|
Dear Fli,
I don't feel as though team work is really happening at my site. As a
new computer teacher, I am not sure what direction I should be taking. How can
I get the lead teacher and the children's teacher to be more involved in planning this component of the program? When we sit down the half hour before class time, we review the night's agenda, but I would like
to discuss the bigger picture as to how we can and should be integrating computers.
What should I do?
Sincerely,
Wishing for Teamwork
Dear Wishing
for Teamwork,
Even though the teaching team at your site meets regularly
to discuss your plans for each class, it sounds like you are not talking about your overall plans or goals for the students—including
how computer time fits into this. As a key member of the team, it is more than okay for you to make sure that your group takes
the time to do this. Try setting up a separate meeting time (not just before class, when everyone is doing last minute prep
as well) to discuss each teacher’s overall goals for the semester and how each person’s work can support the other
components of the program. Bring some ideas of how computer time could be used
more effectively and integrated more. You might suggest that the class work on a Web Quest as a family activity. Web Quests
can be designed to fit into just about any theme that the class may be working on, so it should be possible to make this fit
in with the goals of your lead teacher and to find ways for the children to be involved as well. Also, sit in regularly on
both the adult and children’s classes so that you can be familiar with their curricula and design complementary computer
activities. Good luck!
- The Fli
Dear Fli,
When I ask my students why they need to learn English,
they always say “I need it for everything.” How can I get them to be more specific about their learning objectives
so that I can use this information in my lesson planning and goal setting?
Sincere ly,
Seeking Specifics
Dear Seeking Specifics,
Don’t you just love that? The good news is that your
students are motivated to learn and see the need for it everywhere. The bad news is that you are trying to narrow down the
focus so you can write curricula to meet their needs more precisely. With an answer like "everything" you are left with a
huge nebulous "black hole" of directions and possibilities. There is a survey (named “goals survey and interview”)
located in your binder under "Accountability" that can be very helpful to figure out where students need English, how
are they practicing English and why they need the class. The most important question on the survey is "What do you want
to be able to do by June?" And this is where the teacher can step in and give suggestions which are concrete and
obtainable, like “Would you like to call up and order a prescription?" This survey was created by a former RIFLI
teacher and it could be developed even more. Kristen would welcome feedback and ideas on it.
Please send your thoughts to kmckenna@provlib.org.
- The Fli
Submit your classroom challenge questions to the FLI at
nninneman@provlib.org. Technology, adult and children questions will be responded to by an appropriate advisor!
|
