Delegating Responsibility: Classroom Jobs

Sarah LynnSarah Lynn

Delegating Responsibility: Classroom Jobs

As you plan for the new school year, consider setting up a system of classroom jobs for students. The benefits are plentiful. By taking on specific responsibilities for their classroom, students practice new skills in communication and leadership. They also develop a strong sense of co-responsibility for their learning community and they usually improve their attendance.

A List of Possible Classroom Jobs:

Technology Assistant

  • Cues the audio on the CD player. …

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Tips for Collaborative Learning

Sarah LynnSarah Lynn

Tips for Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning is a great way for students to strengthen their communication skills and build community in the classroom, but it isn’t always easy. Here are a few tips I have for managing collaborative learning in the classroom.

1. Explain the value

Group work is new to some students. Make sure you explain the value in working together. …
Better yet, ask students to explain the value of group work. My students most frequent responses are:

  • “I can learn from my classmates.”
  • “It’s fun to teach someone.”
  • “We get more practice speaking and listening.” Continue reading

Connecting Research to Practice: Memory and How We Teach English

Sarah Lynn Sarah Lynn

Connecting Research to Practice: Memory and How We Teach English

With the help of technologies such as MRIs we have recently learned a lot about how the
brain and memory work. These findings can inform our teaching in many wonderful ways.


In this article I have compiled a table connecting research to classroom practice. In the left column I list established findings on how memory works. In the right column I suggest ways those findings translate into good classroom practices. … I welcome your input and feedback. Please send your comments or classroom suggestions to the Teacher2Teacher blog.




Sarah Lynn
currently teaches at a literacy/learning program in Cambridge, MA. She has trained volunteers and led workshops on many aspects of teaching adult education students. Sarah has taught ESL for 20 years in the U.S. and abroad. Sarah is a series author and a featured instructor on the
Future Teacher Training DVD.

“Ask Sarah Lynn “Our Teacher’s Helper” is
part of the 
Future website.


.

Student Presentations

Sarah LynnStudent Presentations
Sarah Lynn

My students enjoy giving formal presentations. With a predictable format but open topics, students get the opportunity to challenge themselves and make a unique contribution to the class.

How-to Presentations

During break-time, I’ve noticed how often students share knowledge about how to get things done in the U.S. I decided to bring that conversation out of the hallway (and their native tongue) and into the class for everyone to hear. …

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Goal Setting in the Low-Level Classroom

Sarah Lynn Sarah Lynn

Goal Setting in the Low-Level Classroom

Why is goal setting important to our students?

  • It focuses students’ learning, making them more purposeful and self-directed in their studies.
  • It gives students a meaningful measure by which they can assess their progress.

What is a good goal?

“Good goals” are effective goals. They are feasible, specific, and have small manageable steps.

How do I get low-level students to set goals?

Here is one way to get low level ESOL students to set specific, feasible goals. …

Set Language Goals

1. Identify Language Needs

  • Show the class pictures of people in daily life in the U.S. For example:

    Talking with a bank teller.

    Asking for directions on a street.

    Talking with a doctor while being examined.

    Returning an item at a clothing store.

    Talking with a teacher at a parent-teacher conference.
    Ordering food from a restaurant.

    Applying for a job.

    Talking with a pharmacist about some medication.

  • For each photo ask:

    Where are they?

    What are they doing?

    Is your English ok in this situation?

    Do you want to learn more English to speak in this situation?

  • Write a title for each photo. [For example: Talk to a person in the bank.]

2. Select a Goal

  • Place the photos with their titles in different parts of the room.
  • Ask students: Which one is most important to you?
  • Students stand next to their most important goal. Everyone in the class can see students have different goals.

3. Write down Goals

  • Students only choose three goals.
  • Students can complete a contract like this:
Name:____________________________________________
My Goals Check  off
I want to learn more English to:________________ _______
I want to learn more English to:________________ _______
I want to learn more English to:________________ _______
Student signature __________________________ Date _____
Student signature __________________________ Date _____

Achieve Goals
1. Plan with the class.

  • As you start a new unit, ask the class: What English do you need to ____________[talk to a person in a bank]? Students may say: bank vocabulary, ask and answer bank questions, complete bank forms.
  • Write students’ ideas. Add other ideas that are in your textbook unit, too. Then show students the unit, show them how they will learn each of these sub-sets of skills.

2. Introduce each step.

  • Explain what you are doing and why. Always relate the sub-set skills to the bigger goal. For example:
    Now we are going to [study bank vocabulary]. This will help you talk to person in a bank.

3. Assess.

  • At the end of each step, give students a chance to test their mastery in a brief evaluation. Keep it simple. For example:
A quick test¦ to assess¦
Dictate key words and have students write sentences using the words. Vocabulary mastery
Dictate key content words. Spelling
Ask content questions and have students individually write the answers. Comprehension of content
Write sentences with grammar errors on the board. Students in pairs identify errors in sentences and correct them. Grammar mastery
Write prompts on the board and have students compose questions and answers. Grammar mastery
Students perform a short role play. Communicative competence

Share your ideas on my Teacher2Teacher blog.


Sarah Lynn
currently teaches at a literacy/learning program in Cambridge, MA. She
has trained volunteers and led workshops on many aspects of teaching
adult education students. Sarah has taught ESL for 20 years in the U.S.
and abroad. Sarah is a series author and a featured instructor on the
Future 
Teacher Training DVD. 


“Ask Sarah Lynn“ Our
Teacher’s Helper”
is part of the Future
website
.




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