Μήνας: Δεκέμβριος 2022

This year I decided to create Christmas cards with my 3rd and 4th Graders by using simple materials and by playing a little with two words spellingwise.

So for the 3rd Graders I used a simple pattern which I created on a Word document inspired by another pattern I found on the Internet and we created the simplest and cutest Santa Claus card.

With my 4th Graders we played a little with the word “dear” and “deer” so we created the following reeindeer card

in which a pun (which I also found on the Internet ) was written as a wish: “You are deer to me!” Students really enjoyed the whole christmas spirit and I was surprised by how clever and funny they found the pun we used.

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to everyone!

The problem:

Dictation has always been a troubling issue for students in the process of learning new words. It is an obsolete way of studying the new words and it does not involve students constructively in the learning process, let alone in the position to “own” the word, that is to say to be able to recall and use it in the proper context. So not only it is unproductive and discouraging but it also requires most of the times parental involvement which makes it even more complicated and demanding for every day school life.

The solution:

So how do I get to solve this problem? No more dictation! Except for my 3rd Graders and a few words each week as they need to familiarize themselves with the process of learning and recalling a word in English progressively, I do not dictate any words to the rest of the grades. Instead, we use QUIZLET flashcards and WORDWALL exercises to drill and learn the words of the Unit.

How do YOU teach and practise the new vocabulary?

 

This project is for my 4th Graders and it is based on the Coursebook Unit 5 Lesson 3 Habits and Customs.  Firstly, using the Quest button on my interactive book in class I gave my students the stimulus and the idea to look for more information. Because this would be a presentation project I decided to use flipgrid app so they can get the chance to enjoy and practise at the same time. After, students formed their own groups and I structured the project in steps which I gave them in writing.    

STEP 1: 

Find information about Christmas customs in other countries and talk about similarities and differences.

You can look at:

• www.gnto.gr, the site of the Greek National Tourism Organization.
• http://dim-sapon.rod.sch.gr, the website of the Primary School of Sapes.
• http://11dim-evosm.thess.sch.gr, the site of the 11th Primary School of
  Evosmos, Thessaloniki.
• http://dim-rizou.pel.sch.gr, the website of the Primary School of Rizos.
• www.haef.gr, the site of the Athens College.

http://ebooks.edu.gr/ebooks/v/html/8547/2266/Agglika_D-Dimotikou_html-empl/index5_3.html

STEP 2:

Write down your information and separate it into parts so that everybody in your team can present one part.

 For example,

• Season and the weather
• Decorations
• Food and drinks
• Events

You can use expressions like “In Greece, people ….. whereas in Great Britain ……”

Once you have all the necessary information organized you should practise your presentation.

STEP 3:

You visit https://info.flip.com and you use the join code to join the course and the particular topic to record your PRESENTATION! REMEMBER YOU CAN RECORD ON OR OFF CAMERA!

Parent consent signature: 

JOIN CODE:

This is a project based on 5th Grade Student’s book Unit 2, Lesson 1, Exercise H (Portfolio). The educational purpose was to use reverse classroom practice so as to give students more time to practise their speaking skills. To this end, I asked my students to form pairs and suggested their using flipgrid which is a Microsoft educational tool that extends classroom time and space. So I structured this project in the following steps:

STEP 1:

Educational Scenario:

Imagine you are a reporter from the school newspaper. You are taking a similar interview with a famous person you like and admire, like the one in Lesson 2, page 30. It can be an interview with an athlete, a singer, an actor/ actress, a writer, a painter, etc.

STEP 2:

Write 4 or 5 questions and add the answers you got. Use magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias, the Internet, or the class books for your Greek lessons – eg. Anthologio for information.

Από <http://ebooks.edu.gr/ebooks/v/html/8547/2268/Agglika_E-Dimotikou_html-empl/index2_2.html>

QUESTIONS:

We are very happy to have such a famous person here today.

• How did you become so famous?
• How many hours do you …………………………… ( famous person’s activity) each day?
• Do you enjoy life in…………………………. (name of country)?
• What do you ……………………….in the evenings in (name of country)
• What do you have to recommend to young children who want to………………………….. at a professional level?

Thank you. It was a pleasure having you here.

STEP 3:

As soon as you find the answers to the above questions -REMEMBER YOU CAN ADD QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS YOU WANT- practise your interview with your partner.

STEP 4:

You visit https://info.flip.com make an account using your mail and a password. Then you use the join code to join the course and the particular topic to record your interview! REMEMBER YOU CAN RECORD ON OR OFF CAMERA (OPTIONS ARE CAMERA OR AUDIO)! 

PARENT CONSENT SIGNATURE: 

This is the invite link you can use:

STEP 5: (alternative option)

If you want, you can make a poster of the interview and add drawings, magazine pictures or anything else that can make your writing look nice.

I really enjoy seeing the laughs and the joy of my students getting involved in such activities!