Dialogue around displays
ELT planning
by Pete
1w ago
I had a great moment today that I’m banking through this blog post. Basically, I’d never really considered how much could be gained from collaborating over a wall display. Sounds random. But you know what it is like as a leader. You try to ensure effective channels of communication, you want to appear approachable, you want your team to collaborate. You do all that stuff like regular check-ins, regular emails, regular meetings, bad jokes in Google chat, team lunches (I call them munchfests just to make them appear more relaxed). Basically, you do anything you can to build trust and rapport, wi ..read more
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Peer observation tasks / Walkthrus
ELT planning
by Pete
2M ago
I’m setting up a peer observation scheme in my department. Basically, it’s like this: A team member chooses an area of development in their own practice We work out which other team member is competent in that area and pair them up. I create some kind of observation task to help guide things – clearer focus, etc. The pair of teachers complete the observation cycle I’ll work out how we can evaluate the process down the line – we’ve just started. But I have ideas. Anyhow, the areas for development aren’t necessarily EAL-specific. They might relate to core teaching skills, experimental practice ..read more
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Materials writing conversations #17: The front cover
ELT planning
by Pete
2M ago
Dear Pete, As author of the book English for Ticking Boxes, we’d appreciate your input regarding the image choice for the front cover. You’ll be familiar with our earlier range of front cover images for books such as… English for Nostalgic Tourism English for Animal Husbandry and English for actors aspiring to appear in the Highlander movie franchise We felt that last one was too on the nose. Rather like our choice for English for Personification Anyway, we are thinking of continuing our recent ‘esoteric turn’, as we did for titles such as English for Kleptomaniacs And English for Astrona ..read more
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Language Learning Role Models
ELT planning
by Pete
2M ago
In our EAL space we wanted to celebrate the success of our language learners. We chose language learning ‘role models’ from Key Stage 4. These were students who have had success/overcome challenges in their English learning journey since joining the school. We interviewed them, asking questions like: ⁃ what techniques do you use for reviewing vocab? ⁃ How did you overcome the challenge of studying [subject] in English when you first joined the school? What advice would you give new joiners? ⁃ What are your top three tips for learners to improve their listening knowledge English? ⁃ Which novel ..read more
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Pitching ideas to publishers
ELT planning
by Pete
2M ago
You want to approach a publisher with an idea for an ELT resource. How do you write a proposal/plan/pitch? Some publishers have proposal forms. Myself and my co-author pitched a book to a publisher last year using an in-house proposal form. The publisher requested: An overview of the book Info on the target audience Info on the competition – what’s already out there! How/Where it fits with the publisher’s current format/series So, I guess that’s a starting point. I’ve successfully pitched a few resources to publishers before. Never for the ‘big four’ (if that’s actually a thing), but then it ..read more
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Implementing the Bell Assessment Framework
ELT planning
by Pete
5M ago
We’ve introduced the Bell Assessment Framework to monitor the progress of our EAL learners. Here are some early reflections on the framework and tracking tool, including some challenges arising from its implementation. Why Bell? Adri Szlapak and I are working together as EAL leads across Elementary and High School respectively. We are keen to ensure some consistency in our approach across the school. One way we can do this is to choose assessment/monitoring tools which are familiar across key stages. Adri had used Bell in her previous context, I’d used WIDA. We weighed up the pros and cons of ..read more
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Course review: EAL Coordinators – Organising Impactful EAL Provision
ELT planning
by Pete
5M ago
Professional development courses in EAL seem few and far between to me. That’s why I jumped at the chance to take this month-long EAL Coordinator course offered through the Bell Foundation – one of the go-to organizations for EAL CPD. The course ran during my first half-term in a new role as a leader in EAL – perfect timing to get some ideas for developing our department. So, what was the course like, and how useful was it? Course Overview There were three modules over the four weeks. Module 1 – Exploring themes in EAL coordination. It started with admin stuff and GTKY stuff – setting up prof ..read more
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Review: TEFL Training Institute (TTI)
ELT planning
by Pete
5M ago
This review originally appeared in IATEFL Voices 292. You’ll be pleased to know that Voices reviews have a 400 word limit, which saves you the pain of all my usual rambling in reviews! Haha. TEFL Training Institute (TTI) is a well-known podcast in ELT. Over the last six years, podcast creator Ross Thorburn had hosted over 200 episodes, discussing all things ELT with a range of friends and guests. Most episodes last just 15 minutes, and focus on ‘practical, thought-provoking, or controversial topics’ within the profession. They typically follow a Q&A format with Thorburn posing the question ..read more
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Reflection: Drop-in observations
ELT planning
by Pete
6M ago
Informal drop-in observations are the way forward. Well, they’re the norm in many places. But where they’re not, they should be. Why invest all that time in recruitment, have teachers go through round after round of interview, sometimes do demo lessons… Then demonstrate as a school that you don’t actually trust your teachers by scheduling formal observations in the first term? Or at all… Okay, sure. There’s sometimes a place for formal observations. I can’t deny that the (er…?) positive tension of having to ‘perform’ in the classroom gave me confidence, shaped/influenced my teaching, kept me ..read more
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11 Great ELT Editors
ELT planning
by Pete
9M ago
I’ve worked with some awesome editors as an ELT materials writer. I don’t praise them enough or acknowledge the support they’ve given me. So, here are 11 people who have been AWESOME to work with and that I’d easily recommend for further projects. Ann Dickson Ann is ‘my’ editor for work with Ellii. She’s really welcomed new activity ideas for the Discussion Starter lessons, and is always on hand to make suggestions and tighten up my grammar sections. Writing for Ellii has involved using InDesign – Ann knew I had no experience of this and (along with Tara at Ellii) has supported me in developin ..read more
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