Core Practices Institute
Thank you for joining us for the 2022 MaFLA Core Practices Institute! Please check back in the fall for an update on our plans for the 2023 Core Practices Institute. See you next year!
March 11 and 12
Boston University- In person!
Please Note: We are planning for this event to be in-person for those dates in March. However, if it is deemed to be too risky for our presenters and attendees we will switch this event to a synchronous virtual event in March. Dates will be announced if this change is made
Come strengthen the core of your teaching at the MaFLA Core Practices Institute! This two-day institute will deepen your understanding of core practices essential for developing student proficiency in a communicative classroom. All teachers, regardless of language, level and experience will walk away with new ideas to bring back to the classroom.
Register early as spaces will fill up quickly!
15 PDPs available or 1 graduate credit option through Westfield State University
PLEASE NOTE: To receive Graduate Credit you MUST ATTEND both days of the Institute!
Featured Workshops from 8AM-4:30PM:
Friday March 11 (8AM-4:30PM)- Engaging Learners in Social Justice in the World Language Classroom with L.J. Randolph Workshop A in Reg.
This workshop addresses big-picture questions relating to the "why" and "how" of incorporating social justice in the language classroom. We will examine points of entry for justice-oriented, antiracist, and anticolonial pedagogies within the context of existing curricular frameworks for teaching languages such as the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages and the Massachusetts World Languages Framework. We will also work collaboratively to address practical solutions to such challenges as building and maintaining community in the justice-oriented classroom; responding to uncomfortable and emotionally charged moments as students engage with potentially polemic topics; making the case for a justice-oriented framework when challenged by students, caregivers, administrators, and other stakeholders; and teaching and assessing language proficiency goals alongside goals related to critical cultural study. Participants will leave with a better understanding of how social justice can be fundamentally and intentionally embedded at the course design level in a variety of contexts and proficiency benchmarks. this workshop, we will explore and discuss ways to plan units and daily lesson plans that are grounded in social justice, while promoting communication.
Friday March 11 (8:00AM-4:30PM)- Unpacking The New Massachusetts World Language Framework with Rebecca Blouwolff and Nicole Sherf Workshop B in Reg.
This interactive, practical workshop will include an unpacking of the Massachusetts World Language Framework. Learn to distinguish among the three major ACTFL proficiency levels, start to measure your own units against the four determiners of proficiency, and begin a “check-up” of your current teaching units against these industry standards. Take the first steps together as we devise a feedback cycle with performance rubrics by mode and consider how to “bake” social-emotional learning and social justice themes into a current unit (even one that starts from a textbook chapter!). There will be ample time for conversation, collaboration, and questions as you revise a unit to meet your students’ needs. Bring a device and unit plan that you’d like to work on.
Saturday March 12 (8:00AM 4:30PM)- Social Justice Domains For Novice and Intermediate Learners with L.J. Randolph Workshop C in Reg.
In this workshop, we will examine the four domains of the Social Justice Standards (identity, justice, diversity, and action) as they relate to the teaching and learning of languages in novice and intermediate courses. Using a backward design model, participants will develop essential questions, learning objectives, assessments, and a variety of thematically connected instructional activities that foster interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication. Please bring a laptop as well as a specific unit plan or unit idea that you would like to enhance. Although this workshop builds upon the content and activities from Friday's workshop ("Engaging Learners in Social Justice in the World Language Classroom"), new participants who did not attend that workshop are welcome to join!
