This summer, why not mix a bit of fun into your professional development with our "Poolside Proficiency Bingo"? Designed specifically for world language teachers, this program allows you to earn professional development (PD) participation certificates while enjoying the flexibility and relaxation of summer. Each square on your Bingo board represents a category filled with resource-rich blog posts tailored to enhance your teaching and learning. After downloading your bingo board select a square to dig into that topic.
"Poolside Proficiency Bingo" is a creative way to engage with professional development content through a bingo-style game. Each square on the bingo board corresponds to one of eight categories that we'll explore in our blog series. These categories include podcasts, blogs, tip sheets, webinars, live Q&As, Facebook group interactions, live events, and language practice activities. By participating in activities from these categories and completing a brief reflection, you can earn a certificate of participation—one hour for each completed bingo square.
Start by downloading your "Poolside Proficiency Bingo" board, HERE. Each square will guide you to a specific type of professional development activity
Dive into each category through our dedicated blog posts. These posts are packed with suggestions and resources to help you fill out your bingo squares. Select each bingo square to dig into anything from listening to educational podcasts to engaging in live, interactive sessions. Each activity is designed to be both enriching and enjoyable. Explore our Reading Room.
Choose activities from the bingo board to complete at your own pace. Mix and match categories that interest you the most or challenge yourself to complete them all for a full bingo!
After completing a “bingo,” fill out the Poolside Proficiency Reflection Form to share your experiences and insights. This reflection is crucial as it transforms your participation into actionable learning and earns you 1 PD hour per bingo square (Maximum 8 PD participation hours).
A certificate of participation (with PD hours completed) will be provided at the end of the summer. Aim for a full bingo to maximize your PD hours and learning this summer.
The "Poolside Proficiency PD Bingo" is more than just a professional development exercise; it's a way to connect with peers, discover new resources, and reflect on your practice in a fun, engaging format. It’s perfect for those looking to expand their skills and knowledge while enjoying the summer vibes.
Ready to start your summer of learning? Download your Poolside Proficiency Bingo board today and begin your journey toward professional growth and fun. Stay tuned for our upcoming blog posts, where we'll dive deeper into each category, offering you a wealth of resources and ideas to complete your bingo. Let's make this summer productive and enjoyable with "Poolside Proficiency Bingo!"
| Month | Date | Time | Title | Event Details & Registration |
| June | June 5th 4:00 PM LIVE Workshop: Enriching World Language Instruction through Artificial Intelligence (90 min.) Register now and watch the recording | Presenter: Ed Weiss Description: Now that artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm, world language teachers need to know how AI can enrich our professional lives. The great news is that there are numerous AI-based sites and apps that will enrich our teaching experience, save us a tremendous amount of time, and fully engage our students. The workshop will offer a very clear explanation of what AI actually is and how it can become your teaching assistant. My presentation will feature the best of the best sites along with a live demonstration of each one. Links to all of these sites will be provided. Get ready to be astounded and impressed by what AI can bring to world language instruction. |
| June 14th 1:00 PM Splash into Learning: Join Our Live Poolside Proficiency Event! Register now and watch the recording | Moderator: Michelle Olah Featured Panelists: Angelika Becker (AATG President), Karen Campbell Kuebler (AATF Region V Representative), Katrina Beeck (AATSP member and K-12 LSP (Languages for Specific Purposes) Description: Join us poolside (or virtually from your own relaxing spot) for an amazing panel discussion with thought leaders of AATSP (American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese), AATG (American Association of Teachers of German, and AATF (American Association of Teachers of French) to talk about how you can continue growing your language and intercultural proficiency without leaving the country! (P.S. There may be some tips on how you can leave the country too!) | |
| July | July 18th 1:00 PM Sip and Share: Snap, Share, Speak: Using Social Media to Boost Language Proficiency! Register now and watch the recording | Facilitator: Terri Hammatt with Alecia Davis-Hellmers Description: Hey there, language enthusiasts! Ready to take your students' interest in social media and use it to create communicative tasks that garner student engagement? Don't miss out on this opportunity to join fellow educators Terri Hammatt and Alecia Davis-Hellmers in exploring the exciting intersection of social media and language learning. We'll discuss ideas of tasks and activities inspired by social media that could be used to assess production in the target language and tie it into classroom content. Let's snap, sip, share, and speak our way to proficiency together! |
| August 8th 4:00 PM Inquiry-Based Learning Meets Language Acquisition: Inquire to Acquire Register now on edWeb and watch the recording | Facilitator: Dagoberto Polanco Description: Wayside Publishing is partnering with edWeb.net to bring everyone a session on Inquiry-Based Learning Meets Language Acquisition: Inquire to Acquire. Join Dagoberto to learn about increasing student language proficiency by drawing from their curiosity and motivation. This edWebinar aims to channel students’ interest into self-directed learning and will demonstrate how inquiry-based learning can enhance your classroom practice. | |
| August 12th 7:00 PM Empowering Students and Avoiding Academic Integrity Issues with AI Register now and watch the recording | Facilitator: Maureen Lamb Description: As students start to use Generative AI as an assistant, what strategies can we use to make sure that students are engaging with Generative AI with Academic Integrity? This webinar will review strategies to help students navigate using Generative AI and how to help ensure students are using Generative AI with academic integrity. |
Research Based and ACTFL Aligned
