lunes, 24 de marzo de 2008

jueves, 13 de marzo de 2008

Why use games in ESL learning?

I found this very interesting slideshow on why we should use games to help our students learn a SL.

Put your clothes on!!!

This video is very cute!!


jueves, 28 de febrero de 2008

The days of the week.

Spiderweb



My students always ask for this game. They love it!

On the board I draw a very simple spiderweb and a spider. I put all the flashcards we are learning on the board and tell the children that we need to save them before the spider eats the words. I established 2 rules: I will ask one child and is that child the one that needs to answer, if someone else answers then the spider will automatically eat the word (of course, you may need to be a bit flexible with the younger children) -I had to establish this rule because the children kept calling out and it's proven quite efective - and the children that are not sitting properly don't get asked. Some times the spider eats the word when they get it wrong, but not always, lately I give the child the opportunity to try and save a second word and leave the flashcard on the board. Since the game needs to get moving I never asked the same child 2 words in a row, if they don't know the second word I move on to another child.

"London Bridge is falling down"


I use this game to revise vocabulary.

I choose two kids that will be the bridge - they stand face to face, put their hands together and raise them - and the rest of the children line up to one side of the bridge. We start singing "London Bridge" - just one verse- and when we say: "...my fair lady", the bridge falls down (the children making the bridge put their hands down) and capture a child between their arms. I show this child a flashcard and ask him or her for the word. If they get it right he/she joins the line again, if the child doesn't get it right, he/she joins the bridge (I usually ask the kids in the original bridge if they would like to join the line or stay as the bridge).

The children that walk under the bridge without getting captured go to the back of the line again and continue playing.

We continue playing, until we've asked some words.

My students really enjoy this game, and I never really stopped to teach them the song, they learned it along the way. You will see how soon the children start singing with you.

I've tryed to play it with the 3-year-olds, but they find it hard to understand that they have to go to the back of the line once they passed the bridge. But with 4 and 5 year-olds the game goes smoothly.


martes, 26 de febrero de 2008

Welcome!!!

Welcome to my new blog!!Hope u enjoy it!!!