Thursday, April 23, 2020

Suggested Professional Development Actions for Teachers

(TESOL Worksheets--Workshops and Teacher Development)
Google: docs, pub
[Note: This one comes under my manager hat.  At my school, after we observe teachers, we are supposed to suggest a professional development action for them.  This often can take the form of watching a short video, or reading a short article.  Recently I was thinking that I was spending a lot of time tracking down appropriate videos or articles, and that it might be useful for me to start indexing the material that I was using.  This is a work in progress, so my plan is to keep adding to this index as I find new materials.  I'm going to keep editing and updating the google doc, but I might not keep updating this blog post.  For for the most recent edition, check the Google doc linked to  above]

General Classroom Management


Giving Instructions

Problem

Professional Development Action

Teacher uses unsimplified language when giving instructions

Or, teacher repeats instructions several times instead of using Instruction Checking Questions

Watch Youtube video on Giving clear instructions

If it’s a problem with low-level students, then also watch: Teaching English to Beginners





Language Lessons (Grammar and Vocabulary)


Staging

Problem

Professional Development Action

The lesson consists of just a series of controlled practice exercises, without the teacher ever attempting to clarify the meaning or form of the target language

Teacher is given this lesson plan flowchart.  They then plan out their next lesson using this table, and share it with their manager.


Presentation Stage

Problem

Professional Development Action

Grammar: Teacher attempts to convey the meaning of grammar to students using decontextualized sentences instead of establishing a situation

For the theory, watch Youtube video: A few tips on presenting grammar

For a demonstration, watch Youtube video: Teaching a Grammatical Structure

Vocabulary: Teacher presents vocabulary using pictures without first establishing a context

Watch Youtube Video: CELTA ESSENTIALS: Using context


Clarification Stage

Problem

Professional Development Action

Teacher explains the grammar or vocabulary by lecture, without eliciting from the students.

For grammar: Read this article: TEACHING GRAMMAR: HOW TO ELICIT FUNCTION AND FORM

For vocabulary: Watch this Youtube video: Eliciting and Concept Checking at Transworld Schools

Teacher conveys the meaning of grammar or vocabulary, but forgets to use Concept Checking Questions to check it

Watch Youtube Video: CELTA - Concept checking - structures


Teacher does not drill pronunciation of new language.

If the class is low-level, portions of this Youtube video, Teaching English to Beginners, deal with the importance of drilling with low-level students. 


Controlled Practice

Problem

Solution

The student makes a grammar mistake.  The teacher corrects it by supplying the correct answer themselves, but does not provide the students any guidance as to why it was a mistake.

Teacher looks at a list of possible ways to correct an error.  Then the teacher decides which ways would work best in their situation. Follow-up with a brief discussion with their manager.


Receptive Skills

Staging

Problem

Professional Development Action

Teacher is confused about the basic staging of a receptive skills lesson.

Read this blog post: CELTA Lesson Frameworks: Receptive skills lessons



Reading Comprehension Questions

Problem

Professional Development Action

Teacher gives out reading comprehension questions, and then immediately calls on students for the answers without allowing students time to first work through the questions themselves

Have the teacher read about the Task Feedback Cycle in Learning Teaching by Jim Scrivener.  (Pages 174-176 in the 2nd edition.  Pages 254-256 in the 3rd edition--online HERE)

The teacher gets very frustrated with students when they can’t answer a reading comprehension question, but doesn’t attempt to support or guide the students

Read this article: Helping ESL students understand written texts


Worksheet: Reading Support Strategies for Low Level students and Answers


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