EFL Elementary Teachers: Making the best choices for your Kindergarten English Language Students

martes, 16 de agosto de 2022

Making the best choices for your Kindergarten English Language Students

As a teacher of Kindergarten English Language Learners you are up to make the decisions of how, what and more when planning the lesson for your students. I am sure that you are choosing nothing but the best. Here are a few reflections.

1. Expose students to language as muchas you can. Use books in English. If you can, starting a library for your classroom or academy would be great. Prices can escalate when the school is not in an English speaking country. I created a book for each unit just because of that. It's a book that they can make by themselves, take home and read with the parents and you shouldn't be too worried if it's going to get lost and more. Videos are great. I had a collection of videos, such as Muzzy!, Disney and any other that I could buy. Now, you can find lovely videos on youtube to show in class and recommend to parents.

Here is an example of the family printable book.

2. Help students remember language facts. Experiment with sorting and matching activities.

Here is an example of a sorting activities with several gardn or nature flashards. Students can sort the trees abd flowers accoriding to their shapes. They will have to use the language fact of the adjective + noun phrase.

Students: a triangle tree!

3. The best way for students to communicate is through games and activities that focus on interaction between peers and you.

An easy one: the magic box! You can use it for almost anything and have the students guess what's inside.

or do the show and tell! I always include in all the resources a worksheet for the students to draw, glue a picture of their favorite of their own item. It's wonderful for a short and tell or an exhibition in class.

4. Audit your best and not so good practices. Monitor and adjust. Check if your students were engaged with the material or activity. Did they like it? Were they bored? Can you do the activity in a different way? Just observe, take notes.

5. Lower the student’s anxiety. Make paper bag puppets, craft stick puppets to help students speak and make them feel more comfortable with the new language.