Twister!

I bought this game a few months ago and last week I used it in class with some of my students. This activity can be useful when we're presenting colors to kids. Of course all the commands should be given in English, that's why it's a good idea to write on the board "left hand", "right hand", "left foot" and "right foot" before the game starts, so that they can play the whole game speaking English. So I'd say: "Left hand, blue!" and so on. Great as a wrap up exercise after teaching them the colors. Have a beautiful Sunday, colleague!

Hello?

Last night I was preparing one of my student's class when I thought about doing something different in order to have a brief review of the previous content. When teaching kids we always have to think about something new so that we can keep their attention and motivation, as well. My student is 9 and I thought it would be a good idea if we could make an "original telephone" to ask each other's personal information, such as: What's your full name?, How do you spell your last name?, etc. I really wanted to know if he had learned those questions which were presented in our last class. So that's what we did. He helped me make the "telephone" and afterwards we were ready to have some fun reviewing all those structures. Simply great! Activity approved!

It really works!

Today I got the chance to teach Reflexive Pronouns to one of my students and I remembered that mirror I'd bought at a R$ 1,99 store once. Simply great! First I looked at it and said: "I'm looking at myself", then I gave him the mirror and said: "Now, you're looking at yourself", and so on. Great visual alternative to present the new content! Bye, bye, colleagues!

What happens next?

My DVD is broken. I really need to do something about it 'cause using films and music DVDs in class is just a wonderful way to get students learning and having fun at the same time. Now I remember an activity which can be quite interesting. Teacher chooses a part of a movie or a sitcom. It has to be a scene that offers you a way to get your students really involved and make it possible for you to ask them to predict what's gonna happen next. Notice that this simple exercise can turn into a very productive conversation class! You can have your students divided in pairs and set them some time in order to discuss and get to a common conclusion about the rest of the scene. Afterwards, a good idea is to have all of them exchanging their ideas and even questioning each other's point of view. For a private teacher I'm pretty sure it could be interesting, as well. I want a new DVD! Have a sweet holiday, colleague!
PS: This exercise can also be done with a simple picture. The only disadvantage (or not) in this case is that nobody knows what's really going to happen so it's all about students' imagination and creativity!

Let's go shopping!

Is there a better way of practicing shopping vocabulary and structures than really...shopping? I guess not. Some teachers like taking their students out to a certain store or supermermarket in order to practice the content and I really think it's an awesome idea, even though not too practical. With kids it's possible to play you're at a store IN CLASS! All you need is the material you're working on, for example, pens, pencils, erasers, etc. If you have some "fake money" (I explain: the one you get at any $ 1,99 store and kids love using to play at home) the game turns out to be even more interesting. Well, I made use of this activity last week and the result was pretty good. After presenting the dialogue I needed them to use during the task, I wrote a simple part of it on the board so that my student was able to follow it during the exercise. We organized some objects on the desk, I gave her some "money" and told her she could come into my store and buy stuff! Then, it was my turn to be the customer. I've been working a lot with kids lately and I'm getting to the conclusion that the best way for them to learn is simply by playing. With some creativity, we, teachers, can transmit what we have to in a very light (and funny!) way for them and for us, why not? Have a great weekend, colleague!