This document summarizes Janet Liu's first year of teaching at P.S. 310 in Brooklyn, New York. It provides details about the school administration and staff, daily schedule, Chinese language program, preparation before the school year began, challenges during the first two weeks, and ongoing difficulties and lessons for becoming a better teacher. P.S. 310 serves around 380 students from pre-K to 4th grade, with a high percentage of English language learners and students receiving free lunch. Janet teaches both Chinese language classes and English as a Second Language support.

1. Back to School,
Back Home
-- Janet’s First Year
Teaching in P.S. 310
Presented by Janet K. Liu

2. Principle
Ms. Hong Yuqing
Last Semester CT
Ms. Shirley Chau
Chinese Teacher
Lovely colleague
Xiayu Wang
Janet K. Liu, P.S. 310 September 2013

3. Math Teacher
UFT Chapter Leader
Ms. Olivia Hui
Chinese Teacher
Another lovely colleague
Ms. Yuqing Liu
Custodian
Mr. John
Janet K. Liu, P.S. 310 September 2013

4. P.S. 310
 Open in 2009
 Neighborhood: 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Statistics:
Around 380 students
Pre-K(1), K(3), 1(3), 2(3), 3(3), 4(1)
Class size 30-32
One ICT(Integrated Co-Teaching) class for
each grade from K to 3
12% students have IEP
65%-68% English Language Learner
95% Free Lunch
Janet K. Liu, P.S. 310 September 2013

5. School Features:
Departmentalized Model
Subject area expertise
Classroom teacher (ELA, Technology, Social
Studies)
Cluster teacher/ Travel Teacher:
Math, Science, Foreign
Language, Gym, Music, Art
Foreign Language education (beginning
in K)
Janet K. Liu, P.S. 310 September 2013

6. My Regular School Day:
7:50am Arrive at school (Breakfast!!!)
8:20am Pick up first period student from
gymatorium
8:20-9:10am 1st Grade Chinese
9:15-10:05am Prep (Homework grading time)
10:10-11:00am ELS Push In (Guided Reading Group)
11:00-11:50am LUNCH!!! (Breathing time)
11:55-12:45pm 1st Grade Chinese (ICP)
12:50-1:40pm ESL Push In (Guided Reading Group)
1:45-2:35pm 3rd Grade Chinese
7:00 pm Go Home~
Janet K. Liu, P.S. 310 September 2013

7. Chinese program:
在困难中摸索前进！！
 Strengths:
strong sport from principal.
6 Chinese teachers working collaboratively.
Big Chinese community around.
 Challenges:
High school model: students commute from different classes.
Aligned to content area
More than home language but not yet foreign language.
No text books to follow.
All units are designed by teachers.
lack of level reading materials.
Janet K. Liu, P.S. 310 September 2013

8. Before My First Year Teach
 Get Ready for the coming school year
 Retreat: Team Building (End of last semester)
 Summer Institute:
 Goal; New Teacher Evaluation System
 $500 Instructional Material Budget
 Don’t Smile!!
Janet K. Liu, P.S. 310 September 2013

9. My Frist Two Weeks
1st Week:
 Not as difficult as I’ve imagined
 Classrules, Review previous knowledge,
 Pre-test
Janet K. Liu, P.S. 310 September 2013

10. My Frist Two Weeks
2nd Week
Try to be cool and humorous?
Nah… Too Early
Learning from experienced teachers
Transition time Activity, Clearly
Instruction, Table Leaders, Reassign Seats
and Spots, minimize waiting time/ boring
time/ sleeping time/ day dreaming time
Janet K. Liu, P.S. 310 September 2013

11. Difficulties
Lesson Plan= Endless work
DAILY…
3 Lesson Plans for Chinese, 2 Lesson Plans
for ESL Push In (Guided Reading)
Each lesson must cover either Common
Core Standard or ACTFL 5C Standards
New Teachers Evaluation System: Danielson
Framework
Janet K. Liu, P.S. 310 September 2013

12. Becoming A Better Teacher
 Eat Breakfast and Lunch and eat a loooot!
 Go to the restroom whenever you get a
chance!!
 Always be prepared. (Lesson
Plans, copies, materils, compliments, puni
shments)
 Stay organized (multiple classes, different
classrooms, paperwork)
 Working collaboratively with colleagues
 Keep Learning (NYU StarTalk, DCLT, all the
free and lunch provided PD)
Janet K. Liu, P.S. 310 September 2013