Adam Chiocca shares and blogs here.

Have you heard about an RSS ... or an RSS feed ? Have you heard about Google Reader , but didn't know what it was? Please click on the above title of this post to watch a short video. See ya, Mr. Chiocca

Greetings. Fall is in the air, as they say, and by this expression, we can understand that the daily temperatures have dropped and so it is cooler. In the mornings, in New England, in early November, temps get close to freezing. Smart morning drivers know that you can extend the life of your vehicle by going out to start your car and let it warm up for 5-10 minutes before leaving. My boys just finished their youth soccer leagues, and all had fun. In school, teachers and students have been pushing pretty hard since school opened and so I think it's safe to say that we're all getting a little burned out. I forget what a big push it is every year... just to get to Thanksgiving. Leaves cover my yard and so we need to rake it up soon. To also share a fun American tradition, albeit not a big one, I can say that after raking up all the leaves, kids love to go jumping into the leaf-pile. I might like to partake too, but I've realized that over time, more things hurt when I land (cr...

Happy Halloween! This is a silly holiday in which kids dress up as super heroes, villains, cartoon and movie characters and such. My own boys will be: (1) Bumblebee, the Transformer; and (2) Mario, from Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo video games). What I like to teach in ELL (ESL) is that there are certain traditions that happen (at least in New England, USA), but they may not be nice, and I always recommend that you not partake. You see... as an ELL Teacher, I just want students to know and be aware of what's going on around them. For example, on Halloween night, you may see that eggs have been thrown all over the side of a car. You may also see toilet paper in someone's trees and bushes. These should not even be called traditions, but more appropriately pranks. Naughty kids may throw raw eggs on things like cars, so that when the owner comes out the next day, he/ she finds dried egg on his/ her car; which, by the way, is very hard to clean off. Thus, it's a prank. Toilet pa...

What is the MEPA? Well... it's the Massashusetts English Proficiency Assessment... and I like to call it the "MCAS for ELL." Basically, it is the major assessment for all ELL students in Massachusetts. All ELL students take this test, as well as the MELA-O (Mass. English Language Assessment - Oral) in the Spring, but new students who did not take the Spring MEPA need to take the Fall MEPA. So... it should all start this October 18th, 2010. Please leave a comment. Thanks, Mr. Chiocca

Good to be back. I have been wanting to be a mentor to a new teacher, and so recently completed the required coursework for this assignment. I got to meet my new protege today, and she seems great. Since I'm about 10 years her senior, I have realized that I won't have any problem giving some decent nuggets of wisdom, regarding challenges teachers face. The hallway floors all look shiny and clean, and I'm glad to feel that excitement for a new school year (2010 - 2011). See ya~

Hi. So... it's Sunday, 8/15/10 , and I was just checking my email. Turns out that my last post actually got me some feedback. Yeah... ummm... so I wrote last week that it is sometimes hard to be able to get all the teaching supplies you want. Most teachers spend some out-of-pocket money every summer, and I was lamenting that I still need some 12-14 copies of a book. I was going to turn to Amazon.com, but maybe some nice-hearted volunteer might want to help me out. Well... it doesn't hurt to ask. I need 12-14 copies of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach . I also am looking to find 12-14 copies of Roald Dahl's The BFG . In case you might be able to track these down... or want to help purchase these, please contact me at MistaChocka@gmail.com Thanks!

Here are my boys at a local NH beach. Ahhh... summer in New England. Sooo... thought I should share one common challenge many teachers face. Our budgets as per our subjects, classes or grade levels don't usually cover all that a teacher may dream about using for an upcoming school year. For example, I always get extra back-to-school supplies for all the students to use, as well as other materials I want. I have been busy scouring book stores, yard sales and discounted public library book sales. However, it's now mid-August 2010, and I still want 10-12 more copies of a novel I plan to use. Looks like I'm turning to Amazon.com. Oh well... at least I won't pay the full retail price. Too bad there isn't a web site called "Free-books-for-teachers.com" I can dream, right?

Well... it's August now, 2010, and I am reminded as to why summer vacations are actually very important for teachers. It certainly allows you time to "recharge your batteries" as we say. And... since I teach ESL-ELL, and am aware of how often we all use (or overuse) idioms, I like to clarify. "Recharge your batteries" doesn't actually have to do with batteries, but is used to express the idea that people are like electronic devices in some way; and that we can get "low" on power or energy. Summer is a good time to rest, relax and recharge our minds, souls and bodies. I just had a great chat with a fellow teacher, and she feels the same way. Ok... see ya soon~

Hey folks. Just wanted to say that this blog will again be regularly updated during the school year. Right now... I'm certainly enjoying being a dad for a real New England summer. Enjoying beaches around the area has been great. Kids love the tide pools... Hermit crabs, Snails and Starfish oh my!

Hi. As this blog is new and young, I thought I should start with one big point about using online ESL videos to learn English. Video, in general, is great since images help to make cognitive connections; but videos are often better with subtitles ! Being able to see how we write the words, for example, almost always aids in learning language. For a good example, please cut & paste this URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2s06Al0Zdw

I'm happy to say that this year was my best yet. Combined with having more time to plan and prep for great units and lessons (now being post-Master's time), and with all the new knowledge and skills I learned from my M.A.T., it was a great year! You know... having those 4 years of teaching experience before doing my M.A.T., also, I think, really helped me to grow as an educator. We did some really exciting units this year. For example, building on some lessons I found in some Adult-ESL texts, I created a 3-week unit titled "Helping Your Family to Buy a Home!" Yes - so, we made "dream homes" out of cardboard boxes and materials. Students learned "Mr. Chiocca's 11 Steps to Buying a Home," and they made YouTube videos and Audio Recordings for the Final Project. The kids learned about mortgages, down payments, PITI - Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance; and how to work with real estate agents and brokers. In addition, students learned ...

So... please also follow me on Twitter... I'm Mista Chocka!

Just got this blog up and running! Come back soon! Adam