Staying organized and incorporating language learning into classroom

management while you’re at it

J. E. SeibertTokyo International University of America

2009

Organizing Tipsfor New (and not so new)

ESL/EFL Teachers

Why stay organized?Reduces teacher and learner anxietyIncreases shared assumptionsCreates a predictable classroom “culture” where

the outside culture may be confusing Maximizes use of prep and teaching timeAllows for novelty and creativity within a

predictable frameworkMakes you look like you know what you’re doingMakes teaching the course again easier

•Checklist of things to do•Lesson plan form•Template for handouts or web pages

•Student number

Term/year start up

Course scheduleand day’s “agenda”

Post the course schedule and homework

Websitecalendarexample

Have a student write the day’s agenda on the board

Calling on students

Making pairs and groups

Making pairs and groups1. Name cards: easy to

move around2. Old scrabble tiles for

determining order

Making pairs and groups3. Vocabulary review

Give a different review word to each student in half the class and a corresponding definition to the other half

4. Using dictionaries for pronunciation

Write a new or difficult word on cards: enough words for half the class or a third of the class (for groups of 3). Give each student a card. Each student looks up the word, practices saying it, then circulates saying the word. Students compare their pronunciations.

Making pairs and groups5. Grammar review

Half the class has sentence beginnings and half have sentence ending. Students circulate and find a partner that allows for a correct sentence.

6. GeographyFor pronunciation,

allocate place names: two or three students have the same name. They find each other.

For content knowledge, half the class has a place name the other have each has the geographic location

Timing activities“Kitchen” timer Three-minute timer

“Job” cards

Bright cards of different colors

For exampleLeaderRecorder-ReporterTime keeper-Trouble shooter

Using board spaceThe same information always in the same place

Dartmouth Recorderfor student speaking

http://helix.dartmouth.edu/dl-recorder/

For absent students: folders with handouts and returned work

Password protected web access

My favorite: Gradekeeperhttp://www.gradekeeper.com/

Electronic grade booksA B C D E F

Storing materials for next time: paper and/or on a web server

Notebook File box