Off from #AdultESOL this weekend --- between terms --- but my class is full! Can't wait to start working with this new group of wonderful students.
Proctored SAT testing yesterday. Always not fun, but at least the computer version guides the students with timing and I don't have to watch the clock as closely.
Working on some cool #cryptography pages for my #NeoCities site. Also need to update my main personal pages with my #FluxDocApps --- I have 13 ready to go.
More #MSWindows keyboard oddness:
Org set up and pushed out keyboarded layouts in several languages. #ESOL classes, so many people with many languages, so great! Students can easily switch to French, Arabic, Chinese, etc. input. Wonderful.
But, it took 20 minutes to find out how to add my dvorak back to the list - in "Advanced Keyboard Settings".
Next day, #dvorak is gone from the list. But, still applied in advanced settings.
BUT, suddenly the lock screen IS dvorak!
#WTF Microsoft??
School is cancelled tomorrow, but not sure the status of the outside PD that I'm scheduled to go to. It is for teachers, so if the city has the day off, they might cancel, but they may not. Oh, well, at least I don't have to be at school at 7:30.
Unfortunately, I was supposed to lead some #ESOL PD for my elementary and middle school tomorrow afternoon. That will be rescheduled, so not horrible, but was looking forward to it.
Second #k12 snow day this month, third if you count yesterday for my weekend #AdultESOL job. Only three days of classes with students this week, then #WinterBreak.
We have a long list of things to get done during the break; we'll get a head start on them today.
Need to prep for classes (#ESOL and #CyberSecurity); update some writings; and make some videos for #teacher #EducationalResources.
I think my #OhioTesolConference presentation went well today. About 60 or 70 attendees.
Some had trouble with the spreadsheet and script, but they can now at least create multilingual #Google Forms by hand. I also demo'ed 3 languages together in questions and using sections & jump logic for several languages in one Form.
No time to talk about collating data spread b/t several columns or files.
Tomorrow: re-leveling and enhancing readings.
Putting the finishing touches on my #OhioTesolConference presentations for tomorrow and Friday. Tomorrow is family engagement with #MultiLingual #GoogleForms during the B time slot.
Friday is re-leveling texts with #AI / #LLMs, but it went more to #VibeCoding to enhance texts. Sort of the reverse of re-leveling.
Re-leveling is lowering the complexity of the text.
Enhancing is adding supports so students can access the original text.
Looking forward to the #2025 #OhioTesol #conference next week. I'm presenting two sessions --- one on multilingual forms for family engagement and the other on "re-leveling" texts.
The first is pretty straightforward. The second could be a dissertation. Nutshell: don't simplify; enhance. Add supports, preteach vocab, etc.
As an example, I created an enhanced version of day one of my AI agent short story.
Check it out (temporarily) at:
https://spackman-chris.neocities.org/enhanced-reading/conversations-with-nnedi
Created a #vocabulary reference sheet for Algebra 2 students today. Mostly juniors (in USA #k12 #education parlance) in the classes. I made the sheet for my #EnglishLearners but happily gave it to other students who asked for it.
I use #TexLatex a lot, but usually not for so much math.
Was supposed to join a #webinar today about #FamilyEngagement, #technology, and #ESOL / #ESL / #EnglishLearners in USA #K12 #education.
The webinar site required a specific plug-in / extension that I have not heard of AND Google Chrome or MS Edge.
The did not have a "join in the browser" fallback option.
Hopefully I'll be able to watch the video later in #Mozilla #Firefox. Not holding my breath.
Canva totally borked a #Spanish translation for a #k12 #school flyer. Realized it was because the person who created the flyer put words in the title in separate text boxes. Canva, understandably, translated each word individually. Oops. Good to know. New practical tip to include in future PD sessions.
I don't know a lot of Spanish, but luckily, I know enough to recognize that the translation was not accurate.
スパックマン クリス