- I have tried about nine new things this school year, and they have all been successful. While I have made mistakes in the past, this year seems to be going smoothly. I will share new ideas for next year in a future post.
- Providing a bowl of fruit for students each day has been a hit. Students rush to class to grab some fruit, and they even contribute additional food items to the basket.
- Organizing my ELL Newcomers class into "pods" with student baskets has been a time-saver. Students have peer tutors in each pod, and it eliminates the need to distribute materials daily.
- Using peer tutors in my ELL Newcomers class has been a game-changer, especially with the new pod seating arrangement. Students decode sentences and create their own for classmates to decode.
- Expanding and refining our peer mentor program has been successful. Students have mentors from different classes now, and I accompany them to ensure a smooth process.
- Making advanced ELL students "assistant peer tutors" has helped manage larger groups and absence of peer tutors effectively.
- Enforcing a strict no cellphone policy in the classroom has reduced distractions significantly. Reminding students of the deal we have seems to help maintain the rule.
- Creating criteria for TOK students to work outside or in a different room has been effective. Students must meet specific requirements to utilize these areas, ensuring quality work and adherence to rules.
- Implementing mid-week practice tests for ELL students has improved their performance. Peer tutors give simple practice tests to their groups, aiding in retrieval practice.
- Regularly incorporating "review weeks" in my ELL Newcomers class has been beneficial. Spending time to review thematic units at the end of each month has helped reinforce learning.
In summary, the school year has been successful so far, with various strategies and initiatives contributing to a positive learning environment for students.
