Improving Student World Language Performance: Using Assessments as the Guiding Force in Standards-Based Instruction
In 2006-2007, the Department of Modern Languages at Western Kentucky University administered a year-long program of professional development for World Languages teachers in the state of Kentucky. The program was funded through the Improving Educator Quality Grant program of the Council on Post-Secondary Education.
The 28 teachers and two administrators participating in the program took part in professional development workshops on Linguafolio, standards-based units of study, STAMP testing, and also studied abroad in France, Germany or Mexico.
Supporting the grant activities were six mentor teachers: Jean Amick, Robert Crawford, Carrie Ezzell, Angie Neeper, Susan Marnatti and Craig Twehues. Three post-secondary faculty led groups abroad: Laura McGee, Gustavo Obeso and Ferrel Rose. The outside grant evaluator, Ruth Styles-Hawk, provided advice to the grant director and wrote a final report. At workshops and during grant follow-up, participants benefited from the expertise of Thomas Sauer, World Languages Specialist for Jefferson County Public Schools and Jacque van Houten, World Language & International Education Consultant for the Kentucky Department of Education. The grant was directed by Laura McGee, Associate Professor of German at Western Kentucky University.
Some resources from our grant activities that we would like to share with the larger language-learning community are:
Five Steps to Implementing Linguafolio (pdf file)
Embedding LinguaFolio-Like Activities in Your Teaching (ppt file)
2007 Unit of Study Template (pdf file)
2007 Unit of Study Rubric (pdf file)
All participants presented their units of study at the KWLA Winter Workshop hosted by Western Kentucky University on February 24, 2007. Some grant participants have volunteered to share products of their grant participation on this web page.
FRENCH
Curricular and Learning Outcomes (Administrator's report from Donna
Brigger, Villa Madonna Academy) Download: pdf
Building Partnerships, Building a Program (Administrator's report from
Pam McQueen, Villa Madonna Academy) Download: pdf
GERMAN
Connecting Languages to the World: Epals from Lexington and Bernau
(Unit of Study by Susan Marnatti, Tates Creek Middle School) Download: pdf
Fahren in Deutschland (Unit of Study and Ancillary Materials by Valerie
Savage, Eastern High School) Download: Zipped folder
SPANISH
Wouldn't It Be Great If Chocolate Grew On Trees?(Unit of Study by Marc
Smith, St. Agnes) Download: pdf
Origins of Chocolate (Unit of Study by Eva Reid, Graves County High)
Download: pdf
Mi Pueblo (Unit of Study by Christina Thompson, Calloway County High)
Download: pdf
For more detailed information on these grant activities, contact grant director Laura McGee at laura.mcgee@wku.edu.