Facebook row headteacher is suspended over slur allegations

A HEADTEACHER at the centre of a row over alleged Facebook slurs has been suspended.

The Mail understands Debbie Johnson, headteacher of Westcott Primary School, was suspended yesterday afternoon.

She is the second teacher to be ordered away from the school following the alleged insults.

Nyanza Roberts was suspended 12 days ago for her part in the conversation, in which she allegedly called people in east Hull "thick" and "inbred".

Hull City Council refused to comment on the latest suspension, which came the day after parents attended a highly-charged meeting with MP Karl Turner to voice their anger.

A council spokeswoman told the Mail they would make no further comment until an investigation is over.

However, parents said they were pleased Ms Johnson had been removed from the school.

Melissa Lowson, who has one child at the school, said: "I'm glad she has gone. I think she should have been suspended at the same time as Nyanza Roberts.

"We all write things on Facebook, but I believe to let the conversation carry on, was wrong.

TEACHER'S CORNER: A well-balanced use of warmers and fillers.

Some tips on checking if you have got the use of warmers and fillers just right, and what you can do about it if you haven’t.

A well-balanced use of warmers and fillers

Using short two to ten minute energizing activities as warmers at the beginning of a lesson is a basic technique of language teaching that can make a huge difference to the atmosphere of a class, and therefore to how much students learn and how happy they are to come back to class next week. The same is true of using exercises in the middle of the class to give students a break and reenergize them. Like everything in life, though, you can have too much of a good thing. Below are some tips on checking if you have got the use of warmers and fillers just right, and what you can do about it if you haven’t.

Signs that you are using warmers too much

If any of the things below are true for you, you might want to think about cutting down the number of warmers you use or using them differently:

[JOKE] Quando você for assaltar um professor de inglês, lembre-se disso.

Melhor dizendo, “num assalte o bixin não”.

Copa do mundo chegando. Além de investimentos nas línguas estrangeiras, esperamos que o governo invista na segurança dos turistas e da nossa população. 

[TEFL TIPS] CLASSROOM RULES SAMPLE AND SUGGESTION

Teacher Instructions

• Create a general list of classroom rules. After brainstorming your expectations, look for ways that you can combine ideas into a general rule. Check each rule for clarity. Delete any unnecessary words.

• Make sure your list of rules reflects your philosophy of education. For example, research on student learning supports the benefits of students explaining their work to peers, so you might decide that you want students to be allowed to talk to each other under specific conditions. On the other hand, you determine that you want full attention when speaking to the class. You also want students to be quiet and in their seats during class discussions. You might decide on the following general rule: Listen and stay seated when someone is speaking

• Phrase rules in the positive. For example:

• YES – This is a beverage-free classroom.

• NO – Do not bring beverages to class.

• Prepare your rules before the first day of school. Make a poster-sized list of the rules, numbering each rule for easy reference. Post the rules prominently in the front of the classroom.

• Give a copy of the rules to each student. Have students place the rules in their notebooks for easy reference.

• Communicate rules to families. Send a list of the rules to families either before or on the first day of school.

Rules- classroom – suggestions – students – English lesson.

Source: Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

How to correct students in the classroom?

How to correct students in the classroom?

When teachers create an activity they have to be sure about the right moment to use it because sometimes students will make some mistakes. But the way teachers should correct their students is a serious decision.

Some might say that teachers should correct students in the exactly moment they make mistakes in order to make them understand the point they have to improve. On the other hand, to stop pupils in front of the class all the time may be a bit frustrating. Moreover, when students say something wrong when they are given a communicative activity they might feel uncomfortable if the teacher keep saying that it is not right, or they should say something in that way, not this way, and so on.

Research has shown that some students may enjoy the task they are given when the teacher is involved. This may be a good way for them to have feedback from the educator right away. Group work or pair work are kinds of activities that may help students feel confident in order to practice the language. Furthermore, when students work in group they learn not only by cooperating but also by helping each other.

In summary, teaching is a process where – in some moments – teacher will need to correct students. One of the best ways of doing this correction is by using group work. It is said that when pupils study together they teach each other. Therefore, group work allows students to practice the language and may provide them with opportunity for correctness and feedback in order to make them perform activities using the language.

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Bruno Coriolano de Almeida Costa has worked in English Language Teaching for over 9 years and has experience in teaching English as a Foreign Language in universities, Federal Institute, private schools and post-graduation programs. Graduated in Modern Languages (English Language and American and English Literatures). He holds a post-graduation in English Language and TEFL Certification. His main interests in the field include vocabulary and second language acquisitions and the development of innovative activities for the classroom.

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Why Dynamics and groupwork?

Dynamics are the actions and interactions, both conscious and unconscious, that take place between members of a group, whether the whole class or sub-groups. Group dynamics are instrumental in forging a productive and motivating classroom environment.  

[JOKE] Stupid is as stupid does

Stupid is as stupid does

A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. She started her class by saying, "Everyone who thinks they're stupid, stand up!"

After a few seconds, little Davie stood up. The teacher said,

-- Do you think you're stupid, Davie?”

-- Well, no, ma'am, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself!

Vocabulary Help

• all by yourself - sozinha
• course - curso
• few - alguns
• hate - odiar, detestar
• make use - usar
• say (say, said, said) - dizer
• stand (stand, stood, stood) up - ficar de pé
• stand up - ficar de pé
• start - começar
• think (think, thought, thought) - pensar
• try - tentar

[TEACHERS] Global Social Network for English as a Foreign Language Teachers.

by Bruno Coriolano de Almeida Costa

If you are not an English Teacher, I am sorry, but this is not for you. It is just for English Language Teachers. I know, I know, I know. There are a lot of social networks, websites, blogs and things like that: Facebook, Orkut, Twitter and blah, blah, blah. But this one is different. This one was especially created for those that are interested in sharing their classroom experiences.

This social network was not created for those that do not speak English; better, it was not created for those that are not English Teachers. Whoever has created this TEFL-me.com has got a new fan: ME, Bruno Coriolano.

What I am trying to say is that you, English Teachers, can meet a lot of English teachers from all over the world from your home. How? Easy.

Ladies and gentlemen, it gives a great pleasure to present to you.

TEFL me English teacher together. 

“The main idea behind TEFLme is to allow teachers to meet online and share their thoughts and advice about TEFL teaching. Unlike standard forums this takes place within a social network built specifically for TEFL teachers where people can interact in a variety of ways which makes the process easier and more fun”. Says Michael May. 

TEFL-me.com is a global social network for teachers Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Are you an English Teacher? What are you waiting for? I am in.

How to participate? Simple. Very simple and you do not have to pay for anything.

Just click here http://tefl-me.com/