Join us in Seattle, WA for this powerful half-day, hands-on experience! Walk away with ideas and systems that you can implement immediately.
Essential Questions:
● How are students communicating in class?
● What are students communicating about & what is the purpose? (relevancy, authenticity, real life)
● What can they do with the language and at what ACTFL level?
Systems for Proficiency Topics:
- Model proficiency-based activities
- Strategies to elicit student production at all levels and with all languages
- Deepen understanding of proficiency and the ACTFL levels
- Integration of effective strategies based on neuroscience and SLA practices
- Techniques for high student engagement and a positive community
- Exploration of a target language rich environment
Targeted Goals & Ideas:
● Generate ideas for teaching the language outside of textbooks
● Focusing on the incorporation of more on hands-on activities and multiliteracies, such as: ○ Podcasts ○ Interviews ○ Music as literacy ○ News & tv shows ○ Etc.
●Demonstrate examples for a wide range of proficiency levels ○ NL – Heritage learners
● Align expectations
● Learn fresh strategies
● Strengthen skills in: ○ Communication ○ Circumlocution ○ PPATH ○ Movement ○ Circle structures
The trainings and experiences are conducted like an OWL classroom. Each activity and debrief experience can be replicated in the classroom. The experience is dynamic, high-energy and interactive. Manipulatives and visuals easily and effectively explain the concepts. Teachers will be introduced to strategies and techniques as well as solid curricular goals. The training reflects the OWL Values of Equity & Relationships, Proficiency, Engagement and Empowerment. This training will build on past knowledge, while introducing new content, concepts and strategies as needed for level of experience.
Additional Resources:
Looking to add Resources to the experience for you and your students? You can choose to add the Resource Bundle at a reduced rate with registration of the Series. The Resource Bundle includes:
1. PPATH Interactive Resource
When thinking about your classroom structure and practical application of student-directed, proficiency-based strategies, it is a fine balance of marrying theory to daily practice. This resource is intended to provide a roadmap to guide you through creating a framework for class that is consistent, flexible and student-directed. Classrooms across the world have been transformed into highly engaging spaces where students feel intrinsically motivated. The ideas contained in this resource are valuable for all levels and all languages.
2. Pairings & Groupings Cards
Ever noticed that your students are always pairing themselves with the same people? These cards will help alleviate that! The packet contains 36 cards with 6 different ways to combine your class: shapes, colors, numbers, animals, food, and clothing. Students will never work with the same people again!
3. Literacy Organizer
The literacy organizer helps students facilitate negotiation of meaning when they hit language breakdown. It can serve as a support and scaffold that helps the students stay in the target language in a meaningful way, which helps them express ideas on the topics that come up in class.
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Activate Your Classroom!
April 20, 2026
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM