story Listening Latin home page
*Spot Check Translation. How I cultivate traditional written translation skills in a CI classroom, without putting translation passages on tests.
*Building a Free Voluntary Reading (FVR) program and library
List of student pair activities
Story Work Choices
incorporating a variety of activities–good for a sub day, or when you have to meet with students one-on-one
Smash Doodle for the Latin classroom
Latin myth Storybook presentation project
Writing portfolio (what to do with all those timed writes, etc)
Another core practice, especially for reinforcing advanced grammar instruction.
Around The World Quiz. This is a link to a description on Carrie Toth’s blog. I like this activity so much, that I am putting it into my regular rotation. See Class Instructions Slides below for specific student instructions.
Cubus Rubicus: an interactive unit using Rubik’s cube [coming soon]
here’s another teacher’s helpful blog post on classroom jobs
How to encourage high QUANTITY reading in your Latin 3 class.
Here is my day-by-day observation of Bob Patrick’s classroom from back in 2006. Still very useful for getting a sense of what a CI transitional classroom looks and feels like.
Materials for the Classroom:
*Weekly Packet (template and explanation)
Class instructions slides, to support students in CI-related activities
Links to online Latin readings for students
Review Bingo handout with space for quick write, and ACTFL rubric ($1 download from Martina Bex via TPT)
List of Novels for the Latin classroom
Classroom Latin phrases, commands
Colloquial Latin high-frequency vocabulary list.
Information for Parents: see my parent page
Youtube videos in which I explain texts, in Latin and in English
Emergency sub plan, Here is a generic handout that a sub can give students to work with an existing story or reading.
storybook project and presentation, which also generates SSR/FVR materials
Easy Latin readings, powerpoints, and lesson plans based on TPRS strategies, story scripts, and adapted textbook readings
Theory (links to other teachers’ writings):
The Inclusive Latin Classroom. A new blog created by Latin teachers who have made inclusive practices a priority.
Error Traps. Lance Piantaggini’s criticism of traditional assessments.
Related to the above: What’s the Point of Assessment? from Edutopia
Related to both of the above: Do No Harm: Flexible and Smart Grading Practices, also from Edutopia
Comprehensible Input, introduction for Latin teachers, with resources
Theory and research supporting CI practices
Bill Van Patten presents his thoughts on second language acquisition
Teaching Latin to Humans, by Justin Slocum Bailey
Building your own Latin Proficiency:
Although you don’t have to be fluent in Latin in order to conduct your classes in Latin, practicing your active Latin skills will help your confidence level in the classroom. There are many opportunities to listen to spoken Latin and even to interact online with others who speak Latin. Also, many Latinists are using Google Hangouts, Skype, etc., to connect online.
Websites, videos and podcasts for listening to spoken Latin
Spoken Latin workshops in the USA
[coming soon–for now please visit SALVI at www.latin.org]
Support from other websites:
Super-useful links for Latin teachers :
Keith Toda’s list of classroom activities
Lance Piantaggini’s CI resource page
Bob Patrick’s article “Making Sense of Comprehensible Input in the Latin Classroom.” Complete description of what he does, with links to research and clips of him teaching. 29 page pdf.
http://tcl.camws.org/sites/default/files/TCL%20Spring%202015%20Patrick_0.pdf