How to make your lessons irresistible for kids

Tips on what to do and not to do with Very Young Learners!

By Grace Bertolini creativeteaching@gracebertolini.com.ar

Teaching a child could be defined as “instructing him in a certain area”.

Educating a child, however, is enabling him to develop mentally, morally, physically and socially.

HOW TO TEACH ENGLISH TO VERY YOUNG LEARNERS:

 Change your activities every 5-10 minutes: young children need variety as they get bored easily and
have a very short attention span.

 Vary the pace during the lessons mixing up exciting games with quiet ones, according to the mood.

 R-R-R: Repeat – Review - Revise: If you neglect this, children will have no recollection of the
language you have covered.

 Do not burden your children with Reading and Writing: there is plenty of time for that later.
Concentrate on Listening and Speaking.

 Avoid abstract concepts: concentrate on concrete real items.

 Include movement so the children learn through the TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE Method.

 Be prepared: before you go into class have material ready. Practice telling the stories, playing
games, using posters, etc…

 Be flexible: if something is not working, then change the game or activity.

______________________________________________________________________________

WHY ARE ROUTINES SO IMPORTANTA WITH LITTLE KIDS?

ROUTINES give children a sense of security and allow them to feel safe. Routines help children develop
self-discipline, and how to control themselves. Children handle change best if it occurs in the context of a
familiar routine. Kids have no sense of formal time, but “routines” also help them to know what to expect and
what to do, giving them a notion of “time passing”.

BEGINNING THE LESSON: Never start with something new! Revise a few items of vocabulary and add 1 or
2 new ones.

EXTRA MATERIAL: have extra material for those who always finish before others: a child with nothing to do
is a potential source of trouble!

KEEP A BOX WITH EXTRA MATERIAL with: pictures to color, picture cards to play with, puzzles, simple
colorful books to look at, Memory Games, etc.

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES:

Young children often need “VISUAL AIDS” to help them judge their behavior.

Join us
BEHAVIOR CHARTS can be effective visual aids!

“STAY ON GREEN: a color-coded Behavior Chart:

1- Each child has a pocket containing three cards. 2- Use: GREEN: for “Working well” - YELLOW: for
“Be careful…” and RED: for “You should behave…” By physically changing the color themselves,
students are taking responsibility for their actions, as well as processing the effects of positive and
negative behavior.
SOME BEHAVIOR CHARTS

SOME ATTENTION GRABBERS

ATTENTION GRABBERS:
Don't loose your voice to get your
students' attention.

Use an ATTENTION GRABBER to

help them focus.

TEACHERS’LANGUAGE:
Teacher should use miming, acting, facial expressions, tone of voice and body language to convey meaning

CIRCLE TIME is when everyone sits together as a group for an activity.

Listening & Speaking activities can include: Greetings, Finger Plays, Chants , Rhymes & Songs, Movement,
Simple Stories with Puppets

CREATE YOUR OWN ROUTINE SONGS:

Think about: Key phrases, Suggestions, Permissions, Vocabulary being taught.
Identify a familiar tune: for example: “Arroz con leche”
Match the language with the rhythm. Check Grammar. Use TPR. Use props.

Join us
WHY MAKE OUR OWN TEACHING RESOURCES?
They are easy to make.
They are cheap: they do not require expensive material (use construction paper and E.V.A Foam)
They can reflect the needs of the class.
They provide variety to the class activity.
All resources must be specially ordered and stored
They should be safe good quality, carefully prepared, colorful and durable.

We can use INTERACTIVE BOARDS to display visual information, like a series of pictures to retell a story
and to organize vocabulary.

FELT BOADS POCKET CHARTS MAGNET BOARDS

USE PLAY & GAMES:

Make your lessons full of physical movement.
Children will be more motivated and remember the language better.
Children delight in “make-believe”. They love playing in imaginary worlds and can act out a role and engage
in “pretend activities”. They love to dress up and become another person.

Join us
 ADJUST:
Space available.
Amount of time needed.
The choice of materials. WHEN PLAYING GAMES…
Children will not use EFL spontaneously.

SHORT EASY TO SET UP

ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE:
FUN ADAPTABLE TO USE

CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING GAMES:

The game should be simple to explain, easy to set up and carry out. Everyone should be able to participate
and Games should be FUN !

HOW DO I SET UP A GAME?

Always plan a quick demonstration: play the game with 1 or 2 students in front of the class.
If kids do not understand instructions, have a “trial run” before starting a the game.

INSIDE GAMES OUTSIDE GAMES

Question & Answer with a ball Cat & Mouse
Duck-Duck-Goose Parachute Game
I spy with my little eye Fruit Cocktail
Mystery Bag Red Light, Yellow Light, Green Light
Chinese Whispers Simon says
USE BOARD GAMES:

BINGO MEMORY GAME PUZZLES

MATCHING MATS & FILE FOLDERS GAMES:

Join us
 USING RHYMES & CHANTS with Very Young
Learners:
They should be predictable and brief.
They should be age-appropriate and enjoyable.

Whenever possible, add hand or body motion to go with

a rhyme or with a chant.
Children love movement and even if they cannot
remember the words, they can at least perform the
motions.

HOW TO TEACH SONGS TO KIDS:

Play the whole song first.
Teach the chorus
Teach one line and children repeat the words: they will be the “echo” and sing the line back to you.
Add more lines and actions.
Use visual cues to start your songs: a picture. Realia, etc.
Record the children singing.

POSTERS & FLASHCARDS are a useful tools for:

Pre teaching, Presentation & Consolidation.

WORKING WITH A POSTER:

1) Display the poster in the classroom.
2) Invite children to name as many items as they can and talk about what they see.
3) ) Have children:
- Touch
- Do things
- Name things
 “Show me the…”.
 “Point to the…”
 “ Touch the…”
REMEMBER TO USE PUPPETS, MASKS & HEADBANDS:

STORY TIME
STORIES should be simple, age-appropriate, predictable and with a lot of repetition.
STORIES should have a good plot, wonderful pictures and repetitive patterns with rhythm & rhyme.

Join us
 WAYS TO COMPLEMENT A STORY:

Retell the story using Interactive Boards

(Felt & Magnet Boards)

Put on a Puppet Show.

Retell with Story Tins, Story Sticks and Hats.

Use Retelling Necklaces, Clank Cans, Story

Aprons & Vests

IDEAS FOR SCHOOL-HOME CONNECTION:

Class Newsletter – Book Songs – Traveling Folders – Open Classes – Book Day – Green Week

A REFLECTIVE SUMMARY:

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH ME!!

Grace B. creativeteaching@gracebertolini.com.ar

www.gracebertolini.com.ar

Join us