All about me
Before school they usually are the centre of ‘their’ universe so starting school can sometimes be a little of a shock.
Begin by welcoming them in to the classroom.
get ready before your lesson begins to enable you to stand by the door in place of being stuck behind a desk papers that are shuffling.
- The first sentence
You can have a welcome phrase that you utilize for each lesson such as for example ‘Good morning. How are you?’ You will find that after a few weeks the kids will start to repeat back into you exactly the same sentence therefore it’s important to maintain the same opening expression. It is possible to of course have two so you don’t sound like a parrot. You need to prompt the response of ‘Fine, thanks’ but when they have heard it once or twice they’ll certainly be saying it back into you with a smile that is big. This can give them a sense of achievement as soon as the classroom is crossed by them threshold. It will result in the classroom that is‘English a special place whereby they want a brand new language to enter in, exactly like a password. It’s essential that you welcome each young child individually. They have to feel welcome and noticed. - The hello song
Primary children generally speaking love to sing also it’s important to have a welcome song that it is possible to sing at the beginning of each lesson. It really is an routine that is interactive signals the commencement of this lesson.Use a song which have an easy to keep in mind melody with plenty of repetition; the easier and simpler the lyrics the better. If it offers actions as well then not only can your learners believe it is much easier to understand, the quieter children will be more inclined to participate. Let me reveal a site for pre-schoolers however with songs which can be suited to young learners in an EFL class: http://www.preschooleducation.com/shello.shtml. You have many to select from but this really is certainly one of my favourites:
Start your day with a smile (sung to The Mulberry Bush)
this is actually the way we begin the day,
Start your day, begin the day.
This the way in which we start the
So early in the morning.
First we smile and shake a hand,
Shake a hand, shake a hand.
First we smile and shake a hand,
So at the beginning of the morning.
Then we sit back quietly,
Quietly, Quietly
Then we sit down quietly,
So at the beginning of the morning.
We listen very Carefully,
Carefully, Carefully.
We listen very carefully,
So at the beginning of the morning.
I like this one because even though it has got the excitement of a song in addition encourages the kids to settle down and be prepared to start the class. A golden rule is needless to say that you should never start the class or a task until most people are quiet and listening. This song also allows children to possess contact with both you and one other children aided by the ‘shake a hand’ part. This is a step that is first making them feel associted with an organization.
Learning Names
It’s vital that you quickly become familiar with everyone’s names. This is why the learners feel as you know them and care about them. It also http://www.essaywritersite.com/do-my-homework-help helps for organizing activities and discipline. The quicker you learn their names the higher.
- The name game
Everyone stands in a circle. They have to manage to see one another. One individual has got to say their name and do an action in the same time. This could be waving their hand or taking a bow etc. It does not matter what but make clear that every action should be different. This you do by correcting the first action that is copied it is different things. It’s natural that they will all want to do exactly the same thing however they will begin to realize that here they need their very own action. You are going across the circle with everyone saying their name and doing their action. When you have been across the circle twice you then say someone else’s name and try to remember the action. The person you select then must say someone else’s name and perform some action that goes with it. This continues until everyone’s true name has been said.
- Extra tip
I find it difficult to remember names, especially when you have many different classes starting at the time that is same. The thing I do is photocopy the register and make personal notes next to each child such as ‘long dark hair’ or ‘wears pink glasses’. These prompts quickly become redundant but certainly aid in the start.
- The name song
Here’s another song from the same pre-school website. That one deals specifically with learning names. I would demonstrate with everyone and then split the class into two groups otherwise it might take a time that is long get round every child. You are able to say the first verse and set one group off and then move over to group two to set them off. Create your way from 1 group to the other to pay attention in and learn their names.
Glad to see you (sung to Frere Jacques)
Teacher:
I’m Ms. (name); I’m Ms. (name).
That’s my name. Which is my name.
Glad to see you here
Glad to see you here.
What’s your name? What exactly is your name?
Child:
I am (name), i will be (name).
That’s my name, that’s my name.
I am glad to be here,
I am glad to be around.
At school. At school today.
All About Me
Once they are just starting to feel relaxed in an English classroom you are able to move onto your first topic. Keeping it personal helps the young children to relate with the subject. Use easy but useful language that they could learn within one lesson. The classroom should be left by them feeling as if they usually have achieved something.
- Self-portraits
Take a large piece of paper and draw a photo of yourself with a large smiley face. Do this before the lesson to save lots of time. Write your name underneath your picture. Give out sheets of A5 paper to the young children and have them to attract a picture of themselves and to write their name underneath their drawing. Provide them with a time limit so that it doesn’t develop into a form of art class as they will oftimes be pleased with their drawings and take their time. Don’t rush them but don’t allow it to drag on either. Once they have finished, suggest to them your picture again and say ‘My name is ___’. Then go round the class and obtain them to keep their picture up. Ask the relevant question: ‘What’s your name?’ They are able to make use of your model to answer ‘My name is ___’. Then once they have practised this for a time underneath your picture you can write your age: simply the numbers. You say ‘I’m ___ years of age’. Go round the class and inquire a couple of children ‘How old have you been?’ Then ask everyone to create what their age is on their picture. You move on to asking everyone’s age and finally the pictures are studied by them onto their envelopes or boxes described below.
- My box
This can be a one-off activity you can also develop it into an on-going project. You could use large envelopes if you don’t have the space to store small boxes for everyone. They should be large enough when it comes to children to stick their self-portraits onto the front. You can gradually build up the contents of this box. A label cut from their favourite cereal packet, etc for the very young learners it can be pictures of their families, drawings of their favourite toy. This might obviously be spread over a series of lessons, be kept going up until Christmas or is able to see you through the year that is whole. It takes a little forward planning in the start but when you’ve integrated it into the class routines the children will look forward to it and expect to add something new to their ‘All About Me’ box.