What kind of subplans can I leave as an ESL pullout teacher?

esldreamer · Post by **esldreamer** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:43 am

I teach ESL in a pull-out setting in a 3rd-6th grade elementary school. I have six different groups all at different levels, most of whom can't do much independent work. My principal asks me to leave sub-plans if I'm going to be absent. I spend hours creating things for the sub to do with my students and I write out entire lesson plans for each group, including what the sub should write, say, do, etc. because there are no substitutes who are certified in ESL or who even have experience with it so they often don't know how to interact and assist my students. The most frustrating part is that I often spend all this time making the plans, but then there won't even be a substitute available because the mainstream classrooms get priority if a sub is needed. Or, when I come back the following day, my students ask me to reteach the lesson I had left with the sub because they didn't understand it when the sub taught it. I feel like I put in all that planning work for nothing!!!!

Does anyone have any suggestions about how I could prepare sub-plans more easily and quickly that would be easy on me and easy on the sub? Any good resources? Any good ideas for simple things to leave that students can do without too much guidance. I teach all the subjects to my ELLs including Social Studies, Science, Reading, Writing, plus all the regular ESL stuff. My students range from newcomer beginners with no prior education to advanced.

Any help or suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks so much!!!!

Senorita Daniels · Post by **Senorita Daniels** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 12:40 pm

My high school Russian teacher just had us watch a documentry on Russia or some episodes of a video series and answer questions about them. If you could find some appropriate cartoons or shows for kids that help focus on reading skills or history (Liberty's Kids, maybe?) Then you won't have to worry about as detailed of plans or reteaching the classes.

esldreamer · Post by **esldreamer** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:14 pm

Thanks Senorita Daniels, I think that's a great idea but I don't know what videos are out there that would apply. I have students in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade who are beginners, intermediate, and advanced. My groups are grouped by grade and English proficiency level.

Anyone have any suggestions about specific videos that would fit my students' needs?

Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions.

pollitatica · Post by **pollitatica** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:43 am

Cartoonsy stuff, I would think. Cartoons and animated movies are easy for kids to follow, even if they don't understand everything really well. I would suggest disney movies or other kids movies.

Senorita Daniels · Post by **Senorita Daniels** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:10 pm

How about vocabulary review excersizes? Something that the kids are already familiar with.

esldreamer · Post by **esldreamer** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:15 pm

I don't know how I feel about leaving them movies to watch. Most of my students are intermediate/advanced. I can't justify pulling them out of their classrooms to come and watch a movie. If they stayed in their classrooms they would be getting some content. Even if they only understood 50%, it's better than nothing.
I decided that I'm going to try to approach my principal about this issue. I'm going to tell him that, unless there is a certified esl teacher who can sub for me, the other subs do not know how to modify the work for my students. They don't realize that they need to provide scaffolding and simplify the language. They don't model things for them....they just tell them what to do and expect them to do it.
I think it would be more beneficial to the students if they stayed in their classrooms if I'm out for a day or so. At least there, they will get some content area instruction rather than a movie or game.

Sally Olsen · Post by **Sally Olsen** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:12 pm

Before you do this, check with the teachers because they might be counting on you taking out these children and they will feel resentful that their carefully planned lessons are held back by children who are not able to follow. You can make up little practice packages of the material that you have already done in a binder and leave those for the subs. It would just mean putting things that you have already done in one place and you can change the binders every month. The sub will sign off on which activities they did so the next sub won't repeat the activities. I think that the students are much more adaptable than you give them credit for and will learn to get along with new people at any rate, even if they don't learn a lot of content. In some ways, this is the student's special time as well. Time to be noticed as a small group and with more individual help and they might count on the time away from class as well in order to be able to survive the school day. I wouldn't worry if you have to teach things again. I would also think of the position. It is hard enough to get school boards to recognize that these special positions are needed. If you want to emphasize that, then you need to let them know you should be replaced when you are away. But try not to be away. You sound just what these children need.