Several of you have already given me your personal goals (Adela, Cecilia, Norita, Omar, Paula, Silvia, Grace). If you haven't done yours yet, please do so at your earliest convenience. Also I'll be looking for each one of you to discuss them with you.
Updated CV/resume for your bio and personal file at school
I've only received four CVs. Some of you expressed their difficulty updating your CV. Should this become a serious issue for you, please, let me know so that we can make an alternative arrangement. As I'm working on a Department website, which, unlike our blog, will be open to the whole school community, I would like to include a bio on each one of you.
Teachers' Concerns
Before the actual discussion of Department goals, the members asked for greater financial and academic recognition from the institution. There was a shared sentiment that despite the cutting-edge program we have developed, our work goes largely unrecognized by the school community in general, especially the owners through the salary. The following points were mentioned:
- The tradition of quality work in the Department has not been recognized for over a decade now, especially considering that way before the two big curricular changes (1995 and 2005), English teachers were deprived of an extra stipend on account of the amount of correction work. Now, the group feels we are working harder and yet the compensation is not according to neither the quality nor the amount of work.
- CORRECTION: Regarding Alina's words on her experience at Pablo Apostol, please check the entry above!
- Public school teachers now earn more than San Patricio teachers. Also, we know that the demand of the English program on each Department member is much greater than what teachers of other disciplines at school have to respond to.
- Since we are trying to use more technology, this will mean that at home each teacher will need to have a good PC and pay for an Internet connection. It was requested if the school could develop some kind of program to finance the purchase of PCs for those teachers that need it - four of us actually expressed their strong interest in getting one. This could also be offered to the whole school faculty.
Department Goals 2007
After this discussion, the goals for 2007 for the English Department were proposed and discussed. We agreed on the following:
- Technology: We'll start the process of exploring how the use of technology can enhance our class work.
- Transition to higher level: As we are enforcing changes in curriculum at every level, we shall do our best to make the transition as smooth as possible. Last year, 2nd Polimodal started the A2 program and the change did not impact on the number of students who passed or failed the class. We would like to achieve the same throughout the board.
- Find more opportunities for professional development: both in terms of working on presentation of our work outside school as well as attending professional meetings. It was mentioned that the FAAPI will take place in Jujuy this year, which would be a good opportunity for most of us to attend since transportation will not represent a heavy financial burden. Also, we need to find ways to let others know the amount and quality of work the Department does on a regular basis, this refers to more than just planning lessons from a textbook. Instead we develop curriculum and produce the material required by the changes. One way to do this will be through publishing it online on the Department Website - which is in the works!
- Fine tune the Sustained Silent Reading Program: EGB3 teachers report that kids enjoyed the program but they also said that we need more resources, i.e. more books. Note: Diana said that this kind of purchase is already approved by the owners so we should just make the lists and place the order with Scholastics.
- Improve communication with primary school: especially between 6th and EGB3 teachers, so that the transition for kids from one building to another does not become traumatic in the English class.
- Using drama: as follow-up to the excellent work of the 8th Year team last year, we would like to explore the use of drama in the classroom further. Carlos promised to share some of his relevant bibliography.
- Study skills: The 7th Year team will devote extra effort to developing the kids study skills.
Syllabus design
Carlos shared his syllabus for 3rd Polimodal. Even though the timing is not the best, should anyone want to use it and adapt it for their groups, you are welcome to do so. However, this written syllabus should become regular practice at every level next academic year.
Literary Works for 2007
Carlos asked the teams for the list of literary works each team is planning to use this year.
Annual Planning 2007
Each team will develop their annual planning sheets (planificaciones)
The Department split up into team groups to make up the groups for this year and plan their lessons for the diagnostic period.
No comments:
Post a Comment