[clivehawkins]

I've got the chance to teach a group of 3-6 year olds for two hours a morning five days a week.

I'm relishing the opportunity to broaden my experience, which is almost nil at this age group.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me. I've noticed that a lot of you teach to kids of this age. I teach mainly to adults.

I'm excited about it but also a little nervous. It feels like starting over again!

Thanks

[simplyesl]

Change your activities regulary - kids get bored quite quickly.
Use many different ways to drill the language.
Use as much TPR as possible.
Keep it fun - make sure that they are learning English in a fun way.

[clivehawkins]

Thanks.

I've prepared some activities along the lines of chinese whispers, simon says, nursery rhymes, colouring activities, spelling games, matching exercises.
In two hours I'd look to do at least 6 activities - do you think 20 minutes is too long for each one?

[simplyesl]

Yes, I think 20 minutes is too long. It's always better to over-plan, especially with the young sts.
Take a look at mes-english.com, simplyesl.com (my site) and this site and list at least 5 games (on top of the ones that you have) that you can use if you run out of activies.
When you sense the sts getting restless, it's time to change your activity.

Teaching that age group can be fun and VERY rewarding, just be prepared!

[clivehawkins]

Thanks, I'll check out those sites today.

Your help is much appreciated.

[simplyesl]

Glad to help!

I'll need some help when I start teaching adults in a couple months.

[clivehawkins]

You know where to come!

[Eric]

Also, every lesson doesn't have to be English focused. You can do a lot of things like coloring or playdough where English isn't the main focus. Then you can ask the kids questions about their work afterward like 'what color is it?' or 'what is it?'.

two hours for that age everyday is intense. i would consider making a routine for yourself. this structure will help the kids through that 2 hour period if they know that after coloring is a game and after that it's singing, etc...

i'd make a schedule like this:
9:00 - 9:15 - song
9:15- 9:25 - story book
9:25 - 9:35 - ???
etc...

that way your day will be much easier to plan and the kids will start to anticipate certain parts of the lesson.

[simplyesl]

I agree with Eric about it the lesson not always focusing on teaching the students English. However, they should be in an English environment. At one of my locations I do arts + crafts or a special activity every lesson. Crafts generally keep the sts interested for a long time (sometimes up to 30 mins), and the sts will be immersed in a lot of incidental language (cut the paper etc).

[Eric]

another thing i used to do to keep them in an English environment is to play some English songs that they are familiar with. one young class i taught literally sat there, cutting and coloring and singing the songs. it was great exposure for them and they enjoy it.

[simplyesl]

There's something I haven't tried. I'll use it tomorrow!

[clivehawkins]

Quote Eric

Also, every lesson doesn't have to be English focused. You can do a lot of things like coloring or playdough where English isn't the main focus. Then you can ask the kids questions about their work afterward like 'what color is it?' or 'what is it?'.

two hours for that age everyday is intense. i would consider making a routine for yourself. this structure will help the kids through that 2 hour period if they know that after coloring is a game and after that it's singing, etc...

i'd make a schedule like this:
9:00 - 9:15 - song
9:15- 9:25 - story book
9:25 - 9:35 - ???
etc...

that way your day will be much easier to plan and the kids will start to anticipate certain parts of the lesson.

That's great advice, especially about the non-language based activities. it's easy to forget that just 'cos teacher 'isn't doing anything' it doesn't mean they aren't learning.

[clivehawkins]

Quote simplyesl

I agree with Eric about it the lesson not always focusing on teaching the students English. However, they should be in an English environment. At one of my locations I do arts + crafts or a special activity every lesson. Crafts generally keep the sts interested for a long time (sometimes up to 30 mins), and the sts will be immersed in a lot of incidental language (cut the paper etc).

I'm intending to keep the environment as exclusively English as possible. Basic instructions will be one of the main aims of the first weeks ie sit down, come here, colour the picture etc. Using their creativity as a teaching tool is such a simple idea that it seems obvious, but I hadn't thought of it!

[Eric]

Quote clivehawkins

That's great advice, especially about the non-language based activities. it's easy to forget that just 'cos teacher 'isn't doing anything' it doesn't mean they aren't learning.

it took me a long time to get used to stepping back from the group a little bit. but at that age, they need more subtle methods of delivery.

[simplyesl]

Which songs do you use?

[Eric]

Quote simplyesl

Which songs do you use?

i used a textbook called Super Tots in class. it came with tapes that had songs. so these were songs that they were already familiar with so it makes it easier for them to listen to. Super Tots also had a lot of activities in it where english was more the secondary focus, not primary.

[clivehawkins]

I start with the young kids today, thankfully the lessons have been cut to an hour. having prepared a few materials it became very clear that 2 hours was way too long.

I'll let you know how it goes!

[graesta]

i teach this age group for three hours every saturday and sometimes i feel the time isn't even enough.these kids can do and absorb a lot of lessons . jusr provide acirivities that will make them move.

[mesmark]

graesta - I love the avatar!

[clivehawkins]

well it went pretty well. we did introductions and wrote our names on nice coloured pieces of paper, adding some designs too.
then we painted the numbers one to ten on pieces of paper and chanted them together. Then we played a game where each was assigned a number and they had to stand up when I called that number. Then they shut their eyes and I bounced a ball on the floor - they had to tell me how many times it bounced. All in all it was good fun!

Any suggestions for Monday's class?!