Job Discussion Forums

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

I have taught here seven years on and off, and it is a normal part of the paperwork, just like back in the states. Except here it is filed away quickly and never looked at. But it can be a black mark if it gets checked and isn't there. Maybe every five years???? a team from Beijing comes and inspects all of this stuff
I find a lesson outline still helpful. Most of it I do in my head, while I procrastinate getting out of bed, but it can help me make sure I have covered what I wanted to.

Is what they are looking for basically one sentence for each week? What I have done in most cases (as soon as they give me the textbook, usually around week three or four, is write the name of the unit

Week 3: Unit 3: Enjoying a business trip

Week 4: Unit 4: Day to day work

straight from the textbook. They are as happy as a worm in the apple (before you bite him in half

etc.

Unfortunately, what I use or mysilf is too often poorly prepared on paper as I can do it in my head. writing class I take more time and care on my year long plan

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

It's so easy! You just copy them off the internet and hand them in and then do your own thing.

.......................................................................................................

CEC Lesson PlansColumbia Education Center has arranged with Microsoft to list some of our lesson plans on the new Encarta Lesson Collection. Note: Not all of our lessons ...
www.col-ed.org/cur/ - 7k - Cached - Similar pages

language Arts Lesson Plans and ResourcesEnglish and Language Arts Lesson Plans Links to many secondary language arts lesson .... A long list of lesson plans from The educator's Reference Desk. ...
www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edeng.htm - 93k - Cached - Similar pages

Language ArtsThe site also includes lessons for English/Language Arts as well as an alphabetical list of titles containing more lesson plans for many of the novels. ...
www.sitesforteachers.com/resources_sharp/language_arts/languagearts.html - 98k - Cached - Similar pages

Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators - Literature & Language ArtsA categorized, annotated list of over 2500 sites to help educators, teachers, ... Web English Teacher ..links to lesson plans, biographies, e-texts, ...
school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/arts/artlit.html - 74k - Cached - Similar pages

Spice Up Your Spelling Words | Language Arts Lesson PlanCom | Smart Tools for Busy Teachers: Lesson Plans, Resources & Links, ... 30 Second Words - Write a TV commercial using all the words from your list. ...
www.teachnet.com/lesson/langarts/spellingwds040299.html - 15k - Cached - Similar pages

The Clearinghouse on Reading, English & Communication at Indiana ...The Clearinghouse on Reading, English, and Communication is dedicated to providing ... Lesson Plans - List by Topic � Database Search: ERIC 1966 thru 2003 ...
reading.indiana.edu/ - 7k - Cached - Similar pages

AT&T Knowledge Network ExplorerBlue Web'n Search Results for: English - Lesson. 40 Sites Found. Hot Site. First posted 1995. Last modified July 12, 2007 ...
www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/contentarea.cfm?cid=5&atid=2 - 13k - Cached - Similar pages

Lesson PlansClick on browse activities by theme for a list of K-8 plans. Included are lesson plans for Ancient Civilizations, Community, School, Survival, Travel, ...
www.csun.edu/~hcedu013/plans.html - 96k - Cached - Similar pages

Title: The List of Blends Language Arts Lesson Plan, Thematic Unit ...A Lesson Plans Page lesson plan, lesson idea, thematic unit, or activity.
www.lessonplanspage.com/LAFrogAndToadIdentifyingBlends13.htm - 34k - Cached - Similar pages

Teacher Resourcescan be found here. Pick a subject, or browse all lesson plans at once in The Complete List. ... "From high school English teacher Lisa Pajot Renard. ...
www.paducah.k12.ky.us/curriculum/lesson_plans.htm - 41k - Cached - Similar pages

Leon Purvis · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:02 pm Post subject:

I have no problems with submitting an account of what I intend to teach for the term, but I DO have a problem when school starts on Monday and i get a call at 5:00 pm on Saturday from the FL department asking me to attend a meeting at 6:00 when I'll be informed which classes I'll be teaching and then being told that a syllabus is needed in less than a week.

One should expect to submit some sort of plan for each subject, but a detailed syllabus is just not practical--- especially when teaching materials are scant to nonexistent. I resisted submitting a semester syllabus. I did, however, submit my weekly lesson plans when the department requested them--- at the end of the semester.

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

The single greatest reason why the admins want to see our lesson plans is that they want to know that we are planning lessons and not just talking off the tops of our heads. Its for their reassurance plain and simple. I don't have much of a problem with that. Until my computer was stolen earlier this year, I saved all my plans for the past 4 years. I could show them what my objectives were, what my target and comprehension questions were, what activities I planned for my classes and what my after class evaluations were. Every school stopped asking after one or two quick looks. If anyone wanted to do a profesional evaluation (something sadly missing in China's education system), all he'd have to do is walk in and see my blackboard at the beginning of class and he'd know what my topic was, the grammar focus and the vocab.
Things have changed a bit in the past half year. Now I handwrite my LPs, and I don't always keep them. I'm expected to transfer my notes to a standardised form and return the form to the department. The form is in hanzi, but I can just put my summary in English. I haven't complied with this yet, but I'll catch up the paper work this weekend.
Do I mind? Perhaps a little bit. I understand that mostly its just CYA for the admins, but in a small way I do dislike the inference that my work is subject to the assessment of amateurs. Asking an admin to assess a lesson plan is like asking a monkey to repair a watch. Would they like to fill out weekly work reports on everything they do and submit them to me? Would the dean of my department like to know what the foreign teachers at our school think of his performance? Maybe we should have a monthly meeting... No, on second thought I'd rather not. Never get into a mud-fight with a pig. You'll both get dirty and the pig will love it.

beck's · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 426

Thank you all for your advice.

To lostinasia: I think that you confuse me for some unprofessional teacher wannabe. On the contrary, I have been a teacher for over thirty years. Most of that time has been spent in North American classrooms. You probably have little to teach me about life in a North American school. I am now retired and doing my second stint in China. I have an M.Ed in curriculum development from one of the top 25 universities in the world.

I am a student oriented teacher. I believe that we should first meet our students before making detailed lesson plans. This is necessary to access both their interests and abilities.

Furthermore, I think that lesson plans should be flexible. This is not the same as not having lesson plans as I am sure you are aware. It is simply allowing oneself to be open to the teachable moments of our students.

kungfucowboy83 · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 479

be vague

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

InTime · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 1676 Location: CHINA-at-large

FROM
http://www.sitesforteachers.com/index.html http://irp.location1.org/jiun-ting-with-melissa-chiu/

leading to:

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:00 pm Post subject:

Two ad hominem postings have been deleted. Any new ones will result in unpaid vacations from this board.

Please report such postings to the Mod Team via Report Post mode or PM as soon as they appear.

InTime · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 1676 Location: CHINA-at-large

Beck's wrote:

Ping Jing · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:54 pm Post subject:

Until I discovered that Beck's, who helped me when I first came to China, was a real teacher, I thought he might need my "Syllabus". Now, I doubt he/she does.

I'm not sure how to put a link here for a MS Word document, but, if anyone wants me to send it to them, I will. It is based on a syllabus that another former contributor sent to me.

It may take up a lot of room, but, here it goes -

Course Objectives
Every course has objectives or goals. These objectives tell you what you will be able to do when you finish the course. After you have completed this course, your English communication skills will be better than they are now.
This course will focus on developing your ability to speak in English. During the term you will have opportunities to practice talking about a variety of topics and in different situations. Besides speaking, you will strengthen your listening, reading and writing skills. We will first re-establish your English foundation and then build upon it. We will focus in particular on using English in a professional setting.

Course Description
During the term we will speak about various topics/issues normally encountered in social and business settings. Some of the specific goals of the course are:
1. speak with more fluency
2. communicate with more accuracy
3. use correct grammar structures and vocabulary
4. proper pronunciation
5. familiarity with the variety of English spoken around the World

Ideally, you will become more comfortable expressing your ideas and discussing various topics under different circumstances in English.

Textbook
�New Person to Person: Communicative Speaking and Listening Skills�
by Jack C. Richards, David Bycina and Sue Brioux Aldcorn

Method of Instruction
You will improve your English communication skills using various methods. Beyond simple lectures, we will have class and group discussions, as well as debates and individual public speaking based on some of the lessons in the textbook.
You will have opportunities in every class to practice speaking English, individually, in pairs and groups. Ideally, you will use the language skills learned outside of the class. Practice makes perfect.
You will be required to research a topic of your choosing, approved by me, and write a brief report. This report will be the basis of a graded 5 minute presentation. In order to ensure that everyone is listening, those not speaking will have to write and submit questions about the speech. The class will ask questions also afterwards.
There will also be 1 group presentation. Each group will work together on a 5 minute skit. This role-play exercise will allow you to demonstrate proper actions and speech when on a job interview.
During the term there will be homework assignments and pop-quizzes. They will measure your understanding of concepts and English language structures covered. In addition to the homework, quizzes and presentations, your final grade will be determined by your score on 2 exams of equal weight, class attendance and participation.

Grading Plan
As stated above, the final grade will be a composite of the various methods of instruction. The weights of what you will be graded on are:
Daily Grade = 30%
Attendance 10%
Participation 10%
Homework 10%

Exams = 70%
Quizzes 10%
Presentations (2) 20%
Exams (2) 40%

Regular attendance, preparation and participation are essential to your success in this course. You will get out of it what you put into it.

Rules of Conduct
This is your time, as well as your classmates. Please act in a manner appropriate for an adult professional. The following are some important points to keep in mind:
1. Attend every class and be on time. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. If you are absent more than 40% of the classes, you will automatically fail this course. Excessive lateness will affect your final grade.
2. If you will be absent, please inform me or a classmate beforehand. Make sure that you look at the class website or talk with a friend to discover what was covered and you missed in class.
3. Be prepared for class, with your textbook, notebook and other necessary materials.
4. All homework to be handed in must have your name, class, student number and date written at the top.
5. Late Work: Assignments submitted after the due date will not be accepted. You will not receive credit for the work done. Exceptions may be made in the case of a documented emergency. (e.g. � doctor�s note)
6. Cell phone use is not permitted. Please turn them off before class. I will collect all mobile phones before quizzes and exams. They will be returned when you are finished.
7. Speak English. This is an English-only environment. Chinese will not
be tolerated.

Miscellaneous
This syllabus is subject to change. Please keep abreast of what�s happening in the class and on the website.

Tentative Weekly Schedule

Week 1 Introduction to the class requirements and completion of formalities. Needs Analysis.

Week 2 Ice-breaker/Self-Introductions; Finalize Topics to be discussed. Ask Paul a Question. General Rap.

Week 3 Topic 1 (tbd � to be determined); see website for a copy of the lesson plan.

Week 4 Topic 2 (tbd)

Week 5 Topic 3 (tbd)

Week 6 Topic 4 (tbd); Begin Individual Presentations(IP)

Week 7 Topic 5 (tbd); IP�s; Review for Midterm

Week 8 Midterm Exam

Week 9 Review Midterms; Topic 6 (tbd); IP�s

Week 10 Topic 7 (tbd); IP�s

Week 11 Topic 8 (tbd); IP�s

Week 12 Topic 9 (tbd); IP�s

Week 13 Topic 10 (tbd); IP�s

Week 14 Individual Presentations

Week 15 Finish IP�s and Special Event (?)

Week 16 Group Presentations

Week 17 Group Presentations; Review for Final

Week 18 Final Exam (The exam may be given over 2 weeks; The week will vary according to the length of your particular class.)

This schedule is tentative and will most likely change as we progress.

Conclusion
It is estimated that more than a billion people speak English as a second
language and that another billion people are in the process of learning English.
English is the Global Language. As you enter the workforce, your ability to
communicate effectively in English will set you apart from others. The time you
spend here now will result in future rewards. Study hard and ask questions. I am
here to help you. Yunqi.

I suggest you add your schools name and other pertinent personal info at the top. You may also want to consider creating a website, which I did. No one besides my Mother ever visited it!

Good Luck.

Lorean · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 476 Location: Beijing

At least they've given you a few weeks to prepare.

My Uni employer handed me my schedule and text books 3 days before classes began. Then a few days later told me, "Oh by the way, please create a course syllabus due on the second day of class."

I was not happy.

It was not a good syllabus.

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

Lobster · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:54 am Post subject:

Grrr, my college just asked me for this yesterday. Gave me two whole days to deliver it. It took me three hours to prepare by extracting all the topics, skills and methodologies. Now they can glance, file and forget. Was it a good exercise for professional preparation? No, it was a bloody waste of time and effort. I resent the unpaid hours. I resent having to part with my successful strategy and worry that it will be plagiarized, stolen and otherwise abused. My course and all related content were developed from scratch because nobody had any strategy or materials when I started out many years ago. It soothes me, however, to know that it's not what you teach, so much as how you teach it, that is the key to success. Oh yes, I've been teaching and working in admin for over 15 years. I know the difference between professionalism and showcasing and marketing. If I want one of my teachers to follow a written lesson plan, I'll give the plan to them ready to go, or work with them if their lessons are disorganized and shoddy.

RED