Before your first presentation, it is important to connect with your teacher either in-person, by telephone or via email. If you schedule and in-person meeting, try to arrive a few minutes before students arrive to avoid interrupting the class. Once class begins, schedule sufficient time to observe the interaction between the students and teacher.

Although you have the primary responsibility for the program’s presentation, the teacher’s involvement is crucial to its success. Below are a checklist of items to ask the teacher to help ensure a successful teaching experience.

Ask the teacher to:

·        Provide you with a school calendar to avoid potential conflicts with your session schedule. Be sure to exchange contact information to communicate any schedule changes.

·        Offer suggestions for classroom management and how best to deliver the sessions to the class.

·        Assist with any accommodations required for special-needs students.

·        Ask if there is any specific information you need to know about the students’ general abilities

·        Help you acquire any necessary technological equipment.

·        Provide feedback to help you communicate effectively with the class.

·        Review or introduce concepts to prepare the students for your visits.

·        Stay in the classroom at all times during your presentations to assist you and the students.

If you do decide to meet with your teacher Observing the Students

Preparing for Sessions

Observing the Students

If you do schedule an in-person teacher meeting to meet the teacher and observe the students, take note of the following:

·        How many students are there? (Knowing this will help you decide how to separate the class into groups or pairs.)

·        How does the teacher encourage orderly participation? For example, do students raise their hands?

·        How does the teacher handle interruptions?

·        What does the teacher do to make each student feel important and at ease?

·        Does the classroom have a wall clock? Will you need to bring a watch?

·        Where can you display posters and visuals? Will you need tape or pushpins for displays?

·        Will you need a flip chart? Does the teacher prefer that you display posters and other visuals in a specific place?

·        How is the room arranged? Will you need to move desks or chairs for any part of your presentation?

·        How can you engage the teacher in your presentation?

·        Do you see any potential problems with managing the class?