Job Discussion Forums

[aliaeli]

Hey, I use to be on this board. But I went back to the States. I married a Mexican and he was interested in living abroad, something I could definately relate to! So we are here in the U.S. but both missing Mexico a lot. I was only in Mexico for two years, and it is just hard to believe how a place can grow on you... even when it aggravates you!

Anyway, I am working in a school district here.. I came in and they have no resources.. I am a new teacher, in fact, I didn't even teach while I was in Mexico, because we found out we were pregnant and I decided to stay at home instead (esp. since he was born in August, right when school starts!)

So can anyone offer up any resources. I am specifically wanting a skeleton of something... like first teach pronouns, or these vocabulary words, and then those etc. Or just a really good textbook. Also, something appropriate for high school students. Lots of great stuff out there for elementary and for adults, but the adolescents are a bit tougher I think.

Enjoy your time in Mexico!

[Dragonlady]

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[aliaeli]

I have two classes.... a true beginners group with intermediates mixed in and one student who is completely fluent, just has awful spelling (and after consulting the special ed teacher we both agree that there is language interferance as opposed to something like dyslexia).
I also have a very advanced group-- many do better on tests in their other classes (like science and history) than even the native speakers. But I have a couple of high intermediates in there as well, that I feel are slipping through the cracks because I have to teach to these extremely advanced students or else they will get bored or resentful (and some are for being placed in the class). Anyway, I am digressing... I am hoping for next semester to get this straightened out and have a true beginner group focused on vocabulary an intermediate group focused on conversation and perhaps an advanced group focused on reading and writing.
I think that the school would definately be open to my ideas and my laundry list, and there is a bit of a budget. Just when I arrived in August, there was no curriculum waiting for me. And some of the books and texts I did find, there isn`t enough of them for even half a class set.
There are not really any objectives that were set out for me, unless it is just get them to make AYP (annual yearly progress, goals guided by the NCLB). I know my beginners need to learn the language and start speaking it, and my advanced students... I don`t know.. read better and improve their grammar, I really feel they are out of the scope of the ESL curriculum.
For me, I received great training. I went to a top teachers college. My problem is really just lack of experience and also, I took the last four years off to start a family and so I feel a little rusty.

[Dragonlady]

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[aliaeli]

Oh, that is a good idea. I didn't even think about posting there. I will do it. Thanks. Sorry to the rest of you for posting semi off topic.