WooHee Jun - George Mason University



WooHee Jun

EDCI 519 – Summer 2007

Dr. Haley

July 8, 2007

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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 World School 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|Make note of possible cultural biases in the tests that may affect | |

|general school admissions test |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 |Check purchase order lists to ensure that all materials have arrived. | |

|equipment |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 |Read the files of all returning students & any information about new | |

|files |students | |

|Check to see what accommodations students may |Which students may be going to special classes? Which students have | |

|need |visual or hearing disabilities? Who needs to sit up front? | |

|Speak to specialists, librarian, nurse, AV & |Build a rapport with all colleagues & staff members | |

|maintenance staff, security personnel | | |

|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 |Welcome letter, supplies list, emergency forms, school & classroom | |

|first day (translated into ELLs’ first |rules, bus or transportation rules, note to parents, request for | |

|languages, if possible) |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, |Store in plastic cabinet drawers | |

|tissues | | |

|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

o Get to know you

o Biography project

o Student journal

o letter home

o school orientation

o school supplies list

o basic syllabus and grading policy

o daily routine (Enter room procedure >>> day/date, agenda, warm-up >>> closing proc.)

o buddies

o 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

o name placards

o student contact cards

o student pick ‘em up sticks

o student file folders and case

• Assemble basic materials

o bag for materials to be graded

o timer

o Koosh

o big binders

o transparencies

o Vis-à-vis markers

o yardstick

o flashlight

o calendar

o candy

o Cuisenere rods

o attention getter

o world map

o N. America map

o push pins

o yarn

o manipulatives

o general class learning/art supplies

Develop knowledge about school and procedures

• learn school layout

• Find out about procedures

o lesson plans

o grading

o making copies

o attendance

o A/V resources

o Individual Education Plans

o taking field trips

• Meet essential staff

o front office

o counseling

o administration

o library

o specials teachers

o 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

Martin Herrmann

Read student files in office

Decide layout and set up classroom, including wall décor

Unpack boxes from move

Get Class list

Prepare nuts-and-bolts policies for year

Set up Grade book

Prepare a filing system for everything

Go over year plan

Work on first unit

Have classroom supplies for myself and students

Make a survey/questionnaire for students to fill out (sensitive to ELLs!)

Prepare some Get-To-Know-Each-Other activities

Write greeting letter to parents—have translated into Thai, if possible

Ken Rowe

EDCI 519

Dr. Haley

10 July 2007

|Before the Students Arrive... |After the Students Have Arrived... |

|1.  Review roster of students | |

|    a)  Ensure pronunciation of names, if possible |1.  Introduce Classroom & Environs |

|    b)  Note nationality of each S |    a)  Allow "experienced" Ss to guide newcomers |

|    c)  Birthdays & Age (in native & Western) |    b)  Collectively craft classroom rules |

|    d)  Length of time at school |    c)  Plenty of introductions, L1 OK at first |

|    e)  Previous schooling | |

| |2.  Establish Routines & Procedures |

|2.  Classroom Maintenance |    a)  Lunch! |

|    a)  Organize desks |    b)  Recess! |

|    b)  Emergency procedures clearly posted |    c)  Proper maintenance of lockers & other school property |

|    c)  World map |    d)  Requirements for specials (PE kit, etc.) |

|    d)  Blank space for Ss to fill | |

|    e)  Organize library | |

|    f)  Straighten clutter | |

| | |

|3.  Administrative | |

|    a)  Ensure Ss properly enrolled | |

|    b)  Obtain Ss timetables | |

|    c)  Print up individualized timetables | |

|    d)  Organize portfolio collection area | |

|    e)  Print out surveys to distribute | |

|Personal & Professional Development |

|1.  Review California State standards |

|2.  Plot out first two weeks of classes, minimum |

|3.  Update Rubicon, ensuring standards aligned |

|4.  Brush up on Japanese/Korean greetings & simple expressions |

|5.  Get enough rest |

|6.  Set up grade book / lesson plan book |

|7.  Build "Phrase of the Day" list |

New School Year Checklist for ESOL Teachers

Before the first day of school…

__ Take a tour of the school

__ Become familiar with the school library and what it has to offer

__ Select textbooks for students

__ Purchase and organize lesson planning notebook or binder

__ Purchase grade book

__ Prepare year-long goals and plan, as appropriate (once you

have received class roster and have some familiarity with where

students are in their ability levels)

__ Prepare a course overview or syllabus, as appropriate

__ Prepare a list of supplies that your students will need for your class

__ Prepare classroom (if you have your own) with the following materials:

__ Large calendar

__ Flat map of the world

__ Clock

__ Chalk / dry erase markers

__ Materials for word walls

__ Classroom library books / literature

__ Learning center materials

__ Think about and create class seating chart

__ Other supplies students will need throughout the year (colored paper, art

supplies, etc.)

__ Purchase or Prepare name placards for students so you can get to know their names

__ Attend Teachers’ in-service orientation / training:

__ Become familiar with and trained on school’s grading policies and procedures

__ Become familiar with school’s attendance policies and procedures

__ Ensure that you understand the school’s free and reduced lunch program

__ Determine staff members who you need to know in the school (i.e. nurse, counselor,

janitors, etc.)

__ Introduce yourself to the people you’ve decided you need to know

__ Obtain schedule and roster for classes

__ Introduce yourself to and begin to build rapport with your students’ classroom

teachers

__ Find out where students are coming from, what languages they speak, etc.

__ Look up Dr. Haley’s “six words” in each of these languages

__ Create a cheat sheet with the words, as appropriate

__ Ask any questions that remain unanswered after attending orientation

__ Familiarize yourself with the neighborhood surrounding the school

__ Gain an understanding of the neighborhoods where your students live

__ Prepare lesson plan for Day 1, including activities that will help you assess where students

are in their proficiency levels

On the first day of school…

__ Have students introduce themselves or each other

__ Have students write their names on placards you can learn them quickly

__ Provide students with a course overview (or syllabus), if possible (depending on ability level)

__ Give students a list of supplies they will need for class (Try to determine if some will not be

able to purchase these supplies.)

__ Establish class rules together as a group

__ Post the rules on the wall

__ Determine how the rules will be enforced / consequences for broken rules

__ Assign roles for students for the week / month, as appropriate (class monitor, rule keeper,

making announcements, collecting attendance cards, collecting homework, etc.)

__ Find out who is on free or reduced lunch

__ Determine who has food allergies and to what… make a note of this to keep handy

__ Determine who takes medication and when… be sure to have introduced yourself to the

school nurse

__ Let students know that you have an open door policy- that you are there to help, support,

and encourage them to succeed

__ Find out when Family Night occurs

__ Determine a way to send a message home to parents / caretakers (in the home language, if

necessary), to introduce yourself and describe the class and goals to your students’

caregivers. Make sure they know about your open door policy as well.

April Dalton

To Do List

To Learn:

❑ School policies and requirements

❑ Grading scales

❑ Assessment rubrics and placement test specifications

❑ Meet other teachers

❑ Learn about the students in my class and their backgrounds if possible

❑ Daily schedule

❑ How to check out materials such as projectors or computers

❑ What resources are available to the students (Computer lab? Counseling? Supplies or Materials?)

❑ Communicating with parents, (what are the school procedures?)

To Prepare:

❑ Read all supplied texts and formulate course plan and unit plans

❑ Write first week of lesson plans

❑ Prepare necessary visual aids needed for first week, such as classroom routines and rules and daily schedule

❑ Set up classroom (bulletin board, appropriate posters, decoration, desks, learning centers, book area, etc.)

❑ Prepare a grading book

❑ Make name tags

❑ Reading material (books, magazines, young adult novels, elementary readers, picture books, etc.)

❑ Compile appropriate “filler” activities for early finishers

❑ Gather age/context appropriate games, (20 questions, mad-libs, scattergories, catch phrase, scrabble, phonics cards, vowel cards, etc.)

To Buy:

❑ Paper (writing, drawing, and construction)

❑ Pencils, pens

❑ Stapler

❑ Paper clips, rubber bands

❑ Markers, crayons

❑ Manila folders

❑ Art Supplies

❑ Hand sanitizer and Kleenex

❑ Supplemental texts

❑ Organizational system (for storing my completed lessons)

❑ Carrying cart to tote my things around

❑ Classroom sets of any particular books or readers that I need

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