Posted in EFL Teacher Resources, Public Education

@E.F.E. Team

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

@E.F.E. Team is the name of a blog I recently (and fortunately I may add!) found on a late night research. It is related to the English materials Greek public schools use in the 6th grade and the writers of this blog are the actual writers of the coursebook itself (E.F.E. actually stands for Eleni Efremidou, Filitsa Frouzaki and Eleni-Zoe Reppa, that is the first letter of the first name of every writer)! There is plenty of information regarding the 6th grade English materials, suggestions and resources for teachers (lesson plans, tests, etc), interesting links and articles. Hope you find it as enlightening and as useful as I did!

Posted in Public Education

Έναρξη δημόσιας διαβούλευσης του Υπουργείου Παιδείας, Διά Βίου Μάθησης και Θρησκευμάτων

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

Ξεκίνησε σήμερα 15/01/2011 η δημόσια διαβούλευση του Υπουργείου Παιδείας, Διά Βίου Μάθησης και Θρησκευμάτων στην ιστοσελίδα της κυβέρνησης για τα εξής θέματα:

1. Πρότυπα-Πειραματικά Σχολεία

2. Αναδιάρθρωση των Δομών Υποστήριξης του Παιδαγωγικού, Εκπαιδευτικού, Ψηφιακού και Εκδοτικού Σχεδιασμού του Υπουργείου Παιδείας

Η διαβούλευση θα διαρκέσει 10 ημέρες.

Τα κείμενα και επιπλέον ενημερωτικό υλικό είναι αναρτημένα στις ηλεκτρονικές διευθύνσεις:

1. http://www.opengov.gr/ypepth/?p=552

2. http://www.opengov.gr/ypepth/?p=543

Πηγή: http://www.minedu.gov.gr/

Posted in Computer-Assisted Language Learning, EFL Teacher Resources, Public Education

Learn English The Fun Way!

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

As EFL teachers, trying to introduce our learners to Computer-Based Learning, we are sometimes lost looking for e-learning environments that are appropriate to our learners’ needs and our teaching objectives. MINGOVILLE is a fun, free, colourful e-learning environment full of exercises, songs and games that may be what most EFL teachers have been looking for!

The great thing concerning Mingoville is that YOU get to choose the English Lessons most relevant to YOUR learners! You can make it FUN for your school’s students to learn English online with comprehensive lessons in English spelling, grammar, reading, and even pronunciation. Colourful characters engage students, letting kids learn English by “doing” through an edutainment e-learning model featuring lessons, songs, and English games for kids. Mingoville may potentially work for any student, whether they learn best by doing (interacting through games), visually (associating images with written words), or in auditory ways (such as through English songs and pronunciations). There is also the possiblility to introduce your learners to virtual learning tools, promoting thus effective learning and simulating real-life learning (http://www.mingoville.com/en/teachers.html).

Adding a personal experience after using Mingoville in the computer lab, teacher familiarization with the platform and availability of speakers (and maybe headphones!) have been considered significant for the effective incorporation of this environment in EFL teaching. Learners will probably keep asking for your help the first couple of times, eventually, however, they are going to learn their way through the platform! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Posted in 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, Computer-Assisted Language Learning, EFL Teacher Resources

English Exercises

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

English Exercises is a website full of exercises to practise English online. The exercises have been submitted by English teachers from all over the world and they are categorized as VOCABULARY and GRAMMAR exercises. Your learners will have the opportunity to practice English developing thus their vocabulary, grammar and listening skills (a lot of the activities include songs and videos!).

Posted in 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, Computer-Assisted Language Learning, My Schools' English Newspapers, Public Education

English School Newspaper – January 2010 Issue – P/S Platanos

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

Learn and Play s the English school newspaper we created with the 5th and 6th grade learners of the Primary School of Platanos, Magnesia, Greece, during the school year 2009 – 2010. Here is our January 2010 issue:

ΠΛΑΤΑΝΟΣ – ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ Ε’-ΣΤ’ 2009

Posted in 5th Grade, 6th Grade, Computer-Assisted Language Learning, Public Education

Exchange of Traditional Dances and National Customs Among European Primary Schools

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

Exchange of Traditional Dances and National Customs Among European Primary Schools

Primary School of Pteleos

Upon the beginning of the current school year, the Primary School of Pteleos, Greece, participates in the European programme ‘eTwinning’ which promotes the collaboration of European schools with common pedagogical and educational objectives. The project we submitted this year bears the title «Dancing our Way Through Tradition» and it involves learners in the exchange of national customs and traditions among participating European Primary Schools. The vehicle for each exchange will be a video-recorded traditional dance of each partner, accompanied with the presentation of a selected custom or tradition.

The primary objectives of this endeavour are: a) to raise awareness of learners’ own and others’ customs and tradition, b) to develop global understanding, c) to realize the emergence of English as an international language, and d) to motivate leasrners to learn national traditional dances. The secondary objectives are: a) to develop learners’ writing skills in English, b) to promote collaborative learning, c) to introduce the use of technology in learning (video, email, search engine, word processor, PowerPoint presentation, etc). «Dancing Our Way Through Tradition» aspires primarily to develop the learners’ awareness of the traditions of other countries. This way, they may become more tolerant with different cultures and more sensitive to different lifestyles, and generally more respectful of the diversity of cultures.

Once submitted, the programme has been approved by the National Committee and the Primary Schools involved are the following: eLearning Centre, Floriana, Malta, Karacaoğlan İ.Ö.O / Primary School, Adana, Turkey, Scoala gen. nr. 2 Codlea, Codlea, Romania, St. Clare College, San Gwann Primary A, San Gwann, Malta, TEVFİK YARAMANOĞLU İLKÖĞRETİM OKULU, MERKEZ, Turkey, Samanyolu Ilköğretim Okulu , Ankara, Turkey and the Primary School of Politika, Evia, Greece.

The first exchange among the participating schools has been accomplished prior to the closing of schools for the Christmas Holidays and it involved the learners of the Primary School of Pteleos in the creation of a video with Greek Christmas carols and songs and a presentation of the Greek Christmas and New Year’s customs. The learners taking part in this project are those of the 4th, 5th and 6th grade and the teachers who coordinated and collaborated for this first exchange are the following: Despina Founda (Physical Education Teacher), Maria Soultani (Music Teacher) and Paraskevi Hamilou (English Teacher).

Posted in 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, EFL Teacher Resources, Public Education

Christmas Printables, Crafts, Teaching Resources!

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

The world wide web abounds in printable worksheets related to Christmas! Here are some links you may find useful:

Christmas Worksheets

Christmas Teaching Resources

Christmas Printables

Christmas Printables

Gift tags, gift certificates, Victorian Santa cards, lists and more for the Christmas season!

Christmas printables for kids

Printable Goodies for the Christmas Holidays

Christmas Ideas for school use

Christmas / Winter ideas for school Use

Christmas Crafts for the classroom

Christmas Teaching Resources

Christmas Teaching ideas

Learn English with Christmas Songs

Christmas Lessons, Songs, Worksheets, Teaching Resources

Thanksgiving Lesson Resources

Here you will find a collection of online word games, activities and quizzes that can help children learn and practise English vocabulary related to Christmas in a fun way. Also, we offer a variety of printable exercises and activities for young ESL learners, including Christmas word games, picture quizzes, vocabulary tests, board games and crafts.

Posted in 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, Computer-Assisted Language Learning, My Schools' English Newspapers, Public Education

ENGLISH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER – ISSUE 1 – PRIMARY SCHOOL OF PTELEOS

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

ΣΧΟΛΙΚΗ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΣΤΑ ΑΓΓΛΙΚΑ
ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΠΤΕΛΕΟΥ, ΜΑΓΝΗΣΙΑ

Τις περισσότερες φορές, η ανάθεση γραπτών εργασιών στο σπίτι προκαλεί τη δυσανασχέτηση των μαθητών και αυξάνει το άγχος τους να ανταπεξέλθουν στις απαιτήσεις του σχολείου, πολύ περισσότερο δε όταν πρόκειται για συγγραφή κειμένου στα αγγλικά! Σε μια προσπάθεια να κάνουμε τη διαδικασία αυτή καταρχήν πιο ευχάριστη, αποφασίσαμε από κοινού με τους μαθητές των Δ’, Ε’ και Στ’ Τάξεων του Δημοτικού Σχολείου Πτελεού να προχωρήσουμε στην έκδοση σχολικής εφημερίδας στα Αγγλικά.

Οι βασικοί στόχοι ενός τέτοιου εγχειρήματος αποσκοπούν στη βελτίωση της παραγωγής γραπτού λόγου στα αγγλικά, αλλά και στην εξοικείωση των μαθητών με διαφορετικά είδη γραπτού λόγου (άρθρο, δοκίμιο, ποίημα, κτλ). Εκτός όμως από την εξοικείωση των παιδιών με το περιεχόμενο και το ύφος ανάλογα με είδος του γραπτού κειμένου, προωθούνται και άλλοι, δευτερεύοντες, αλλά εξίσου σημαντικοί στόχοι. Καταρχήν, επιδιώκεται η συνεργασία με τους συμμαθητές τόσο για την έρευνα, όσο και για την συγγραφή των κειμένων, συμβάλλοντας έτσι στην κοινωνικοποίηση, αλλά και την αύξηση της αυτοπεποίθησης των μαθητών μας. Επίσης, τα παιδιά έχουν τη δυνατότητα να εξοικειωθούν με τη χρήση του internet, του κειμενογράφου, της εγκυκλοπαίδειας και του λεξικού.

Επιδιώκοντας να προσδώσουμε μια πιο αληθινή διάσταση στη συγγραφή της εφημερίδας μας, το Δημοτικό Σχολείο Πτελεού εντάχθηκε στο πρόγραμμα ηλεκτρονικής αδελφοποίησης Ευρωπαϊκών σχολείων eTwinning. Υποβάλλοντας το σχεδιασμό ενός project με την ονομασία “I’ve got news for you”, καλέσαμε άλλα Ευρωπαϊκά σχολεία που εκδίδουν σχολικές εφημερίδες στα αγγλικά σε μια ανταλλαγή εφημερίδων, με σκοπό να προσομοιάσουμε τη συγγραφή κειμένων όπως αυτή συντελείται στην πραγματικότητα, με στόχο, αλλά και συγκεκριμένο αναγνωστικό κοινό. Στην προσπάθειά μας αυτή βρήκαμε ήδη συνεργάτες και έχει ήδη ξεκινήσει η ανταλλαγή σχολικών εντύπων στα αγγλικά. Τα συνεργαζόμενα σχολεία είναι: St Mary’s primary Duntocher, Clydebank, Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, Ulubatlı Hasan İlköğretim Okulu, Kocaeli, Τουρκία, Szkoła Podstawowa nr 1 im. Feliksa Nowowiejskiego w Barczewie, Barczewo, Πολωνία, Samanyolu Ilköğretim Okulu , Ankara, Τουρκία και Öğretmen Mediha Mehmet Tetikol İlköğretim Okulu, Tekirdağ, Τουρκία. Επιπροσθέτως, σε μια προσπάθεια έκθεσης των μαθητών σε όλο και περισσότερα γραπτά συνομηλίκων τους που έχουν την αγγλική ως μητρική τους γλώσσα, και άρα την βελτιστοποίηση της κατανόησης γραπτών κειμένων στην αγγλική των μαθητών μας, έχει ήδη συναφθεί συνεργασία με το σχολείο Cushing Middle School, στην Οκλαχόμα των Η.Π.Α. Έτσι, οι μαθητές μας θα έχουν τη δυνατότητα να συνειδητοποιήσουν στην πράξη την ευρεία χρήση της αγγλικής γλώσσας, τις δυνατότητες που τους παρέχει η γνώση της, αλλά και να νοιώσουν σαν πολίτες του κόσμου, διευρύνοντας τους ορίζοντές τους!

Στα πλαίσια της έκδοσης του πρώτου τεύχους της εφημερίδας μας, την Πέμπτη 9 Δεκεμβρίου 2010 επισκεφθήκαμε τους χώρους έκδοσης της τοπικής εφημερίδας «ΘΕΣΣΑΛΙΑ», όπου οι μαθητές μας είχαν τη δυνατότητα να εξοικειωθούν με τη διαδικασία εκτύπωσης μιας εφημερίδας, αλλά και να μάθουν περισσότερα για τον τρόπο που αυτή συγγράφεται, εκδίδεται και προωθείται. Η ξεναγός μας, κα Χραπάλου, με μεγάλη υπομονή, περιγραφικότητα και ευχάριστη διάθεση, εξήγησε κατανοητά στους μαθητές μας τις διαδικασίες, απάντησε πρόθυμα στις ερωτήσεις που είχαν ετοιμάσει υπό την μορφή ερωτηματολογίου, αλλά και εντυπωσίασε μαθητές και εκπαιδευτικό προσωπικό με την παρουσίαση παλαιοτέρων τευχών του 1925 της εφημερίδας «ΘΕΣΣΑΛΙΑ», η οποία εκδίδεται από το 1898! Την ευχαριστούμε θερμά για όλα!

Η αγγλική εφημερίδα μας ονομάζεται “OUR WORLD” και, αποσκοπώντας στην μεγαλύτερη εξοικείωση των μαθητών μας με την τεχνολογία, της δώσαμε και ηλεκτρονική διάσταση μέσα από το σχολικό ιστολόγιο (blog) που δημιουργήσαμε, όχι μόνο για την προβολή των άρθρων που συγγράψαμε, αλλά και για την προβολή άλλων εργασιών και εκδηλώσεων του σχολείου μας (https://blogs.sch.gr/dimptemag/).

OUR WORLD – December 2010 – Issue 1[1]

This is the first issue of the English school paper of the Primary School of Pteleos, Greece, as it was printed and distributed!

Posted in School Paper Articles

LETTER TO THE STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD – December 2010 Issue – Primary school of Pteleos

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

Dear students around the world,

I would like to give you my view on the endangered sea creatures in the Mediterranean. I was searching on the internet for information about recycling, when an eco-friend sent me an email, emitting SOS.

I think sea pollution is the reason why fish and other sea creatures die. Some bird-brained people drop rubbish into the sea. This rubbish takes a million years to decompose and all these years the sea is polluted. The worst is the plastic rubbish, which is impossible to decompose.

People must wake up and see that they ruin earth, the ground on which they walk. The sea contains 50% of our oxygen and it’s like we pollute the air we breathe.

All of us should drop our rubbish into recycling bins and not into the seas and beaches. And when we see litter on the ground, we should pick it up and drop it into a bin, even if it is not ours.

Governments must put recycling bins everywhere, including the beaches and all people should pick up all the rubbish from the ground.

Thanks for your time and I hope the earth will become a better place to live!

Kind Regards,
Hryssa Papalexopoulou (6th grade)

Posted in 6th Grade, School Paper Articles

POEMS by our 6th graders – December 2010 Issue – Primary School of Pteleos

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

POEMS
by our 6th graders

This term we wrote poems about our favourite things, as part of our English course book project! Here are two of them!

THE CAT
by Hryssa Papalexopoulou

I have a cat
beautiful and fat
she wears hats
and she eats rats!

My cat follows a mouse
and she doesn’t want to wear a blouse!
As long as she doesn’t sleep
I can’t fall asleep!

ODE TO MY CHOCOLATE DRINK
by Julie Alamanioti

Oh, my sweet chocolate drink!
It’s very tasty and looks fresh!
It feels soft in my mouth!
It looks delicious before my eyes!

Posted in 5th Grade, School Paper Articles

CAESAR’S SALAD – December 2010 Issue – Primary School of Pteleos

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

Caesar’s Salad
by Christina Argiriou (6th grade)

Ingredients:
lettuce
4 slices of bread
3 spoonfuls of olive oil
1 clove of garlic
grated peels of parmesan cheese for serving

For the dressing:
½ a cup of mayonnaise
3 anchovy fillets in oil
½ a teaspoon of spicy mustard
2 table spoons of lemon juice
4 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoons of sauce
2 tablespoons of yoghurt

Preparation:
Wash and rinse the lettuce and cut the bread into little pieces. Cut the bread to little cubes and put it in a bowl. Drizzle the pieces of bread with oil and garlic and mix. Put them in a pan and roast them in a preheated oven at 200 Celsius degrees for 10 minutes. For the dressing: rinse the anchovies from the olive oil and chop them. Put all the ingredients of the dressing in a bowl and mix. Now mix the dressing, the cut lettuce and croutons. Serve with the peels of parmesan cheese.

Posted in 5th Grade, 6th Grade, School Paper Articles

QUIZ: ARE YOU A TRUSTWORTHY PERSON?

Posted on by Vivi Hamilou

QUIZ: ARE YOU A TRUSTWORTHY PERSON?
by Hryssa Papalexopoulou

When you promise something, do you keep your promise?
Yes  No 

Do your friends ask you for advice?
Yes  No 

Do you lie?
Yes  No 

When you feel that you have made a mistake, have you got a problem to accept it?
Yes  No 

If one friend has a problem, can he/she turn to you?
Yes  No 

Do you always look after the things you borrow?
Yes  No 

Are you always honest when you say your opinion?
Yes  No 

When you borrow money do you give it back on time?
Yes  No 

More ‘NOs’: No, your friends can’t confide in you, but they are not really sure if they are doing the right thing! Apparently you haven’t won their trust, because they don’t feel like they know you or you act differently all the time.

More “YESes”: Well done!!! Your friends confide in you without hesitating. And this is something that took you a long time to earn and you did it without playing tricks! .Bravo!