I should know better!
I know that TPRS is the best way to teach or learn language. I know that going slowly and just talking with the kids will get the best results. It’s not an “I think” or “I believe”. I know. Yet…as soon as I had my first absence and decided to give the kids some non-CI work, I back-slid. The cultural worksheet on Paris led to the ‘Paris unit.’. We TPRS’d it, but not 100%. Not 100% is not good. Then that led to the city unit and suddenly I’m teaching aller and contractions with à and I’m back to the being grammarhammer! Then suddenly it’s time for grades. We’re all messed up and confused. Halfway through a chapter in Raconte-Moi Encore and halfway through the book unit on cities. Okay, three days on a house project this week, three days on having fun following directions around the school next week, then I’ve got to go back to teaching them the way I know is right.
But I’m going to out something like 5 days in November, between the state conference and workshops my school is requiring me to do…and suddenly I’ll be lost and confused again. I should know better!