Session 7: Reflection

Paul mentioned in this lesson that many teachers do not always ask students to read aloud in class but this is not my case. I almost ask my P.5 students to read aloud every day because I do think that reading aloud is very important for learning a language. As I have mentioned in my blog before, I teach a less-able P.5 class this year and this is a challenging job for me. Most of my P.5 students lack confidence in English so I would like to build their confidence through two ways. They are reading aloud and spelling. Once they know how to read and spell those words, they would start thinking that they are actually not that weak in English.

Using Fluency Tutor may allow them to have more practice. I can create a text which can be found in the textbook so they can record their own reading at home and I will be able to listen to it. I can also add some interesting texts for them so as to encourage them to challenge themselves and have fun! Audacity is easy to use and I may record my own reading and ask my students to listen to it at home. In the last 2 weeks, some of my students told me that they were quite interested in using Padlet. I am sure they would like to try more tasks that I create for them.

my read-aloud recording

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bmjhkka9b3hntm6/lum.wav?dl=0

Friends

By Abbie Farwell Brown

How good to lie a little while

And look up through the tree!

The Sky is like a kind big smile

Bent sweetly over me.

The Sunshine flickers through the lace

Of leaves above my head,

And kisses me upon the face

Like Mother, before bed.

The Wind comes stealing o'er the grass

To whisper pretty things;

And though I cannot see him pass,

I feel his careful wings.

So many gentle Friends are near

Whom one can scarcely see,

A child should never feel a fear,

Wherever he may be.

The first Padlet I've created for my P.5 class

I have created a Padlet for my P.5 class and asked them to have a try at home. When I showed them how to use it in class, they were so amazed! They have never tried that before and they thought it was interesting. I asked them to try when they have free time so just few of them have tried until now. (I don't know why some pictures are not successfully uploaded!) It is worthwhile to try something new with my students. 

If you are interested in my Padlet, please click me! The password is 'class5d'.

Session 5: Reflection

Many teachers tend to neglect the fact that listening skills can be trained by using interesting ways. Some teachers assumed that students listen to teachers speaking in English every day and students will acquire listening skills automatically. Some teachers would just give students listening exercise which students do not like to do.

I am glad to know from Paul that there are so many interesting online resources. Sometimes I play some Youtube videos in class. They like watching videos so much, especially the younger kids. I usually use the videos to lead in a lesson and the advantage of using them is that students will become more interested in that topic. Yet, if the purpose of my lesson is to develop their listening skills, that is obviously not enough. I do hope that I have time to use some fascinating online resources in class but I seldom have enough time to do so. Today I learnt how to use EDpuzzle and it will be a very useful tool. I may ask students to do it at home after school or during holiday. It takes just a few minutes to watch a video and the questions can test if they understand the content. Teacher's talk is sometimes boring and the task on EDpuzzle must be interesting for them. I may try to create a task on EDpuzzle for my P.3 students first as they love watching videos so much. Can't wait to see their response!

Session 5: Creating a listening unit with EDpuzzle

I have created a listening unit for my P.5 students. It is about different food groups. I hope they will enjoy it. :-)

Session 4: Reflection

Teachers always think of some new ways of teaching vocabulary items. I usually show them word cards, pictures and real objects when I teach vocabulary items but sometimes I do find that those are too boring for students. Two years ago, I tried to use iPad with my P. 1 class when I taught them some new words. That application on iPad was like Quizlet which I have tried during this session but I did not use it for a long time because I am not very familiar with using an iPad or a tablet. (I am so sorry that I have already forgotten the name of that application! My colleague taught me how to use it two years ago.) My P. 1 class actually liked playing those 'games' on iPad and they were quite useful for helping students spell the words. Yet, it took me quite a long time to insert the words and pictures. 

Today, I have learnt how to use Quizlet in Paul's lesson and it is a very efficient tool! I can create some flashcards and tests in less than 5 minutes. It will definitely save my time when I plan for my lessons and I really think that students will be more willing to revise the words they have learnt by playing simple games. I will start a new chapter next week and I can't wait to try Quizlet! :-D

Session 4: Mind map

I am going to teach some food items next week so hopefully this mind map would be useful for my P.5 students! :-D

 Here is the link:
CLICK ME!


 

Session 4: Quizlet

I am going to teach a chapter that is about food around the world next week. I am going to introduce some cooking verbs to my students as well so I have created this Quizlet to help with my teaching. :)




These are the flashcards.



This is 'Learn'.



This is the Speller.



The following is the test.