Direct Metod for Teaching Kindergarten English Language Learners

 A lot has been said about the direct teaching method or the natural learning method as many name it for teaching early childhood English Language Learners.

We all do Direct teaching with the little ones, we don't teach them grammar such as saying this the noun, the plurals and so on. We just model sentences and the students repeat and then substitute with new words and structures and language just evolves.

Provide dynamic interaction with activities that you can include in your lesson plan.

A kindergarten class is always full of flashcards, puppets and many props. Games and activities are done without translation, it is more with imitation, miming and students just get it so fast.

Children learned their native language at home in a natural way, the same method works for them.

Of course, many techniques and practices should take place to execute the direct method.In future posts I will add some ideas but my other blog there are many ideas on how to use flashcards, small cards, cutouts, worksheets and games for speaking and listening opportunities.

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Is translation necessary for teaching Kindergarten English Language Learners?

A common question that everybody has a different vision on. Is translation necessary to teach children? Books, articles and more have very different views on this. Basically it is more based on your students, your situation and where you teach.

As an English as a Foreign Language Teacher, meaning that I have taught in a country where the language is not spoken, in Venezuela, my experience is different from many teachers.

Starting teaching I would speak in English all the time, I only spoke in Spanish when I saw that whatever the message was not delivered.

I had plenty of visuals: flashcards, realia, cutouts and more. I tried to make myself understood first in English and if mission imposible I would use Spanish. The focus is on effective communication.

Modeling the classsroom commands was a must from the beginning of the school year, I would use flashcards, TPR and any other practice that could come to my mind. When I started creating resources, the first one that I did was the commands set.Wish I had such pretty cards back then, but I made my set out of magazine pictures, yes! I know, no Internet back then. You can get the resource here.   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Commands-Flashcards-1816475

Mime whatever and whenever to get the message across your students. I would even mime their answers when they weren't enthusiastic.

Pairing students is great because there is always a students that gets you at the first sentence and becomes your translator and doesn't interrupt the class.

Scaffold! Read about it and practice it with your students. "Support every student by breaking learning up into chunks and providing a concrete structure for each."

 https://www.edutopia.org/blog/scaffolding-lessons-six-strategies-rebecca-alber

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Methods for teaching Kindergarten EFL

 There's a wide variety of methods for teaching adults that teachers use for teaching the little ones. The knowledge of some of them or all become part of your teaching repertoire. Trying out some practices is part of your lesson plan, some will totally fail and some will be very sucessful with the kindergarteners. Use the metods, techiniques and best practices that are suitable for your specific group that you are teaching. In the end, you are making the decision of what is the best for your class based on your knowledge, your experience.

Experiment with different materials and resources with your early childhood students. I know, it's hard! That's why I have a variety of resources. I never went into a preschool class without a big bag of games, flashcards and more. 

I use a very eclectic method for teaching, I try new and different things that lead me into new experiences. I also keep up the true and tried practices that never fail.

So, remember you are the expert, pick what is right for your kindergarten class.

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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.

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The 3 P's Procedure for teaching Kindergarten EFL

 The very common 3P's procedure can be used to plan your lessons for teaching Kindergarten English Language Learners.

This is the procedure that I learned when I took my TEFL course in ILAC,Canada. I still use this procedure for lesson planning and for the resources that I create are based on this procedure which has been successful for my students.

      

The 3Ps mean: Presentation, Practice and Production. Three easy words to remember.

Presentation is introducing the new vocabulary or grammar structure.

 Use flashcards,

small cards,

 

or cutouts to present all the new to your students. 

Be creative and varied as to what to use with your students. If I used the flashcards the last class, I would choose the small cards or the cutouts for the next class.

Practice is done with the workbooks or worksheets. This is drilling and repetition part that for young students you should have fun worksheets to do the job.

Production is where students show off what they learned and games are the easiest way to put all their knowledge to use. We never have enough games for the youngest students. They love games. I usually have a variety of common, simple and easy games to play.                                           

I am sure that many teachers use this teaching procedure. If not, here are some basics on this topic to get you started. 

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Teachers are artists and scientists!

      Teachers are basically artists that know a science in a classroom!

Here I am standing in front a beautiful picture in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. I can't paint a thing, I am no artist at all. But, in my classroom, I sure was an artist, I created so many thing for my students to reach to them, to engage them to learn a new language. My youngest student ever was a 2 year and 9 nine month old child and my oldest was well over 60 years old.

You are an artist in your classroom! I did this blog post just to remind you that you are a unique teacher artist with all the science of teaching that you have learned and have as experience. 

Create the best piece of art everyday with your lesson plan. I am here to help with materials, resources and ideas for your masterpiece.

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Interactive Learning for Kindergarten English Language Learners

 Interactive Learning for Kindergarten English Language Learners

"it’s actually a pedagogical technique with a fairly simple definition. The interactive approach to any given lesson plan encourages students to interact with each other and with the subject matter."                  According to:  https://www.theclassroom.com/

How interactive are your lessons with the young learners? I know it requires a lot of planning, lots of games and activities for all the stages of your lesson plan.

Students love to play games, it takes away the pressure, they interact with their peers in a fun classroom that they love to return to. As for games for the kindergarten ELL, I love bingo, domino, puzzles, card games, board games. Here is 

Some countries don't have easy access to books in English, and if they are available, they expensive or they don't relate to the unit. I always create a book for each unit. The books can be sent home to read with their parents. The books can be created in groups, like this one.

Focus on student participation when writing your lesson plan. It's better to have lots of activities for pair work or group work and games for every step in the way you deliver your lesson. Check my blog for Kindergarten teachers to check on ideas for teaching with flashcards, small cards, cutouts, worksheets and more.

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