WooHee Jun
EDCI 519 – Summer 2007
Dr. Haley
July 8, 2007
Back to School “To Do List”
A Guide for Teachers of English Language Learners
(Note: This may be more applicable for those teaching in international schools. This is based on a personal to-do list I plan to use for my new job at an IB WorldSchool in China).
A month before school starts
To do: / Additional notes: / when done!Get to know your new setting / Familiarize yourself with the country, its history, people, culture, customs, the local area & learn the basics of the language of the country
Obtain grade level curriculum & standards / Look at IB PYP “Programs of Inquiry” units for the year & specific standards used by the school
Review English language proficiency exams & the general school admissions test / Make note of possible cultural biases in the tests that may affect ELLs’ performance
Review school policies & procedures
Read teacher handbook / Pay particular attention to expectations of teachers: mode of dress, cultural factors to consider when speaking to parents
Print out TESOL standards & review / Review all the standards & start planning lessons that address those standards
Work on unit lesson plans / Incorporate “Programs of Inquiry” themes
Gather textbooks, reading books, audio equipment / Check purchase order lists to ensure that all materials have arrived. If not, locate the necessary materials.
Two weeks before school starts
To do: / Additional notes: / when done!Write weekly lesson plans / Gather materials you will need for the lessons
Check student roster & read student cumulative files / Read the files of all returning students & any information about new students
Check to see what accommodations students may need / Which students may be going to special classes? Which students have visual or hearing disabilities? Who needs to sit up front?
Speak to specialists, librarian, nurse, AV & maintenance staff, security personnel / Build a rapport with all colleagues & staff members
Prepare a file to document correspondence with parents
Prepare journals for each student
Make student name tags for desks
Create student files / Make separate files for work samples (portfolio), anecdotal notes & checklists
Create folder for substitute teachers / Include necessary student accommodations
Make a checklist for returned forms / It can be used later for report cards
Decide where to place equipment / Consider places to put the computer(s), electronic white board, overhead projector, TV
A week before school starts
To do list: / Additional notes: / when done!Set up learning centers / Audio materials (such as cassette player, headsets,) & clipboards
Make signs for the room / Put up signs to assist ELL comprehension. Classroom rules, daily procedure, visuals, “Who, what, when, where, why, how” questions
Decorate bulletin boards / Decide where to put announcements, calendars, display of students’ work, area for students to design
Put teacher’s name outside the door / Put a welcoming message on the door
Prepare packets for students to take home the first day (translated into ELLs’ first languages, if possible) / Welcome letter, supplies list, emergency forms, school & classroom rules, bus or transportation rules, note to parents, request for parent volunteers
Prepare first aid kit / Stock basic first aid supplies
Review & post fire drill procedures
Prepare list of emergency names & numbers / School doctor, nurse, principal, parents, emergency help, local police station
Write tentative daily lesson plans for the first week
Obtain all necessary supplies / __ extra writing & construction paper
__ grade book
__ spare pencils/pens, paper clips,tape
__ stapler & staples
__ manila folders
The day before school starts
To do list: / Additional notes: / when done!Buy plants to put around the room
Buy bottles of water, plastic cups, snacks, tissues / Store in plastic cabinet drawers
Write your name on the board & put up the world map
Duplicate materials needed for the first few days
Check out library books and read-alouds
Air out & clean the room / Dust, vacuum, mop, wipe desk tops, computers
Check the temperature of the room / Make sure it is not too cold, not too warm
Get a good night’s sleep / Look forward to your new adventure!
And… school begins!
A “To Do” list for the new school year
Tim Lyons
EDCI 519
9 July 2007
Here is a list of things that you can do to help prepare you for a successful school year.
1. Learn about any changes made to the staff and/or curriculum over the summer.
2. Learn about you new schedule.
3. Learn as much as you can about your students before the year starts.
4. Prepare at least two weeks of lessons.
5. Prepare a supply of audio and visual aids.
6. Prepare a list of possible guest speakers.
7. Prepare a list of ideas for field trips.
8. Prepare your classroom.
9. Prepare various types of seating charts to be used throughout the year for different purposes.
10. Prepare yourself for differentiated teaching.
11. Learn and/pr review local, state, and national standards.
12. Prepare a resource packet for substitute teachers to draw upon.
13. Prepare a list of classroom rules, policies and procedures.
sa Oyegun
Dr. Marjorie Haley
EDCI 519
July 10, 2007
Teacher ‘To Do’ List
Administrative:
Find out what curriculum you’ll be teaching, as well as grade and ESL levels.
Review emergency and administrative procedures for school.
Meet staff, explore the school grounds
Review national, state, and local standards for ESL instruction.
Get to know your students:
Review class roster
What cultures & languages are represented in your classroom?
Learn about individual cultures & practices.
Look for distinctive comments about each student.
Determine each student’s length of previous study & proficiency level.
Create a profile page for each student. Use as reference throughout the year as well as a way to track progress.
Create a daily journal/log to keep track of unique or interesting occurrences.
Create portfolios for each student to include all information regarding student progress.
Create emergency contact information for distribution and collection during first class.
Write a letter to students’ parents or families introducing yourself and informing them that you are there to help and hope to have regular parent-teacher communication. Translate the letter if necessary and include contact information.
Planning:
Determine program goals and objectives.
Begin to develop curriculum overview that aligns with national, state, and local standards.
Begin to develop course/program, unit, and daily lesson plans.
Analyze, select, and order textbooks and support material (dictionaries, multimedia, office supplies, world map, etc.).
Professional Development:
Meet with lead Teacher and discuss/schedule development classes
Sign up for ESL educational list-serves/mailing lists
Establish rapport with other teachers and promote a support system that’s beneficial to the teachers.
Cynthia Chenault’s To Do List
One month before the First Day of School:
_____ Review national, state, school and TESOL standards; ESL department goals and curriculum
_____ Brainstorm a program plan, unit plan, weekly plans and routines
_____ Review sample lesson plans provided by past ESL teachers
_____ Brainstorm ideas for themes, rainy day games, management strategies, learning centers
_____ Prepare any pieces for games
_____ Design classroom layout
_____ Design bulletin board layout(s) and uses
During In-service (the week before the First Day of School):
_____ Meet with Department Head to learn about new structure of department
_____ Meet other new teacher in the department and begin to establish a working relationship
_____ Review past student portfolios and make portfolios for new students
_____ Learn about ESL exit criteria and procedures
_____ Get a list of the emergency procedures and bad weather procedures for the school
_____ Get the Staff Roster
_____ Get security badge
_____ Make bulletin boards and decorate classroom
_____ Arrange classroom and prepare learning centers
_____ Begin developing program, unit, weekly and daily plans and first day ideas with the ESL team
_____ Plan activities for inviting parents and other staff to dept
_____ Meet the new Girls School Coordinator and invite her to visit the department
_____ Review the placement assessment tool
_____ Organize classroom supplies
_____ Prepare substitute plans
_____ Find out the library schedule and computer lab schedule for availability (possible projects)
_____ Get class roster and student background information
(returning student? new to the country? amount of previous schooling? Has she been assessed?)
_____ Find out other duties (lunch duty, carpool duty, bus duty, morning auditorium?)
_____ Review textbooks (ESL and content – appropriate to my level and grade)
_____ Meet with Gen Ed teachers that I will be pushing into their classroom (if applicable)
_____ Prepare a “Where in the world are you from?” map with teachers already included
(ready with push pins, yarn and students’ names)
The Morning of the First Day of School:
_____ Write Day, Date and agenda on the board
_____ Prepare sign in attendance clip board with my name as an example near the entrance of classroom
_____ Review the day’s activities of getting to know each other
_____ Consider most logical route for school tour
_____ Rehearse Arabic greetings (and any others, if applicable)
_____ Finish my cup of coffee, take a deep breath and smile
Natalya Boyle
It’s important to get a new school year off to a good start. The questions I would like to have answered before the first day of a new school year:
- What is the curriculum I have to follow?
- Is there a set of standards that the curriculum is aligned with?
- Do I have an outline of my goals for the year/ semester?
- What forms of assessment are used by this school?
- Have I introduced myself to everyone I need to know at the school?
- Who is my lead teacher/ possible mentor?
- Have I made friends with the technology specialist?
- Am I familiar with the lay-out of school (library, computer lab, restrooms, cafeteria, fire escape routes, etc.)?
- Do I have the supplies I need?
- Have I decorated my classroom to make it appealing and welcoming to my students?
- Have I looked at my roster and identified what countries/linguistic backgrounds my students are from?
- Do I possess enough knowledge about my students’ cultures to help me relate to them efficiently in the first stages of getting to know them?
- Have I planned getting acquainted/ building rapport activities in a broad enough range of proficiency levels?
Valerie van Lier
July 6, 2007
Back to School Checklist
Santa Cruz Cooperative School,Bolivia
New School
□Take an extensive tour
□Meet administration, teachers and staff
□Attend introduction days and make list of questions (be sure to ask about any cultural customs we need to be aware of)
Policies and Procedures
□Read through the teacher handbook
□Review the curriculum requirements
□Review standards which need to be met
□Review Iowa Test of Basic Skills – find out when taken
□Review ERB writing prompt – find out when taken
□Set long-term goals – check with principal
□Review expected school wide learning results/ mission statement
□Review new list of staff members
□Ask someone to teach me Grade Quick Program
□Ask how to take roll call
□Review policy on photocopies
□Review policies on field trips
□Review procedures for textbooks/ classroom materials
□Review procedures for attendance and conduct
□Review procedures for emergency drills (prepare folder with class list and procedures to be accessible at the nearest exit door)
□Review procedures for medical emergencies
□Review after school programs
My own organization
□Learn Spanish
□Learn 6 basic words in any other languages my students speak
□Learn Grade Quick Program for grading
□Learn programs on Mac computer
□Prepare an emergency lesson plan
□Prepare Grading Book
□Prepare Lesson Plan Book
□Prepare roll-call book
□Organize desk –set it up in strategic manner so it is close to the students and that you have clear overview of classroom
Students
□Review names on roster
□Check for medical issues and ensure that the health center is informed of all students on medication
□Check for special needs and speak guidance counselor
□Check if portfolios are updated
□Prepare name stickers for seating arrangement later
Classroom
□Arrange tables in groups (check if everyone has clear view of board, etc.)
□Check for technology manipulatives: tv/ dvd/ cd player/ OHP/ computer
□Ensure all textbooks/ manipulatives are there
□Prepare leveled reading books
□Create centers: reading/ writing/ math/ science/ social studies/ conflict resolution
□Prepare sheet to establish” classroom resolutions”
□Prepare “learning tree” (each leaf will define what we have learned)
□Prepare “word wall”
□Prepare strings across ceiling to prepare “dreams”
□Put up inspiring posters
□Prepare letter for the parents introducing yourself (and assistant), give a little background information, outline the curriculum plan and a list of what students need to bring to class (notebooks, pen/pencil/eraser/pencil sharpener/ scissors/ ruler, pillow for DEAR time, “phone” etc.)
□Prepare student agendas/ take-home books
□Prepare task master sheet for student jobs with names of all the students
□Prepare a big classroom calendar
□Prepare daily schedule area
□Prepare Library check out poster to stay informed about what students read
□Ensure there is a globe or get one
□Put up world map/ pushpins/ string
□Prepare small info sheets with space for picture and name (on map)
□Prepare clock sheets to have “hour” buddies
□Ensure a place for students to put lunch boxes, bags etc.
□Buy flowers for the classroom
Class Organization
□Prepare portfolios for each student
□Prepare anecdotal records assessment
□Prepare performance samples assessment
□Prepare language development profiles
□Prepare a poster on which students can schedule meetings with me
□Prepare daily/ weekly / unit lesson plans
□Prepare exit slips/ post-its for closure each day
□Prepare pre-assessments
□Prepare introduction games day
□Prepare system for absentees
□Prepare conflict resolution papers (think papers)
□Pick a book for Read-Aloud
First day of class
□Stand at the door as students enter
□Introduce yourself
□Set agenda
□Date on board – explain class calendar
□Play introductory games: interview and introduce your neighbor/ find someone who/ clock buddies/ find someone and let them tell (or draw) you the most exciting thing about their summer holiday
□Have student chart themselves on world map with pushpins/ short info chart (prepare layout before hand)
□Take students on school tour/ assign buddies
□Make a “School Rules” and “Class Resolutions” poster with students
□Brainstorm about class jobs and make a chart
□Write something they learned last year and something they would like to learn this year
□Have students write/illustrate their dreams
□Closure
□Stand at the door as students leave (know their names and say goodbye in their language!)
Greg’s “How on Earth am I going to get all of this done?” To Do List
Big picture prep
- read the SIOP book
- read Harry Wong’s “First Days of School”
- look at an Access exam sample and learn the scoring
- read a book on Mexican culture & familiarize cultural calendar
- learn more about my students and prepare to visit their homes
- get access to last year’s student performance data (if available)
- learn the state ESL and 7th grade content standards
- talk with last year’s Intensive English Language teacher
- meet and get input from ESOL team
- design content knowledge pre-assessments
- find out about available measures to test for L1 fluency
First day readiness
- Create first day activities
- Get to know you
- Biography project
- Student journal
- letter home
- school orientation
- school supplies list
- basic syllabus and grading policy
- daily routine (Enter room procedure > day/date, agenda, warm-up > closing proc.)
- buddies
- procedures for student folder management, borrowing materials, leaving the classroom, tardiness/absenteeism/discipline
- design seating chart
- basic phrases in students’ L1s cheat sheet
- Buy materials
- name placards
- student contact cards
- student pick ‘em up sticks
- student file folders and case
- Assemble basic materials
- bag for materials to be graded
- timer
- Koosh
- big binders
- transparencies
- Vis-à-vis markers
- yardstick
- flashlight
- calendar
- candy
- Cuisenere rods
- attention getter
- world map
- N. America map
- push pins
- yarn
- manipulatives
- general class learning/art supplies
Develop knowledge about school and procedures
- learn school layout
- Find out about procedures
- lesson plans
- grading
- making copies
- attendance
- A/V resources
- Individual Education Plans
- taking field trips
- Meet essential staff
- front office
- counseling
- administration
- library
- specials teachers
- custodial staff
Get a jump on the competition
- sign up for computer lab time
- sign up for library time
- order AV materials
Room readiness
- class rules (basic version)
- class library
- classroom decorations
- standards
- word wall
- room labels
- school map/safety info
- map of where students are from
Planning
- 1st quarter lesson plans
- 1st two week lesson plans
- testing/grades/parent meetings schedule
- staff in-service calendar
- daily schedule
Back to School To Do List