Demonstratively - 30.4 '16

Guten Tag,

Today we had a week presentation, followed by the 8th graders present regaling the rest of the class with practice of their end of the year speeches, accompanied by questions to ensure listening comprehension.

Later in the class, the 7th graders made their own speech drafts in much the same format and read them aloud as further speaking practice.

Our lesson for the day was over demonstrative pronouns, the use of the article in place of an antecedent word (e.g. "Der Hund schreibt einen Blogeintrag. Der ist ja so ein guter Schreiber!")

As outlined in the email entry, next week will be when the class does, in pairs, presentations reviewing what we have covered this school year.

Mit Vergnügen

16.April'16 - Die Merowinger

After the usual presentations of "Meine Woche," and a lovely podcast over "Tips für überraschungsbesuche," we had a lesson over the Merovingian dynasty or "Die Merowinger" and the beginning of the Frankish kingdoms.
As this is essential to understanding how Western Europe transitioned from a mix of roving tribes and Roman outposts to feudal kingdoms, we shall complete this unit next time and end the year with the Carolingian kingdoms and Charlemagne.

We also reviewed the genitive case and prepositions with a game, cleaned up the classroom in preparation for the visiting groups, and wrapped up with Red Rover outside to let off some steam.

Also, there were muffins.

Mit Vergnügen~

9.April '16 - Tests and Testing

Guten Tag!

Today, the 7th graders busied themselves for the first half of class doing their benchmark AATG proficiency exam to prepare them for the "real" one next year.

The 8th graders prepared their graduation speeches and presentation.

For the second half of class, we reviewed the genitive case and conducted experiments in abject insanity (Mad Libs).

2.April - Round and Round and Round We Go

The day began normally...

We started off by having a "Meine Woche" presentation from one of the students and then from me.
We then did a YouTube video about "Wie man eine Party sabotieren kann," which taught us such strategies for party ruining as "Sing a Disney villain song about the host" and "Faint whenever people stop paying attention to you" as well as my personal favorite, "Turn off the power and shove people into the cake when it's dark."

We continued our study of the dative case by going over "zu" and "nach" and how to give directions or state an intended course using them, including the common phrases "zu Hause" and "nach Haus."
We then took turns doing a blind obstacle course. The class stood in a line, and the leader (as well as a varying number of others) had to walk around the school in accordance with the directions given by someone else in line. No casualties.

We also began learning the Genitive case.

Next week will be a (benchmark) AATG exam for the 7th graders.

Mit Vergnügen