Class Planning

Beginning of the semester: Your first day as an LLA!

Preparation

At least 3 days before the first class, send your instructor a form email (you must log into your uic email to view) to introduce yourself and set up an appointment to meet them. During this initial meeting, you should ask the instructor about class guidelines or expectations: use the questions on the document linked above as a guideline for what to discuss in the meeting. Here is the slideshow you will share with the instructor beforehand and present on your first class visit day.

Then, during class on the first day...

Briefly introduce yourself (name, major, tutoring hours if you know them already, etc.)
Quickly present the slideshow to the class so they understand your role. Don't worry, you should only expect to talk for 3-4 minutes!

Italian LLA Yuli in class with Professor Chiara Fabian.

Above: Italian tutor/ LLA Yuli in class with prof. Chiara Fabian.

How to prepare for each class

Before each class, take one hour to prepare: you will need this time! Use the course materials and instructor syllabus found on the 100-Level Class Materials page and take notes using the planning hour templates provided in the Google Drive.

Consult the materials for the scheduled day. The instructor may provide you with additional materials (slideshows or worksheets, for example), but this is not expected. Please do not contact the teacher for additional materials: you should everything you need to prepare. If you have questions about the materials, please ask LCLC staff.

You will help students during group work, so prepare enough to feel comfortable answering most of the questions they might have (if you don't know the answer, you'll direct them to the teacher).

Check in

STEP 1: Fill out the timesheet: "I am... checking in." This is for our records.

STEP 2: Check in with the LCLC. Either...

Stop by GH301 to say hello (if you're working in Grant Hall or nearby).
Drop into the LCLC Zoom virtual office (if you're working virtually during normal MTWRF 9-5 hours).
Send an email to lclc@uic.edu letting us know you are working and what you plan to prepare during your shift (particularly if your prep hour is before 9am, or after 5pm).

What to prepare

Find your individual planning hour notes folder in the Google Drive (example notes can be found here). Your folder will have weekly templates for your respective language and class level. Fill these out as you complete the following:

Read the assigned pages for the scheduled day and for the day before (sometimes teachers are a little behind).
Take notes while you are reading.
- - Write down important page numbers for grammar explanations, verb charts, vocabulary, etc. This will help you help students: you can say, "The verb chart is on page. 26, let's look at it so you can answer this question."
  - Make sure you understand the main points of the chapter.
  - Review relevant vocabulary: Students should only use vocabulary from the class materials. Since this is a common question for students ("How do you say [...]?"), you should review the vocabulary for the whole chapter. Know what pages have useful lists or examples so you will be able to direct students to the correct pages. Avoid introducing new vocabulary (unless the instructor has asked you to): students need to review and use the current vocabulary before moving forward. Class activities are often opportunities for students to practice that vocabulary in context! Be ready to politely direct students to use the current vocab if necessary.
Do any relevant activities to which you have access. (You will likely not have access to Blackboard or Connect/online activities.)
- - Write out the answers to all activities.
  - Double check that your answers are correct. This will make you more prepared when students ask questions.

Feel prepared, but be ready to accept the fact that you may not be able to answer 100% of the questions. If you are not sure about the answer, you should direct questions to the instructor.

French LLA Kal works with a student on an in-class writing assignment.

Above: French LLA and Tutor Kal helps a student with in class writing assignment.

If you finish prep early

Work on an Instagram post related to the course content you were working on (grammar, culture, vocabulary, etc.).
Work on other Professional Development tasks.

Check out

Fill out the same timesheet you did at the beginning of your planning hour.
- Please briefly describe (and in your check-out email or in-person/helpdesk visit) what you worked on. What pages did you review in the textbook? What activities did you do? For example: "I read pages 67-69 about direct objects, wrote out answers to activities A and B on page 70 and activities E and F on page 71. I also started working on an IG post about Impressionist painting, which is the culture topic in our class this week.
Check out in GH301, the LCLC Zoom Helpdesk, or by email (lclc@uic.edu).
- If you are sending an email, add a link to the document with your planning hour notes for the day.

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