Hi all,

I was wondering if I could ask you help and expertise!

I'm currently teaching at an all girls middle school, and though there is a specific textbook, my co-teachers would prefer I didn't use it. So for the past four weeks, I've been free-styling lessons. Some have gone well, some have crashed and burned. No matter what, though, I feel that my lessons are random, there's no real method, and they're completely pointless!

So, this is where I seek your advice!

Does anyone have a good topic outline available? For instance, music for a few weeks, food for a few weeks, etc. I would also greatly appreciate advice on what types of functional language and grammar points I should be teaching my students.

I've tried asking my co-teachers these questions, but they're often too busy to help and don't completely understand what I'm asking.

Thanks very much in advance!

Wait, this sounds like they are having you make up your own curriculum, which is asking a lot when they themselves use the textbook every week. What I suggest is that you take a look at the teachers book (if you don't have one just ask your co-teachers) and make your own lessons based around the chapter themes. This way your lessons are not 'random,' but instead based on the school curriculum.

At my old middle school I used to do one textbook based lesson one week and one of 'my own' lessons based on culture, level appropriate grammar, etc another week. Maybe you can ask if this arrangement is possible?

I am also in a middle school and am actively discouraged from using the textbooks. What I have found helpful, though, is getting a copy of said textbooks and giving them a look over. This will give you a notion of where the students are and what they are learning. If you can give them things that will compliment what they are learning, all the better.

Right now I'm more or less doing one, or sometimes two, lesson plans per week. I don't have to turn them in or anything formalized like that. This week I'm runing a lesson on informal greetings with my first and second graders, and a lesson based on the Pixar short Paperman with my third graders. When I use powerpoints, I usually find something here on Waygook and rework it for my mid-level students. Save it. Then tone it down for my low-level students. I use the same PPT for mid level and high level, I just demand more out of my high level students as I'm doing the lesson.

Also, you may find that once you know what textbook your students are using, you can draw lessonplans designed for -other- textbooks. You'll still be level-appropriate, but won't be stepping on anyone's toes. Just a thought.

I have been doing these lessons since April ; hope you find it useful.