Tradition and Innovation in the Primary Classroom Iveta Vītola Valmiera, 12 November, 2010

Classroom Atmosphere a.unstressed b.non-threatening c.happy d.collaborative, not competitive e.varied focus f.varied activities g.short activities

Classroom Activities  busy children are not naughty children  young children cannot concentrate for long periods  children can concentrate better when they are active, not passive.

Adults and children use their intelligence to ‘work out’ meaning use language to understand the world learn by studying books use their senses to observe the world make connections between sounds and ideas learn by exploration, discovery and play

Language as a toy A foreign language is a toy which children use to interact with each other. Like toy telephones, puppets, stories and games, a foreign language is a new toy which children will learn to use through playing with it.

Language as a toy A young child does not think of a bicycle as transport. A bicycle is a toy. The bicycle only becomes transport when the child has learned to ride.

Adults and children So, if children can’t learn the way we teach…...why not teach them the way they learn?

Balancing Activities Head-up activities Pupils have their heads up looking at the teacher, the board, poster or TV. Head-down activities Pupils have their heads down reading, drawing, colouring, copying, writing, etc. Stirrers Acting, dancing, singing, racing tend to make pupils excited. Settlers Listening to stories, drawing, colouring, copying. matching, writing, tend to calm and settle pupils.

Learning opportunities We don’t teach young learners, we create opportunities which will stimulate them to learn.

Where do children learn English? in their brains!

Lower Primary Age Group Heavily dependant on the teacher Inquisitive, easily motivated Short concentration span Receptive to fantasy and imagination Just beginning to read and write in their own language Sensory preferences

Sensory Preference Visual Auditory Kinaesthetic

Motivate with Mickey Successful Teaching and Learning with English Adventure

Language presented in context of Disney characters children will recognise Visual, auditory, kinaesthetic channels

Focus first on receptive skills Visual, auditory, kinaesthetic channels Personalisation and student – student collaboration

Further receptive skills practice – listening Kinaesthetic focus – stickers Song – making language memorable Circle pictures – ‘Can you see them?’

Consolidation – story Students act out Visual, auditory, kinaesthetic

Production Model Personalisation Multi-Skills Visual, auditory, kinaesthetic

Children learn quickly – And forget even more quickly So… RECYCLE!!

Review Consolidation of all language covered so far Visual, auditory, kinaesthetic

Picture dictionary Visual record of vocabulary

Course Components Each level comprises: Pupil’s book Activity book Interactive Whiteboard software Teacher’s book Posters Flashcards Audio CDs DVD

Principles behind the Course Learning a new language is a challenge! It is also a joyful experience. Our task as teachers is to provide our classes with a menu of diverse activities which cater for all the intelligences and learning styles. We need to engage the children’s emotions with a variety of relevant topics and provide a climate of healthy self-esteem.

Activity Book Pages correspond with student book pages Motivating practice Varied levels of challenge – caters for mixed abilities

Teacher’s Book Interleaved with student book pages Step by step guide to the lesson with suggestions for extra activities

CD Rom Extra Practice through games and puzzles DVD Contains Clips from Disney movies

Flashcard set Key vocabulary items Teacher’s Book Suggestions for using flashcards

English-Latvian Dictionary Pronunciation, translation

Fly High Your primary students’ English language skills will soar with

Fly High Solid skills work Lower levels feature alphabet skills Grammar is taught explicitly Strong listening feature Variety of activities that are easy-to- teach and motivating for students Extension activities to supplement class work

Working towards a goal

Lesson aim: To enable children to talk about likes and dislikes in the context of food. Grammar: I like / don’t like / do you like? Vocabulary: Food items

Vocabulary: What’s in a word?

soup

Vocabulary: What’s in a word? salad

Vocabulary: What’s in a word? fishlunchpizza soupchickensalad

Teaching ALL the class… Drilling Take one away Disappearing drill Guess the card Take a photo

Contextualising Grammar

yousalad ? Making Grammar Visible likeYou Phone a Friend Do

Making Grammar Visible

From reception to production

Working together

Fly High

Listening and speaking skills are reinforced with audio throughout the unit. Each unit opens with an illustrated list of the key unit vocabulary covered.

Language is practiced through a wide variety of engaging activities. Practice sequences include plenty of personalisation activities.

Students apply what they’ve learned and consolidate language with a game at the end of each unit.

Review of the alphabet covered in the unit includes pronunciation, spelling practice. Vocabulary and language are continuously recycled through different activities.

Additional activities allow teachers to assess each student’s language skill level throughout the writing tasks and project work.

Audio and songs from the Pupil’s Book are also used in the grammar lesson in Fun Grammar book. Grammar notes offer clear and simple explanations of grammar points. Each grammar lesson ends with a production exercise.

Review of the alphabet covered in the unit includes pronunciation, spelling practice. Vocabulary and language are continuously recycled through multiple matching activities and alphabet chants.

A review and assessment section occurs after every four units. Additional activities allow teachers to assess each student’s language skill level throughout the course.

English-Latvian Dictionary

Course Components Pupil’s Book Activity Book Teacher’s Book Class Audio CD Vocabulary Flashcards Alphabet Flashcards English-Latvian Dictionary