[LouannePiccolo]

Hi Beatrix,

It sounds like you're going to have to take charge of what activities your class are going to do and not ask them what they want to do. Have you written up a syllabus for what you want to cover with them for the course? I have written an article on writing a syllabus for an ESL classroom. It may give you some ideas on where to start.

[eaturcheese]

Sanjajerem and Beatrix,

I know the sometimes frustrating feeling of trying to teach pre-school aged children and getting nothing back from them. Some don't like dancing, some are crazy about dancing. They can barely speak their native language, and then we get to come in and make English noises at them.

For games, I try to stick to the KISS method (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Touch games, Karuta (Japanese card slap game, I say *monkey*, kids slap that card), what's missing?, matching games, simple gestures, etc. I do it as a group activity and try not to have winners or losers. Safety in numbers. The dice game sounds like a good example. A deck of playing cards can be used in so many ways.

For songs, I use what could be called chants. There is a list of vocabulary or a simple sentence repeated over and over again in rhythm. I like Seven Steps, Head-Shoulder-Knees-and Toes, and the Rainbow Song (Red and yellow and pink and green...). You can take any vocabulary, put it to a rhythm, and make it into a song.

For topics, I like all to teach colors, numbers, shapes, animals, food, and body parts.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck!

[sanjajerem]

Quote eaturcheese

Sanjajerem and Beatrix,

I know the sometimes frustrating feeling of trying to teach pre-school aged children and getting nothing back from them. Some don't like dancing, some are crazy about dancing. They can barely speak their native language, and then we get to come in and make English noises at them.

For games, I try to stick to the KISS method (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Touch games, Karuta (Japanese card slap game, I say *monkey*, kids slap that card), what's missing?, matching games, simple gestures, etc. I do it as a group activity and try not to have winners or losers. Safety in numbers. The dice game sounds like a good example. A deck of playing cards can be used in so many ways.

For songs, I use what could be called chants. There is a list of vocabulary or a simple sentence repeated over and over again in rhythm. I like Seven Steps, Head-Shoulder-Knees-and Toes, and the Rainbow Song (Red and yellow and pink and green...). You can take any vocabulary, put it to a rhythm, and make it into a song.

For topics, I like all to teach colors, numbers, shapes, animals, food, and body parts.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck!

Well thank you, it is helpful.

[Beatrix]

yes, it is very helpful.thanks
can you you please tell in detail about some game with a deck of playing cards that you mentioned

[eaturcheese]

Beatrix,

I use trump cards to teach numbers, colors (sort of), and body parts.

Numbers: Using 1-10 cards, count together with the kids and deal one card for each number. When the number said matches the number dealt, kids can slap the pile (for older kids, I take away a card away every time they slap incorrectly).

Colors: I deal one card to each kid (or one for the whole group). They have to say Red or Black and guess the next card. You can continue until they guess one wrong, or deal one card each round. You can also do this with numbers and have them guess High or Low.

Body Parts: My friends call this "Funny Faces." Kids get a piece of paper (or you can draw a face on the blackboard) and pick two cards, one from the trump deck and the other with a body part on it. Black=big, red=small. Prompt them to say the vocab then draw it.

These are pretty straightforward and easy to demonstrate. You can probably think of a few others, but with kids under 5, it's better to hold onto the cards rather than let them hold them. My rule is "Keep them on the desk in front of you."