I don't know about you, but right in the middle of February, my students and I were struggling. I felt like they didn't want to learn, and quite honestly, it was getting difficult for me to be creative in my teaching. I was tired and worn out, and we all needed a little break.
However, I wanted a break that would still benefit them in some way. Since we were on Chapter 4 of Buen Viaje, which is all about how you arrive to school, getting good grades, and what you do at school, I decided to do some searching on something they related to, provided some cultural insight, and engaged them in a new and exciting way.
I came across this documentary, found on Netflix, called On the Way to School. Just watch the trailer:
However, I wanted a break that would still benefit them in some way. Since we were on Chapter 4 of Buen Viaje, which is all about how you arrive to school, getting good grades, and what you do at school, I decided to do some searching on something they related to, provided some cultural insight, and engaged them in a new and exciting way.
I came across this documentary, found on Netflix, called On the Way to School. Just watch the trailer:
Heartwarming, right? Although not all four of them are Spanish-speaking (though Carlos is - score!), this provided my students with some insight into a world that they don't know, don't get to see, and quite frankly, just don't understand. Following the lives and journeys of these four children going to school, this documentary gives students perspective and may even change their hearts and minds about school. I believe it is our job as World Language Educators to teach not just language, but the cultures that those languages represent. I believe that our students need this knowledge of the world around us more than (gasp! can't believe I'm saying this..) the language itself.
I had my students answer some before-the-movie questions about how they get to school, take notes on each of the students' journeys, answer some after-documentary questions, create a Thinking Map (Double Bubble), and write, comparing and contrasting their lives and one of the students from the documentary.
Let me just tell you: My students LOVED this documentary. Even the most difficult of students wrote about how this documentary helps them to be thankful for the education that they receive and how easily they can get to school.
I want to be the kind of teacher that not only opens the eyes of my students to a new language and culture, but also opens their eyes to the beauty of people. I want them to know how other people live and show my students how that should affect the way that they live! What an awesome opportunity we have as educators!
If you're interested in watching this documentary with your students, I created a packet to go along with it. You can check it out here. It includes a before-documentary discussion, space to take notes on each of the students, after-documentary discussion questions, brainstorming page, and two writing pages.
P.S. I'm on Spring Break. I hope you are too, or you will be soon!!! Thank the LORD for REST!!
I had my students answer some before-the-movie questions about how they get to school, take notes on each of the students' journeys, answer some after-documentary questions, create a Thinking Map (Double Bubble), and write, comparing and contrasting their lives and one of the students from the documentary.
Let me just tell you: My students LOVED this documentary. Even the most difficult of students wrote about how this documentary helps them to be thankful for the education that they receive and how easily they can get to school.
I want to be the kind of teacher that not only opens the eyes of my students to a new language and culture, but also opens their eyes to the beauty of people. I want them to know how other people live and show my students how that should affect the way that they live! What an awesome opportunity we have as educators!
If you're interested in watching this documentary with your students, I created a packet to go along with it. You can check it out here. It includes a before-documentary discussion, space to take notes on each of the students, after-documentary discussion questions, brainstorming page, and two writing pages.
P.S. I'm on Spring Break. I hope you are too, or you will be soon!!! Thank the LORD for REST!!