8. Discussion topics.
1. Read the three teachers' quotes again. Whose planning style is most like your own – Deniz's, Paolo's, Erika's or none of these? Why?
I think my planning style is most like Deniz’s, because I work in a public secondary school, I have three hours for English classes a week. When I’m planning I think in my students, and decide on the aims of the lesson. I plan each lesson more or less the same, because I think it's important that the students get a sense of a regular routine. I think that the teens need to know different strategies according what to do in each case like reading, writing, listening or speaking. I teach the syllabus according with each grade of secondary school.
2. Which qualities do you think are most important in planning a unit of work? Give your reasons. Choose from this list, and add others if necessary:
I think that the most important in planning a unit of works are:
logic
relevance
cohesion
variety
balance
flow
Because is important that a lesson plan has all kind of qualities in order to be relevant and the students can learn better, according with their needs and learning styles.
3. When you plan a lesson, do you...
When I plan a lesson I plan a series of lesson, I mean weekly, I sometimes start with the aims of the lesson. I sometimes use the coursebook.
I usually start with a general idea, or with a brainstorm according with the topic.
4. What advice would you give a new teacher who says, "I spend hours and hours planning a scheme of work: I seem to go round and round, not getting anywhere"?
All you have to do is observe to your students know their needs and think in them when you plan. You have to watch the aim what will be the achievement and what are the materials that you would need in order your students can learn better.
Thanks, Graciela Ávila Morales