Author: Chris Lemon

Picking the AAPPL: How We Chose It and Five-Year Update

Five years ago, we became an early adopter of the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy, a prestigious award for our high school students who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in at least two languages. We envisioned the Seal as a way to honor our highest performing world language students, as well as to honor and […]

We did the test. Now what? Part 3: Differentiating Your Focus

Over the last two blog posts, I have looked at student scores by grade over the years of 2019-2022 and then compared the scores of my students to the school’s average scores. Today, I want to dig into differentiating your focus. Read –> We did the test. Now what? Part 1: Looking at yearly performance […]

AAPPL AAPPL reports longitudinal reports

We did the test. Now what? Part 2: Year Over Year Comparisons and Data Analysis.

In my previous article, I took a high-level look at my 11th and 12th graders over three years (2019-2022). In this post, we’ll dig in a bit on the data analysis, or what I did as I looked at the data from AAPPL reporting tool. I started by looking at the top performance by grade […]

AAPPL AAPPL reports AAPPL results

We did the test. Now what? Part 1: Looking at yearly performance over time

We love to use the AAPPL test for our students to earn the Seal of Biliteracy, but to refine our program and to recognize growth as well as achievement, we have explored the data reporting tools that the LTI Client Site has to offer. In this article, I will discuss a few of the ways […]

AAPPL AAPPL reports AAPPL results longitudinal reports Seal of Biliteracy

The Washback Effect: Long-term Impacts of the AAPPL in the Classroom

By Chris Lemon, Northmont High School, Clayton, OH (Spanish Teacher, Department Chair) Four years ago, our school chose the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Language (AAPPL, Form B: Novice High to Advanced Low), over sixteen other options, as our preferred method for students to earn the Seal of Biliteracy accepted by our state. […]

AAPPL AAPPL results Seal of Biliteracy washback effect

Backward Design and the AAPPL

By Chris Lemon, Northmont High School, Clayton, OH (Spanish Teacher, Department Chair) Comprehensible input. Movies. Language Clubs. Guest speakers. Pirates. Conversations. Fly swatter vocabulary matches. Video Pen Pals. Study abroad. A language program can take many forms and have some—or none—of these. But how do you achieve one that is authentic, fun, and successful all at […]

AAPPL backward design Seal of Biliteracy

Focusing On What’s Important This Year

Chris Lemon, Northmont High School, Clayton, OH (Spanish Teacher, Department Chair) A young woman from Spain fell in love with a man from Chile, moved there with him and made a family. Along the way Ofelia discovered democracy and political organizing and volunteered for Salvador Allende’s presidential campaign. Along with many other people at the […]