Action Plan Development and achievement
Action Plan (observation 1)
I have attended a Professional Skills in English Course. I plan to revise the materials studied so that I am more confident in teaching aspects of grammar. I plan to read “How to teach grammar” by Scott Thornbury, and “Teaching Grammar” by Jim Scriverner.
Action plan (observation 2)
I clearly still need to think of resources and ways that involve more student-student activity. This could be done in more group work or making sure that the exercise cannot be carried out unless the learners work together.
I need to think about differentiating the activities with the learners. Harmer (2007:131) states that this can be achieved by concentrating on “flexible tasks” such giving learners different tasks, giving them different roles, encouraging different learner responses, being inclusive, and grouping the learners in a more flexible manner.
I need to increase peer tutoring and peer checking. Petty (2009) states that peer tutoring and peer checking allows the stronger students to teach the weaker students without any feelings of embarrassment from the weaker students. I can ask the students to peer check by asking them to check each other’s work, before I check the work. To make sure the learners do not resent this, I can make sure they are just reading the work to find out if it as interesting as their work.
I still need to be clearer on my aims and objectives and not just state the activities of the lesson. I need to speak to my mentor about this as this seems to be a recurring problem. I also need to include learner opportunities for learner feedback.
In my next lesson I will be using the IT system more effectively. I need to make sure I am logged onto the Bradford College System. I will be using more visuals and power point presentations.
I need to be more systematic about my checking learning and ensure all learners are developing. This is an area for development and I really need to discuss this with my mentor and tutors.
I need to re-read chapter 23, (Harmer, J) Learner autonomy: learning to learn. This will help me identify ways of achieving learner autonomy.
Action Plan (Observation 3)
I need to record (audio or video) myself giving instructions. This could help me understand why the learner’s struggle with my instructions. I will ask my mentor or colleagues to observe me and give feed back
I also will pre-plan essential instructions which will be in simple clear language. I will try and use short sentences and not make my instructions too obvious.
I will make sure that the class is silent before hand and then make eye contact and with an authoritative note, will make sure they are listening, before I start.
I will try and demonstrate rather than explain where possible. Before the activity begins I need to make sure that the learners have understood by getting evidence from them. It is possible to do an example with them to begin with.
Also to motivate the learners more I need to plan my lessons to be more “novel, light-hearted, and fun” and involve the learners in “self-expression and creativity”. Petty (2009:45).
I need to get some feedback from the learners of what their needs are, do a more thorough “needs analysis”. Also it would be helpful to do a course evaluation and ask the learners about their thoughts on the whole 8 week course.
Action Plan ( observation 4)
Read Books on how to conduct successful drills such as
Thronbury S, (1999). How to Teach Grammar. Longman.
Thornbury S (2005). How to Teach Speaking. Longman
Try to incorporate more drilling in my lessons especially when there is new vocabulary to be learnt. Make sure that the learners “mimic the stress and intonation of the model”.
Action plan (observation 5)- according to SMART objectives
Specific_ to make my lessons more learner centred., and to vary feedback
Measurable-to allow more pair/group work and not to “echo” the learners answers.
Achievable- to plan more learner centred activities, and allow learners to give feedback to each other without too much intervention.
Relevant- I need to do this to maximise student learning.
Time bound- The organisation where I work has agreed to carry out workshops for action research
Action plan (observation 6)
I have tried to make my action plan SMART.
Specific: I need to correct errors as soon as the learner makes them, or as soon as possible.
Measurable: to be more aware of errors that the learner’s make, and try to correct each learner at least once in the lesson.
Achievable: I have asked 2 of my colleagues to peer observe me over the next few weeks and comment on my error correction techniques, and where I can improve. I have asked my mentor to give me some tips on how to do this as well. I will also be observing my colleagues over the next few weeks to observe how they error correct.
Relevant: If I do not do this my students will lose motivation and it may fossilize their errors for the future.
Time bound: After being observed and observing my colleagues in the next few weeks I will have achieved my goals and will hopefully have improved on error correction.
Action Plan (observation 7)
I should try and organise a time with my learner’s after meeting them for the first time to assess their needs. I should try and find more about their background, their education and what they want from the lessons. Although the organisation where I work does not implement ILP’s, I should devise a way of recording my student’s work and their progress. I should meet with the learner’s every few weeks and hold a tutorial with them as regards to their progress, and ask for any feedback.
I need to think of all the different ways of assessing my learners. Although in a general English class there is no summative assessment, I need to think of different ways of assessing my learners, in a formative manner.
Action Plan (observation 8) Observation 8.
I have tried to make my action plan SMART.
Specific: I need to approach teaching numeracy with more confidence. I need to assess the learners’ needs. I need to think of different methods and techniques to teach the calculations. Be more aware of different methods.
Measurable: to be more aware of different methods of calculations
Achievable: I have asked my mentors and tutors who have directed me to various websites such as the Barclays life skills website that has simple lesson plans on money matters.
Relevant: If I do not do this I will not be the students may end up confused and de motivated.
Time bound: I will be looking at these websites in detail as soon as possible. I will read more articles on how to embed numeracy in ESOL by the end of the course.
sameerasharif 