Main Content: Emily and Roger talk about vacations and the need for teachers to take them...even if they do not go far, REST is important.
WAYLT: (What Are You Listening To?)
Emily:
Main Content: Emily and Roger talk about how they use music in class. Emily shared a great idea to get a list of her students' favorite songs and then she finds them and plays them during break time. Really Cool! Roger plays music in class before it starts to create a comfortable atmosphere. There are more tips and ideas discussed in this always nearly 10-minute segment.
WIMB: (What's in My Bag?)
Emily:Dill Pickle Popcorn from Trader Joes
Roger:
"Something yellow, something lethal." -rd
Main Content
There are specific songs with lyrics for teaching grammar-website (tefltunes.com)
We have a few activities:
Emily: "instrumental journaling"
Roger:"cut up the lyrics"
Tom's Diner plus homework
WAYLT
Emily: DJ Okawari (https://youtu.be/Bm-Ijm5X84w)
Roger: KUSC Classical Music Commercial Free (http://kusc.org/)
Main Content
Emily and Roger discuss the challenges of sharing their lessons, activities, and resources with other teachers. Roger thinks it depends on who you share your hard work with. There are 'moochers' out there. They are the ones that make it harder for people who want to share, but feel angry that some teachers take advantage of it. When there is mutual sharing, magic happens.
WIMB (What's In My Bag?)
Roger: Music Memo App (iOS only)
Emily: Key Card Stretchy thingy.
Main Content
Emily and Roger discuss the benefits of going on and organizing field trips. They also offer tips on pre- and post-field trip activities to make sure that the trip is more than just a trip.
WOMD? (What's On My Desk?)
Roger:
A giant sketch pad for preparing talks. (Strathmore 14"x17" Sketch link: http://www.michaels.com/strathmore-400-series-sketch-pad/M10012254.html#start=4)
Emily:
A birthday gift of an art piece from a dear friend. (Etsy link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MysteryBarnTradingCo )
Main Content:
Emily and Roger discuss about how they prepare and pack for work trips. They invite listeners who are nervous about traveling to e-mail them with questions at askingtatl@gmail.com.
WOMD? (What's On My Desk?)
Roger:"Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien" (Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Letters-J-R-R-Tolkien-J-R/dp/0618056998)
Emily:
Quote from Tracee Ellis Ross given by one of Emily's TEFL students.
Main Content:
Emily and Roger discuss the challenge of making our created content "infinitely accessible". Teachers create great content, we want access to this and we want to keep sharing it with our former, current and future students. There are social media tools available to keep in touch with students, but what about tools that help us share and distribute content to our expanding student audience?
Emily mentions that using LMS's (learning management tools), and specifically Schoology, can be effective 'after' a course is finished. After she finishes a course, she leaves the course open, and so anyone with a link and a code could access some or all of her content.
Roger mentions that 'tagging' is super important. Just as instagram and twitter use hashtags # to categorize posts, we teachers can 'tag' our content with useful descriptors to help others find content. He also mentions that we need to reduce 'look-up fatigue' in our students. That is to say, make it easier for outsiders, former students, anyone, to find the content they need for their learning.
Other useful blogging/information platforms:
Tools to help send big files:
WAWLT (What Are We Listening Too?):
Emily: When I need inspiration, or when I want to imagine that I am a Benedictine monk about to be killed for just saying 'Hi', I play this tune. Very evocative, somber piece played perfectly by the cello master himself Yo Yo Ma.
Ennio Morricone "The Mission" played by Yo Yo Ma. Link
Roger: I like rhythm, especially rhythm that is syncopated and surprising. This song has this and the lyrics are chilling, honest and desperate.
Twenty-One Pilots "Addict With a Pen" Link
Main Content:
Roger and Emily discuss about how to help students set goals for learning English. Emily attended a workshop and shares an idea that she learned. It involves imagining and drawing a tangible scenario where the student wants to use English.
What's In My Bag? (WIMB?):
Emily: Sheet protector white boards
Emily says that these are much more portable and CAN be in your bag as opposed to those heavy boards that need a separate bag and a Olympic weightlifter to carry for you.
Roger: "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis
Roger prefers papery books. This particular book is like comfort food.
Main Content:
Roger and Emily discuss about what CLT is and the struggle that new teachers experience when they attempt to implement CLT into their classroom.
What's In My Bag? (WIMB?):
Emily: Cellphone Camera
Roger: Sony Alpha 6000
