Most Apprehensive About Teaching Lab in ESOL

As a person starts any new endeavor there are always many apprehensions that come along with this adventure. As I embark on my new journey with my teaching lab for ESOL I am most nervous about being able to write proper ESOL lesson plans. I feel confident in my ability to write lesson plans; however, adding the ESOL accomodations is somewhat of a struggle for me at this point. Although, as I progress in the lab I am hoping I learn how to write a proper lesson plan for an EL student. Another apprehension I have is, will I be able to connect with the students? In the past, I have had problems connecting with the children. Granted it has taken a day or so for the children to get used to me coming into their classroom, but since I have not worked with EL students before I hope that I will be able to bond with these children and build a relationship with them. Every time I go into these labs, I go into them with an open mind and this lab is no exception. I have a lot of goals set for myself with this lab that I want to accomplish because I have not taught ESOL before. I want to expand my teaching skills and learn more about this area in teaching. Eventhough I have a lot of emotions going into this lab, I am extremely excited to begin and see what lies ahead of me!

Predicticable Routines and Signals in the Classroom

In the classroom, it is important to have some measure of routine that the students can predict from day to day. This consistency helps reduce anxiety and helps students relax and focus on the instruction. EL students do not always completely understand what is said in the classroom, which is why it is important to have routines and practice them daily. In the text, 50 Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners, I found several examples of routines that can be instituted in the classroom to assist students from day to day. I have arranged these ideas into a graphic organizer so that the uses and benefits are shown for each.