I am Kelly Blake Karstrand, a French teacher with 20+ years experience in a Chicagoland high school. Transforming my classroom to a communicative, comfortable and creative environment has totally invigorated my teaching. I hope to share here what I have done and what I continue to do so you too can reignite your passion for teaching World Languages.
EDUCATION
M.A. French Language and Linguistics Illinois State University
- Graduate Teaching Assistant
- President Pi Delta Phi French Honor Society
- Graduate Student Government Foreign Language Representative
Bachelor of Arts, French Education Illinois State University
Université de Grenoble, France
- Certificate of Studies, French Language
Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Post-Graduate French Studies
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
- Fulbright Teacher Exchange Alumni Ambassador 2021
- ACTFL Conference Program Reviewer 2020, 2021
- AATF Illinois French Teacher of the Year Winner 2019
- Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellowship: United States Department of State 2018-2019. I am one of 76 US teachers chosen for an intensive fellowship program in global education, including a field experience in Sénégal in April 2019
- NHS Honored Faculty Award Shepard High School 2019
- Light of Shepard High Award, 2019
- Runner-up for AATF Illinois French Teacher of the Year 2018
- Participant in Standard Setting and Linking Study for the Illinois Licensure Testing System 2018
- Staff Member of the Month, Alan B. Shepard High School March 2018
- Teacher of the Year Morgan Park High School 1997
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
- “Animating Instruction: Using Cartoons to Build Communicative Competence” CSCTFL 2021, ICTFL 2020
- “Flipping Feedback: Engaging Students in the Feedback Process” with Anna Hernandez ACTFL 2020, ICTFL 2020
- “Thematic Unit Makeover: Going from Drab to Fab” CSCTFL 2021, ACTFL 2019, ICTFL 2019
- “Bringing the World into World Languages”, with Katie Haney and Robin Boling, ACTFL 2019
- “Words in the Wild: Teaching Vocabulary in Context” with Karen Krueger, ICTFL 2019
- “Cultivating a Communicative, Comfortable, Creative Classroom”, article about flexible seating published in AATF National Bulletin, April 2019
- “Getting started with Project Based Learning in the AP Language Classroom”, ACTFL November 2018, ICTFL October 2018, AATF Northern Illinois Chapter Atelier d’hiver 2019
- “Je suis Ms. Madame”, publish blog for World Language Teachers www.msmadame.com
- “Make a Play using the Passé Composé and Imparfait”, published in AATF National Bulletin April 2018
- “Proficiency Go: How to Power Up and Evolve your Classroom” with Karen Krueger, District 218 and Partner Middle Schools FL Hands-On Training, May 2018
- “Using Habits of Mind to Increase Test Scores” Alan B. Shepard PD Session, February 2018
- “Encouraging and Assessing Small Group Discussion” Harold L. Richards Breakout PD, February 2017
- “What is the Seal of Biliteracy?”, District 218 PD, December 2016
- “Speaking Up: Coaching Curriculum in the Level 1 Foreign Language Classroom”, District 218 Coaching PD, May 2016
- “Foreign Language: Your Key to Opening up Doors”, Parent-Teacher Organization, December 2015
- “What the heck is PERA?”, District 218 PD, May 2015
- “Presentational Speaking Rubrics”, District 218 PD, April 2015
- “Trabajando Juntos: Strengthening articulation between D218 and its feeder school colleagues”, District 218-Feeder School Roundtable, April 2015
- “Designing Rubrics to Assess Performance”, District 218 PD, March 2015
- “IPA: Not just a good beer”, District 218 PD, November 2014
- “Departmentos amigos: Counseling and Foreign Language”, District 218 Joint Department Sessions, October 2104
- “What to do when you just can’t…” with Karen Krueger, ICTFL Conference, October 2011, October 2012
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Executive Council, American Association of Teachers of French Illinois Chapter (AATF)
- Mentor and Member, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
- Member, Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ICTFL)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign World Language Student Teacher Supervisor Adjunct Instructor
- Supervise teacher candidates during the student teaching experience
- Serve as liaison between the university world language teacher education program and cooperating K-12 personnel
- Assist in the professional growth and development of the teacher candidate’s knowledge, skills and dispositions
- Gather evidence of the candidate’s performance in the Four Domains of the Danielson Framework for Teaching.
- Provide final grades for the student teaching course
Community High School District 218 Alan B. Shepard High School Palos Heights, IL . French Teacher
- Teach all levels of French: 1 through AP, including split-level classes
- Develop common curriculum and daily lessons around ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages
- Successfully implemented skills-based thematic curriculum in all levels
- Experimented with new, progressive techniques of language instruction including TPRS and UBI (usage-based instruction)
- Incorporate authentic text and audio sources into daily learning activities
- Implemented a flexible seating classroom to cultivate a more communicative, comfortable and creative classroom for students
- Increased enrollment in French language classes
- Regularly attend professional development including ICTFL, ACTFL and Central States conventions
- Work with Language and Friendship Organization to provide the opportunity for my US students to host French students
- Founded and sponsor the French Honor Society and French Clu
- Worked to establish the Seal of Biliteracy in the district
- Serve as a Professional Development Facilitator for building PD
- Serve as team leader during curriculum development
- Serve on Principal’s School Leadership Advisory Committee
- Serve as mentor for new World Language teachers in the district
- Developed and facilitated the teachers of split-level classes PLC team
- Worked on the following district committees: PERA, Education Committee, Differentiation, School Leadership Team
Community High School District 218 Harold L. Richards High School Oak Lawn, IL . Foreign Language Lead Teacher
- Planned and ran resource hours, SIP days and PARCC testing time with focus on development of department philosophy, peer observation, collaboration, and integration of technology
- Developed and implemented thematic, skills-based curriculum across languages in levels 1 and 2
- Created and implemented professional development for department on IPAs (integrated performance assessments) and rubric development
- Coached teachers on implementing a skills-based curriculum, literacy strategies, vocabulary development, classroom management, use of the target language in the classroom
- Founded and managed Theme Team, a collaborative curriculum team responsible for the development of skills-based curriculum
- Planned, organized and implemented middle school articulation including feeder school language testing and development of vertical teaming across schools
- Created rubrics for student growth for PERA and guided teachers though the evaluation process
- Orchestrated summer curriculum boot camp including agendas, monitoring team progress and leading curriculum development
- Created and maintained department Google Drives as collaborative digital space
- Presented to counseling department regarding college requirements, myths about language learning, the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy
- Organized and led department analysis of student Mastery Manager data and student sample
Chicago Public Schools Chicago Discovery Academy French Teacher/ Grant Administrator
- Taught French to levels 1 through 4, regular and honors to grades 9 through 12 in a small school setting
- Served as the school’s grant administrator for the Bill & Malinda Gates Foundation
- Oversaw all CPS High School Redesign Initiative activities
- Researched, wrote and secured several small and large-scale grants
- Created and facilitated a series of educational and extra-curricular workshops that became the standard for all students
- Spearheaded and compiled the School Improvement Plan
- Served and actively contributed to the following: Sophomore Curriculum Team, Field Trip Committee, Chicago Reading Initiative Committee, Student Government, French Club
Chicago Public Schools Project Director of the Beverly-Morgan Park Prospective International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program and the Chicago Annenberg Challenge Grant
- Aided in setting up a system of communication and cooperation between 5 elementary schools and the local high school that became the model for all magnet cluster programs for CPS
- Oversaw the implementation of the IB Middle Years Program in all 6 school
- Served as liaison between 100 faculty members, 6 principals and the neighborhood improvement association
- Compiled the successful application for IB accreditation
- Established and coordinated vertical curriculum teams across the cluster
- Wrote the successful Annenberg Challenge grant for $200,000 and was responsible for all subsequent reports
- Organized and coordinated 108 after school teacher workshops and cross-site activities
- Instituted and managed student community service projects for all schools
Chicago Public Schools Morgan Park High School Department Chairperson, World Languages
- Supervised 14 World Language Teachers
Chicago Public Schools Morgan Park High School French Teacher
- Instructed French 1, 2, 3, and 4, regular, honors and IB level to grades 7 through 12
- Received all Superior ratings from principal
- Organized and accompanied students on foreign exchange programs to Valbonne, France
- Developed curricula for the IB Diploma Program
- Implemented and conducted summer school sessions for incoming IB student
District 86 Hinsdale South High School . Student Teacher
- Cooperating Teacher: Patricia Olderr
SPONSORSHIPS
- Société Honoraire de Français
- French Club
- Le Grand Concours
CERTIFICATIONS
- Illinois Type 09-French License
- AP College Board French
- IB Diploma Program French
- IB Middle Years Program French