On-going project: Binder Organization

For many of my students, binder organization is a big challenge, or quite low on the priority list. I have promised myself that this will be the year that I incorporate binder organization into the daily lesson plan. And actually be consistent with it!

Some things I have observed about student binders and binder organization:
1. Some students have no binder at all.
2. Binders are often a place to place papers, but generally not securely within the rings.
3. Some binders are organized from back to front, not front to back.
4. Some students do not like to carry binders back and forth from school because of the size. (There were three binders left in my class over the summer vacation!)
5. Most papers are not dated.
6. Separating papers from the morning class and afternoon class is challening.
7. It takes some students a long time to find their homework.

Our tools:

My plan:
After a month or so in school, students will have a sense of what being in my class is like - routines, style, approaches, and types of papers I give out. Students will brainstorm and decide upon categories for binder division so that they are in control of it and remember how to organize it. Students write on the labels, and organize all the papers according to section and date.

The results:

Headings chosen by the class.

So tidy!

 

The final test: Hold the binder up and see if any papers fall out.

  

Success!

Routines, Activities and Strategies for Literacy Learners
1. Binder Organization - organize it together and maintain it together
2. Respect learners' knowledge and experiences in having them list and decide on the categories as a group.
3. Provide learning strategy instruction. Now that the binders are labelled, teach them how to use this system. This can help them in class and at home.
4. Play a game. Once the binders are organized and the papers are all dated, have a scanning game. For example, find the grammar handout from September 27. Find the citizenship paper from October 10.

TESL Ontario: I'm Presenting!

I am getting very excited to have the opportunity to do two workshops at the up-coming TESL Ontario Conference. My workshops are on Thursday, October 24. I will be doing one on my own, and another with two of my colleagues.

Here is the link to the conference brochure: http://www.teslontario.net/uploads/conference/conf2013/Brochure%20100713%20Reduced%20Viewing.pdf 

My first independent workshop is called LINCs to Literacy (code TPM). The description is as follows: Do you have literacy students in your LINC 2/3 classes? Not sure how to begin meeting their needs? Join this workshop to understand how the CLB and Literacy Phases align. Look at and apply ways of incorporating literacy outcomes, approaches and activities into your classes using mainstream LINC resources.

My second group workshop is Multilevel Group Activities for Holidays and Special Occasions (code TQP). The description is as follows:This interactive workshop will provide participants with creative activities to teach and celebrate Canadian holidays while incorporating language outcomes.Presenters will share their experiences of combining classes from Literacy to CLB 5 to mark special days and holidays. Participants will take part in adaptable sample activities that are low budget, low prep and can be used across the levels.