EXPLORE! Curriculum celebrates 1 year and 100 products!
One year ago, we started Explore! Curriculum. Today we have a thriving store with a growing collection of innovative, classroom tested products for world language instruction.
Here’s an overview of our current products, and a look at what’s ahead!
Authentic Vocabulary
Our flagship, product, Authentic Vocabulary is an innovative approach to vocabulary instruction. Instead of memorizing a teacher-provided list, with Authentic Vocabulary students investigate an authentic, target-language source document to identify and select the vocabulary they need to complete a task. Authentic Vocabulary lessons involve evaluation and problem-solving in the target language.
What teachers are saying:
“I love authentic resources. My students find it much more engaging to look up words in context. They will hours looking at websites in French, not even realizing they are absorbing the language ”
“This is so well done and is especially amazing because it’s so much more interesting for students to do the work themselves. Such a great resource!”
To learn more about Authentic Vocabulary, visit this blog post. And click on the images to visit our TpT store for the entire Authentic Vocabulary line (including FREE products!)
Click for the Authentic Vocabulary Spanish Line
Click for the Authentic Vocabulary French line
Authentic Vocabulary is currently available in French, and Spanish. Choose from versions with student prompts in the Target Language or in English. More languages are coming soon!
Update We now have Authentic Vocabulary lessons in English (ELL), Portuguese, and a limited selection of Chinese lessons!
Click the image to read my blog post about Teaching Interpersonal Speaking
Conversation Templates
Conversation Templates were born from the need to support students in practicing true interpersonal speaking, even as novice learners. Conversation templates provide enough structure for students to have a realistic conversation, while leaving flexibility for students to circumlocute, negotiate meaning, and react to their partner’s statements. Through repeated practice, students gain confidence and expressive language ability.
What Customers are Saying:
“This conversation template gives just the right amount of scaffolding for my students; it challenged them while also providing enough comfort for students to speak in the target language with each other. I will be using these again in my classroom!”
“I was able to have a conversation that I would actually use in real life! It was structured enough that I knew what to talk about without memorizing a script. ”
Conversation Templates include English prompts and can be used with any target language! Each Conversation Template product includes prompts for novice high, intermediate low, and intermediate mid learners. Click the image to access our entire collection of Conversation Templates, organized by topic, including several free products.
Click the image to access our collection of Conversation Templates
Sentence Builders
Sentence Builders is a hands-on activity where students use component cards to build accurate target-language sentences. Students can build their sentences by standing in a row with their team, or they can work in pairs or individually using the desk-sized version. Either way, sentence builders adds a kinesthetic element to learning grammar, helping students internalize language patterns.
Use Sentence Builders in teams…
… in pairs, or individually
Click the images below to access Sentence Builders (including FREE samples) in Spanish and in French!
French Sentence Builders - Hands-On Activity
Spanish Sentence Builders - Hands-on Activity
Dot-to-Dot Number Practice
Even my 2nd and 3rd year students need more practice with target language numbers. These randomized dot-to-dots can help! Students must listen and connect the dots in the order they are read in the target language; choose from a listening activity (connecting the dots as the teacher reads in the target langauge) or a speaking / listening activity (read the numbers for your partners’ dot-to-dot, then listen as your partner reads to you).
What Teachers are Saying:
“My students really enjoyed this activity. Students are always engaged because it is challenging enough to keep them attentive to listen for the next number.
... Students got excited when the outline of the object is revealed.”
Click the images for our collection of randomized dot-to-dots, and visit my blog post about teaching numbers effectively in world language classes.
Click above to access our Number Practice Dot-to-Dot Collection
Click above to read about Teaching Numbers Effectively
School Year Starters - Cognates and Team Building
Table Mascots are a fun way to introduce classroom procedures, build classroom community, introduce cognates, and get students producing French or Spanish right away!
What Teachers are Saying:
“My students loved creating their mascottes and completing the cognate-based learning activities. It was a great team-building and ice-breaking activity for everyone, even my most reluctant students.”
“This is such a great resource. I adapted it slightly but found that the information here about cognates was the best I’ve found! Everything from this shop has been top notch. Merci!”
By the way, did I mention that all our products are fully editable? This allows you to adapt them for your students’ needs. Click below to access Table Mascots, and visit our blog post on building classroom community!
Click above for Table Mascots (Portuguese, French or Spanish)
Click the image to read about the First Day of World Language Class
Coming Soon!
EXPLORE! Curriculum has some exciting projects ahead. Coming in 2023:
Sentence builders in French & Spanish for past tenses and object pronouns
Authentic Vocabulary for ESL, Chinese, and Portuguese
African Culture Series for French and Social Studies teachers
Everyday Language series for quick, engaging, low-prep lessons (available in French, Spanish, English, and Portuguese)
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Keep up with EXPLORE! Curriculum news, bi-weekly blog posts, and regularly released new products.
