ENGLISH INFANTS, ENGLISH PRIMARY, ENGLISH INFANTS&PRIMARY, SPECIAL NEEDS, PARENTS

Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Advice. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Advice. Mostrar todas las entradas

lunes, 18 de agosto de 2014

HEALTH AND BALANCED MEDIA USE DURING SUMMER HOLIDAYS



What's PTA?
Microsoft and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) have teamed up to encourage families to make a PACT- to decide on what types of media are appropriate for each child and where, when, how your child might use them.

The PACT from the National PTA may help families come up with good screen time compromises. 


SOME PARENTS GUIDES

1. Watching Movies With Your Children
    How to make watching movies a fulfilling family activity.

2. Proper TV Viewing Habits for Children
     Tips for improving your child's TV viewing habits.

3. Exergames: Fitness Through Video Games
     A look at interactive video games that can help keep children fit.

4. Video Game Safety Strategies
      Important tips for creating a safe video game playing environment for your children.

5. Reducing Kids' Screen Time
    Methods for getting kids involved in activities away from TV screens and monitors.


NATIONAL (PTA) WEBSITE

jueves, 29 de mayo de 2014

WHY ROUTINES ARE SO IMPORTANT IN TEACHING LANGUAGES?

My name is Tess and I would like to share my experience as a teacher. I have been teaching English for more than 30 years and I know that pupils feel more confident with some routines.

Why routines are so important in teaching languages in Early Years and Primary?  At the beginning of each class children ask me: What are we doing today? Children at any age like to know what will happen next. This reduces anxiety and nervousness in  the classroom. Secondly, it helps to maintain order in class because the teacher will be able to focus more on teaching and less on giving instructions to the class. Thirdly, it gives pupils the sense of security and predictability that will make them automatically feel more confident; knowing what will happen next.

My students at the end of the class, before leaving, they stand in line and they must answer some questions individually. These questions are related to what they have been learning during the class: vocabulary, grammar, spelling etc.

What is the aim of doing that? Pupils are aware that they have learnt something new and this is very rewarding! 





martes, 27 de mayo de 2014

HOW TO PROMOTE CREATIVITY IN YOUR CLASSROOM?


Prasanna Bharti is a blogger by profession, and loves to write about education technology. Her write-ups intend to provide a deep insight about enormous resources and ideas available to make learning better and effective with the use of technology. 

For further information visit: EdTeachReview website

Every child is born with the potential of being creative. Creativity is a crucial aspect of any personality. It helps to analyze things in diverse and uncommon way. Creativity does not just happen; it needs to be cultivated, and the cultivation of creativity in every kid starts from the classroom.

Creativity can be promoted or cultivated and here is the list of 5 strategies that can help teachers to promote or cultivate creativity in the classroom.
1Emotional Connection
Many researches show that creativity can be cultivated best through emotional contacts. For instance, if teachers give project to the students related to community problems like domestic violence. It can help in sprouting creativity because of the human touch and hence emotional connection in it. 
2. Classroom Environment
Classroom environment plays a crucial role in cultivating creativity and confidence in students. Teachers can make classroom environment where each student’s voice matters a lot. Getting involved with the students in the community is the best way to give push to their creativity. Here how teachers can make classroom environment more effective for their students.
  •    Permit frequent discussion and interaction amid students in the classroom.
  •    Make time for informal class opportunity for the students.
  •    Memorize each student’s name meanwhile ensure every student knows everyone’s name.
3. Use Of Different Models
You can use various models to promote creativity in the students. A perfect model can help in:
  • Establishing connection amid the students' real lives and classroom.
  • Inspire innovation and create chances to resolve novel issues.
  • Lookout ways to spread learning prospects at classroom and home.
4- Risk-Taking
Risk-taking thinking or ability automatically prompts creativity. Therefore, teachers must encourage risk-taking approach in the students. Here some of the strategies that teacher can follow to enhance risk-taking ability in their students.
  • Offer safe environment that permits risk-taking
  • Arouse willingness in the students to try new ideas.
  • Accept the mistakes made by students while trying new things.
  • Talk to other teachers and discuss what worked and what not.
5. Active Learning
Active learning includes use of creative stuffs like games, concepts, maps and study materials. Active learning can only be encouraged when student enjoys the learning environment. Here are some ideas through which teachers can cultivate creative thought through active learning.
  • Create interactions that provide students a lot problem-solving opportunity.
  • Give them a lot of opportunities for hands-on field work.
  • Organize round-table discussion time to time on interesting topics.
  • Permit students to create some of the question for their upcoming exam.

Nowadays, we have access of many tools that develop creativity in the students. Here is a collection free web technology accessible for everyone.
Web Blogs: Blogs are the great platform to enhance creative writing, reading and thinking in the students. Teachers can encourage their students to use blogs to demonstrate their opinion about a particular topic or lesson.
Brainstorming and Mapping tools: Nowadays, a lot of tools and apps available over the web for brainstorming and mapping. Help your students to get the access of mindmaps, puzzles, visual graphs and much more.
Infographics: Infographics are the best way to give wings to your student’s imagination and creativity. Using various tools available on the web, students can showcase their creativity using graphs.
Online Games: Online games endorse teamwork, creativity and cooperation among students.  Some of the online games are specifically meant to education students to learn a specific lesson with fun.

 Here is a list of apps that support and foster creativity in the kids.
Encourage observation
Develop Questioning Skills
Brainstorming
Visualization Skills

lunes, 5 de mayo de 2014

MUSIC TO HELP CHILDREN A NEW LANGUAGE: 10 MINUTES AT TIME

I found this interesting article in Pinterest "Music to help children a new language: 10 minutes at time" which I would like to share with all of you. It is written by Franck & Cristina. Frank is from France and Cristina is from Spain. If you would like to read the entire article visit this website: multilingualliving.com

Music plays an important role in learning a second language. Similar areas of the brain are activated when listening to or playing music and speaking or processing language. Language and music are both associated with emotions, the combination makes it a powerful way to learn a second language.
Why is music so helpful to learn a second language?
  • Songs are fun
    We know that children, especially small children, really like music. They relate to it as entertainment and find learning vocabulary through songs amusing. Songs associated with hand and arm gestures are even more powerful in engaging children.
  • Songs increase retention
    Most of us are able to remember several children’s songs we learned as kids. Music helps us retain words and expressions much more effectively. The rhythm of the music helps with memorization, as do the repetitive patterns within the song.
  • Songs place vocabulary in context
    A song is also a little story. Children learn new words and expressions in the context of a story within the song. This will more easily captivate the attention of kids learning a new language. Words make sense faster when you learn them in the context of the lyrics in the song than when you learn them by themselves.
Below are 7 tips to help children learn another language with music, 10 minutes at a time:
  • Tip #1: Sing while nursing/giving the bottle
  • Tip #2: Finish the bedtime story with a song
  • Tip #3: Play tag with a song
  • Tip #4: Role play with a song
  • Tip #5: Dance and learn
  • Tip #6: Sing together in the car
  • Tip #7: Family karaoke
What other ways do you use music to teach your kids a second language? Please share your thoughts!

domingo, 20 de abril de 2014

ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES FOR PARENTS OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN




WEBSITE-KID SOURCE ONLINE


 Kid Source Online is a website that gives tips and advices for parents of school age children from Pre-School to High School. (2 years and half until 16 years old).

Topics for Pre-School students
1. How Important is Homework?
2. Be an Involved Parent
3. Ten Homework Tips
4. Distraction-Free Zone
5. Don't Forget the Library


Topics for Primary students
6. Television
7/8. After School Care
9. Free Time
10. MathStories.com
11. Expectations
12. Reward System




sábado, 22 de marzo de 2014

@School: HELP YOUR CHILDREN IF SUFFERS BULLYING


 Information about bullying for parents. Help and advice for children who are having a hard time at school. Information on how to stay safe.  

BullyingBullying



   



@School: EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS


This section of the @school website is to help parents find information and resources to help their children with special needs to improve their education. 

Click on here and will bring you to this website.