Let’s sing: OPEN, SHUT THEM

Kids looove this one!

   

Classroom rules

As the new school year begins, we are reminded of the importance of establishing some kind of order in our particular chaos.

 

Here are a few tips for preparing your classroom rules:

• Make the list short and clarify. In my experience, it’s better to have few general rules (5 max.) than a long list of small ones. Obviously, you’ll need to go over each rule and what it means, especially at the beginning of the school year. I can assure you most of your students have very different notions of what “respecting others” means, and even the simple ones like “sitting nicely” often need clarification.

• Put them where they can see them. When you’re working with young kids, it’s very important to have your classroom rules physically present in the room. You can print them out or list them together by hand, and make a show of sticking them on the wall.
• Add a picture and a hand gesture. Every rule needs to come with an associated image, as your students probably can’t read yet, and this will help them understand and remember the list. I also like to add a hand gesture to each rule, so sometimes, in the middle of the class, I can just sign silently, and they will remember the rule.

  

• Don’t shy from complete sentences and big words. As much as I like the example in the first picture, I prefer my rules to form sentences (like the ones above), as it enriches their language with structure. Also, kids really like learning big words like “directions” or “participate” so feel free to use them in your list. You’ll have to explain their meaning anyway.

Here is the list of rules I use in my class (sorry I don’t have them in a nice format yet):

1. Listen when the teacher is talking

2. Raise your hand to participate

3. Speak in English

4. Help and respect others

I hope you find it useful. Please comment and tell me what classroom rules YOU have.

MY FACEBOOK PAGE. Please visit!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you know about my facebook page where I share interesting articles, videos and information about teaching English, bilingualism, and education and childhood in general, in my 3 languages: English, Spanish and Lithuanian (hence the name “Trilingual treasures”).

Check it out! Please, LIKE and SHARE if you are into it!  

SWEET DREAMS SONG

      

STORY: Pete the Cat. I love my white shoes

And here’s another one!

       

STORY: Pete the Cat and his four groovy buttons

Love this story!

   

Top 10 Signs of a Good Kindergarten Classroom

Here are 10 signs of a good kindergarten classroom:

1. Children are playing and working with materials or other children. They are not aimlessly wandering or forced to sit quietly for long periods of time.
2. Children have access to various activities throughout the day, such as block building, pretend play, picture books, paints and other art materials, and table toys such as legos, pegboards, and puzzles. Children are not all doing the same things at the same time.
3. Teachers work with individual children, small groups, and the whole group at different times during the day. They do not spend time only with the entire group.
4. The classroom is decorated with children’s original artwork, their own writing with invented spelling, and dictated stories.
5. Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday experiences. Exploring the natural world of plants and animals, cooking, taking attendance, and serving snack are all meaningful activities to children.
6. Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least one hour) to play and explore. Filling out worksheets should not be their primary activity.
7. Children have an opportunity to play outside every day that weather permits. This play is never sacrificed for more instructional time.
8. Teachers read books to children throughout the day, not just at group story time.
9. Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need additional help. Because children differ in experiences and background, they do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way.
10. Children and their parents look forward to school. Parents feel safe sending their child to kindergarten. Children are happy; they are not crying or regularly sick.

Source: http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content3/10.signs.kinder.k12.4.html

STORY: LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

Here’s another popular fairy tale you can act out in the classroom: “Little Red Riding Hood”.

Long version:

    

Short version:

    

STORY: GOLDILOCKS AND THE 3 BEARS

Here’s the popular fairy tale your students will love acting out: “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”.

Long version:

   

Short version:

   

MORE GAMES FOR YOUR ENGLISH CLASS

Here’s a selection of games I use in my lessons. Some of them are mine, but I found most of them on-line. I’m sorry I can’t aknowledge the authors because I never wrote down the sources.

The numbers in brackets are the age groups the game is most likely to interest.

These are simple, short, everyday games. I hope you like them!

SHE’LL BE COMING AROUND THE MOUNTAIN

   

ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT SONG

    

BINGO SONG

Loving SuperSimpleSongs, as always.   

   

ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT

THE MORE WE GET TOGETHER SONG

IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY!

THE HAPPY BITHDAY SONG

HAPPY/SAD SONG

Twinkle twinkle little star SONG

Kids 3 to 6 love this song, especially if you sing it with hand gestures. The video is so cute!
          

Twinkle twinkle little star

How i wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are