Assessing Your Current Teaching Environment
The Checklists have been used with permission from the author (Elizabeth Coelho).
Checklist 1: Getting Started in the Multicultural School 
Teachers, students, parents, and school/district administrators can use this checklist. The checklist is organised as a series of indicators under the three broad topic areas; 'Reception and Orientation', 'Initial Assessment and Placement', and 'Support for Second Language Acquisition'.
Checklist 2: An Inclusive School Environment
Teachers, students, parents, and school/district administrators can use this checklist. The checklist is organised as a series of indicators under the three broad topic areas; 'An Inclusive Physical and Social Environment', 'Support Services', and 'Parental Involvement'.
Checklist 3: An Inclusive Classroom Community
The checklist can be used by:
- Individual teachers: to assess their own classrooms as inclusive social and learning environments.
- School administrators, school department heads, and district curriculum advisers: to assess classrooms within their sphere of influence.
- Teacher educators: to guide and assess student teachers on practicum assignment.
- Students: to assess the classroom environment provided to them (perhaps using a simplified or translated form).
Checklist 4: An Inclusive Approach To Instruction
The checklist is organised as a series of indicators under the three broad topic areas: 'Teaching and Learning Styles', 'Communicating High Expectations', and 'Grouping Practices'. The checklist can be used by:
- Individual teachers: to assess their own classrooms as inclusive social and learning environments.
- School administrators, school department heads, and district curriculum advisers: to assess classrooms within their sphere of influence.
- Teacher educators: to guide and assess student teachers on practicum assignment.
- Students: to assess the classroom environment provided to them (perhaps using a simplified or translated form).
Checklist 5: An Inclusive Multicultural Environment
This checklist is designed for students to use in assessing the education they receive. Some students may need to use a translated version of the checklist. Students respond 'yes' or ‘no' to each statement. Teachers could encourage group discussion of each item on the checklist before asking students to complete it individually.
Checklist 6: Assessment in the Multicultural School
The checklist is organised as a series of indicators under two topic headings: 'Assessment of Academic Knowledge and Skills', and 'Assessment of Language and Literacy Development'.
The following checklists have been designed by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board to help educators assess the English proficiency and adaptation of their ESL students from grade one to grade three. Detailed descriptions of English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills appropriate for the grade level have been provided as well as students’ orientation to the new school environment. These checklists will help teachers and school administrators gain a clear idea of ESL students’ language development and what expectations to have for these students.
The Checklists have been used with permission from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
Grade One Checklist for ESL Learners