Hello! My name is Stephanie and I have recently began my first teaching job with E.L.L. (or any teaching job for that matter). The system that I have worked with for the past 4 years (including all my practicum and student teaching) was one in which all the students were in a central location. Now, I am a traveling teacher at 7 different schools. My total number of students is now at 70. I was wondering if you all have any tips or ideas for me. I plan on giving my students initial placement tests this week, but Im not really sure how to do this in the most effective way. I can feel my stress level rising ever so slowly (well, its picking up pace now) and I really need some help!
Thank you so much!
Brand New - just out of college - Teacher
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
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EFLwithlittleones
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2004 1:18 pm
placement tests
Being a new teacher and being expected to assess means you should also expect some support. So here are a few general orientation questions which might help you:
Have you got any senior colleagues to feedback to or work with? Have you been given a clear idea about what you are expected to achieve with your students? Is there a course book, language syllabus per school or relevant curriculum? Do you know what the level is of each of your classes? Do you know what you want to achieve?
Hopefully if you can get a few of these ducks in line then you'll feel a little less nervous about the tests.
Have you got any senior colleagues to feedback to or work with? Have you been given a clear idea about what you are expected to achieve with your students? Is there a course book, language syllabus per school or relevant curriculum? Do you know what the level is of each of your classes? Do you know what you want to achieve?
Hopefully if you can get a few of these ducks in line then you'll feel a little less nervous about the tests.
Thanks
First of all thank you for the response!
The answers to those questions were:
Yes. There are some other ELL teachers in the county that have kind of taken me under their wings. However, they are at schools other than my 7. I am the sole ELL teacher for these 7.
No.
No.
No.
and Yes.
I wasnt given really anything to work with. There were some language systems like Language for Learning left for me, but no levels defined (I didnt even get a class list...I had to go from teacher to teacher and ask if they had any students that MIGHT be in ELL.)
As of now, I have had to put the placement testing on hold because of file problems (mainly the lack of files) and major scheduling issues ("You can't have them then, that's their reading time," etc).
I am still above water though! Barely treading, but Im not drowning! lol!
Thanks again for your response!
-Stephanie
The answers to those questions were:
Yes. There are some other ELL teachers in the county that have kind of taken me under their wings. However, they are at schools other than my 7. I am the sole ELL teacher for these 7.
No.
No.
No.
and Yes.
I wasnt given really anything to work with. There were some language systems like Language for Learning left for me, but no levels defined (I didnt even get a class list...I had to go from teacher to teacher and ask if they had any students that MIGHT be in ELL.)
As of now, I have had to put the placement testing on hold because of file problems (mainly the lack of files) and major scheduling issues ("You can't have them then, that's their reading time," etc).
I am still above water though! Barely treading, but Im not drowning! lol!
Thanks again for your response!
-Stephanie
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ELL spring chicken
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2005 7:51 pm
- Location: US
You are not alone
Hi Stephanie,
I thought I was the only one in this situation. I am not at as many schools as you are. My kids are coming to me from four different schools. I teach K-12 newcomers (some who speak English and are coming to me because they only scored emergent on the Stanford, and some who are total beginners). Some are being bused to be with me for about 4 hours each morning. I teach the 6-12th graders in the afternoon.
I am waiting on the curriculum I am supposed to be using as well as you. Language for Learning is what I am supposed to be using, but I have not been trained for that ( I have been waiting on the district to get to that). I am going ahead with my own plans until I hear otherwise.
I am kind of hanging on like you. Wow! If I get any really good tips I will let you know.
An ELL friend of mine did tell me all about Elizabeth Claire's books. (Survival Guides) I have also ordered National Geographic Explorer for my older students. I may work in themes. One thing I need to remember is to focus on the basics. (I tend to focus on activities and hop around.) A routine is good. I am learning this.
Anyway, take care and good luck. This is going to be an exciting year.
Laurie
I thought I was the only one in this situation. I am not at as many schools as you are. My kids are coming to me from four different schools. I teach K-12 newcomers (some who speak English and are coming to me because they only scored emergent on the Stanford, and some who are total beginners). Some are being bused to be with me for about 4 hours each morning. I teach the 6-12th graders in the afternoon.
I am waiting on the curriculum I am supposed to be using as well as you. Language for Learning is what I am supposed to be using, but I have not been trained for that ( I have been waiting on the district to get to that). I am going ahead with my own plans until I hear otherwise.
I am kind of hanging on like you. Wow! If I get any really good tips I will let you know.
An ELL friend of mine did tell me all about Elizabeth Claire's books. (Survival Guides) I have also ordered National Geographic Explorer for my older students. I may work in themes. One thing I need to remember is to focus on the basics. (I tend to focus on activities and hop around.) A routine is good. I am learning this.
Anyway, take care and good luck. This is going to be an exciting year.
Laurie
Im so glad to know that I am not the only one in a situation like this! I will let you know if I hear any good tips as well!
My principal came up to me and asked me if I had any specific curriculum to go by. That made me even more nervous knowing that they didnt have one for me. I guess I will have to go and see if there is one set countywide. I am also just going with my own thing until then.
Good luck! Let me know how things are going!
My principal came up to me and asked me if I had any specific curriculum to go by. That made me even more nervous knowing that they didnt have one for me. I guess I will have to go and see if there is one set countywide. I am also just going with my own thing until then.
Good luck! Let me know how things are going!
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ELL spring chicken
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2005 7:51 pm
- Location: US
Oxford Picture Dictionary Curriculum
Hi Stephanie,
I just remembered a curriculum that I am going to order. Another teacher recommended the Oxford Picture Dictionary and the workbooks/CD's that can come with it.
I also received a demo of the Rosetta Stone software. It looks great.
Take care,
Laurie
I just remembered a curriculum that I am going to order. Another teacher recommended the Oxford Picture Dictionary and the workbooks/CD's that can come with it.
I also received a demo of the Rosetta Stone software. It looks great.
Take care,
Laurie
Does your state have an ESL curriculum? Contact the State Dept of Ed.
You can also look at this website
http://www.cal.org/eslstandards/
You can also look at this website
http://www.cal.org/eslstandards/
There are two things that you have to do. One: Follow policy and procedures in order to keep your job. Two: Fullfill your sacred obligation to teach children. However those two don't always work together. Find a curriculum (state, national, or local system). make a copy and post it in your classroom. Follow it on a daily basis.
However, to teach I suggest you follow your own teaching instincts. Assess and teach each child individually. The textbook teachers edition that my system uses employs a shotgun approach that helps some and misses a lot of others.
Some approaches that are extremely popular among esl instructors may or may not be appropriate for you. For example, TPR is great but its kind of useless for 95% of my students who speak English fairly well but can't write in English.
Hope this helps
However, to teach I suggest you follow your own teaching instincts. Assess and teach each child individually. The textbook teachers edition that my system uses employs a shotgun approach that helps some and misses a lot of others.
Some approaches that are extremely popular among esl instructors may or may not be appropriate for you. For example, TPR is great but its kind of useless for 95% of my students who speak English fairly well but can't write in English.
Hope this helps