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Denise Wagstaff

@mmewagstaff.bsky.social
403 followers 244 following 360 posts

French tchr/Melrose, MA. HC & PSU grad. Tweets about teaching, tech, French stuff & what I'm doing in my classes. Blog: mmewagstaff.wordpress.com

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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
I had been using the group generator tool from Wordwall, but I see it has been discontinued. What are teachers using these days to generate student groups from a roster! #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Look what came in the mail today! 📚 #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Anyone here have experience using Wayground (Quizziz) in paper mode? I’m having some trouble figuring something out & need a hand. #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Is anyone else a bit anxious about the new AP WL exam project? This year, I also have just under 20 students enrolled, about double from last school year. #langchat #ap #french #edusky
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SLAyyy Pod @slayyypod.com · 21/08/2026
Do you have your copy of "Learner Feedback for Language Growth" yet? We're doing a book study this semester on it, and are looking forward to chatting with y'all about what we learn! How can we make feedback goal-oriented, timely, and effective? Let's find out! www.ipgbook.com/learner-feed...
Image shows the cover of the book "Learner Feedback for Language Growth" by Budke, Nickel, and Strauss
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I enjoyed the chat! Come join us! You can reply to previous chats on your own time, or join live (every 2 weeks, I believe?). Inviting @mmeblouwolff.bsky.social to check it out!
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
I have some leftover grant money to spend to enrich my French FVR library. Any suggestions for readers? #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Anyone else digging into this? #langchat #edusky #ap
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
#langchat
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Just had a thought…wouldn’t it be great if the @actfl.bsky.social books and other language teaching/research books had audio versions. For teachers who are reluctant or don’t have the time to read paper copies, this would be a great alternative! #langchat #edusky
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Trevor Packer @ap-trevor.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
2026 AP French Language and Culture Score Distribution 5: 15%; 4: 23%; 3: 33%; 2: 23%; 1: 6% (Total group scores, including students with out-of-class exposure to French)
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
I’m listening to the podcast series Sold a Story,which examines school programs that teach kids how to read.Even though I’m a WL teacher, it’s got me thinking about the many questions I have about measuring language proficiency through external assessments like AAPPL & STAMP. (1/2) #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
My school year in review, teaching French 1, 3 & 5 (Year #27 for me!) #edusky #langchat
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
What was the best part of your school year? What was the most challenging? #langchat #edusky
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AATF Eastern Massachusetts @aatfrencheasternma.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Cohasset MA seeks middle school French teacher. @aatfrench.bsky.social share.google/HMz7RXTgTjVI...
share.google
finding teaching jobs and other education jobs
Search or browse thousands of teaching jobs and other school jobs from dozens of education job sites in one easy search. Sign up for daily or weekly job alert emails and apply online!
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Current read #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
I’d like to try SBG but I’m uncertain about what my standards should be. Take a look at Tab 1. Which of the choices is best but also sustainable as a World Language teacher? docs.google.com/spreadsheets... #langchat #edusky
docs.google.com
Speaking/Standards based grading (World Language)
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Come teach French at our middle school in Melrose, MA, or kindly spread the word! #langchat #edusky www.schoolspring.com/jobdetail?jo...
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
For those who give language proficiency tests to seniors: how many Advanced Low scores does speaking typically yield in your class? Just curious, as we are seeing some interesting data this year from AAPPL! #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Are they using sentences or not? That’s a question I ask myself frequently when I observe students’ language output. If you can see the structure of a sentence, but there are significant errors, is it actually a sentence? #langchat #edusky (1/2)
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
AP teachers: Who do you feel is responsible for informing and instructing you about changes to your AP Curriculum, exam and/or the way your exam is administered? #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Today, I filled out an “information from the language teacher” form for a local private school. Disheartened to see that they wanted to know mainly which grammar topics the student knew and how well, and if the student had “below average”, “above average”, etc language skills. (1/2) #langchat
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Josh Kunnath, EdD @joshkunnath.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Reassessment #grading gets messy fast. Average scores? Cap them? Limit who can retake? These choices reflect what we value: compliance or learning. A simpler shift: ➡️ Replace the score if it’s higher. No penalties. Grades should reflect what students know—period. Read more in my new post.
joshkunnath.com
Grading Reassessments: Creating a Principle-Aligned Policy
The post discusses grading policies within a mastery learning reassessment system (MLAS), highlighting five common flawed practices that compromise fairness and learning. It emphasizes the importance of time, increased learning, parallel validity, and equitable grading. A proposed grading policy aligns with these principles, supporting accurate representation of student learning without penalties for prior performance.
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Despite the fact that my grading practices have shifted significantly over the past decade, students still ask me “Will I lose points if…?” when they’re concerned about their performance on an assessment. Anyone else field similar questions? #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
I REALLY want to talk to other teachers about this! I love that we have the Seal of Biliteracy and what it represents. I don’t love that it is determined in different ways in different states. (1/) #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
This is a GREAT idea!!! Read the rest of this thread too! #edusky #langchat
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
I miss connecting with language educators on the way we used to on the other platform. #langchat
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Can any #langchat teachers point me to an actual human being in ACTFL or LTI I can speak with regarding how some of my students’ writing on AAPPL Form B has been scored? I did rating reviews on both (1 too high, 1 too low) and both came back exactly the same! I am baffled!! @actfl.bsky.social (1/2)
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Come work in Melrose, MA!!! I’ve been teaching French in the district for over 25 years. We have a great vertical French program & a team of dedicated teachers of 4 modern languages & Latin. Apply or spread the word! #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
As a parent and a French teacher, it kills me that this is what my daughter is getting as resources for French class! Proficiency, anyone?! #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Help, #langchat! My Fr 3 students’ writing has lots of problems! While effort is there in some aspects, here’s what I’m noticing: -lots of translating from English to French, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences (ex: la reine chateau for the queen’s castle) (1/3)
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Hoping someone can help me figure out why this video, which I downloaded into my Google Drive, can generate a transcript in French of what the people in the video are saying in French when students open it? I have never seen this before! Is this a new Google feature? #langchat #edusky
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
What are the biggest challenges facing you as a language teacher this year? Here’s my list: #langchat
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Starr Sackstein, (she/her) @mssackstein.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Are you an educator? What are you currently struggling with in or out of the classroom? I'd love to help. I write a column called Career Confidential for the Kappan Magazine, and I'm always looking for challenges to give advice on (It's like Dear Abby for educators) forms.gle/Dq73wF2rVbgV...
forms.gle
Career Confidential Needs Your Help!
Please fill in this form to share your current career and/or education concerns that you'd like some advice on. Your name and any identifying information will be removed so you can't be identified.
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
You may have heard this story in the news (her connection to Karoline Leavitt). She actually graduated from the high school where I teach and studied 2 languages. gofund.me/76f6d74a0
gofund.me
Donate to Support Bruna's Fight to Stay Home, organized by Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues
My family is going through one of the most difficult moments of our l… Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues needs your support for Support Bruna's Fight to Stay Home
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
How I feel about my daughter being graded on her “confidence” in her French 1 oral presentation… #langchat
media.tenor.com
a woman says " you can 't be serious " while wearing a black jacket
ALT: a woman says " you can 't be serious " while wearing a black jacket
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
I know that creating a grammar worksheet is probably not best practice, according to the Proficiency-Based Instruction: Teaching Grammar for Proficiency, but I think my creation does hit on some of the “good” practices outlined in the book. #langchat (1/)
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Great news in my district!!
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
Are you a WL teacher interested in learning productivity strategies for lesson planning & grading? Listen to my podcast playlist on this topic, which I shared as part of my #mafla25 conference presentation! #langchat #edusky tinyurl.com/pmpspl
tinyurl.com
Spotify – Web Player
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
Come join the discussion! #LangChat #SLAyy
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
Hey, @stacywitkowski.bsky.social @mrfishersays.bsky.social @languageley.bsky.social! A presenter at MaFLA did his presentation about referential & affective structured input and quoted heavily from the grammar book! Don’t think he’s on Bluesky, but maybe I can track him down to join the discussion?
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
#mafla25 #langchat Such a fun conference!
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
A few photos from MaFLA Friday! #mafla25
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
It’s MaFLA conference time! #mafla25 #langchat
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Love this so much! ⬇️
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Monte Syrie @montesyrie.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
I learn kids. #Project180 @edutopia.org
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Steve Smith @spsmith45.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Food for thought. gianfrancoconti.com/2025/10/10/1...
gianfrancoconti.com
12 (Nearly) Useless Things Language Teachers Do When Teaching Grammar
Introduction I grew up in an educational culture where grammar was sacred! As an Italian learner — and later teacher — grammar was drilled into us like holy scripture: conjugation tables chanted in…
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
I know I’m reading this book, but sometimes I wonder: Does direct grammar instruction and learning grammar rules have a place at least somewhere? Maybe not the way it had been traditionally, but is there a time when it is useful and/or important? 1/2 #langchat
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
My daughter’s first quiz in French 1 is on pronunciation and I’m trying not to be angry about it 😳 #langchat
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Denise Wagstaff @mmewagstaff.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Trying to remember where I got this French “chat mat” from. Anyone know? #langchat
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