Wordshop day

The last week we had a workshop in which we presented some useful techniques to teach in the better way a class.

Those are the techniques that were presented:

1- MEMORY GAMES.

2- PUPPETS.

3- TELLING STORIES.

4- MODELING CLAY.

5-RECYCLING PAPER

6- SONGS/CHANTS.

7- SPINNING WHEEL.

8- BOXES.

9- DISPOSABLE PLATES.

10- NAME TAGS.

11- CROWNS AND HATS.

1- MEMORY GAMES

Iliana presented a set of cards with pictures of fruits and other set with the name of the fruits, this game can help the students to practice vocabulary, and also can be use it for introduce a topic or as a practice activity. Moreover, there are other variations how to apply this technique, so you can create a memory game on the board with pictures, just is necessary to cover with a piece of paper in order to play it; furthermore, you can create a PowerPoint presentation with names and pictures.

How to make it?

First, look for the pictures (fruits) using the internet. Then, copy and paste in a word document, write the name in each picture, and print it. When you have the pictures cut it, and fold the color pages in 6 parts, after that cut it. Paste the pictures in each piece of paper. And you have a memory game.

2- PUPPETS.

Luis presented puppets with a toy and a sock, to make it, he put puppet toy in his hand and started to tell a story making his voice soft and strong, I really enjoyed it because he did different sounds and movements with the puppets, I think that children will enjoy this technique because is so fun, with this activity you can made different adaptations like use different puppets, use socks, your finger or make a puppet with paper. Then you can use it for present a topic or in a practice activity. Here are some examples how to create a puppet.

1.  2d puppets; from paper, cut the figure that will be your puppet, this can be done from imagines from books or you can print an image to use it, then, reinforce the paper with a stronger material, parte a stick in the back of the figure and it is done.

2. Sock puppet. choose a sock that comes up to your knee, because t will look better than a short one, wear the sock and poke the rubric between the finger to make the mouth, finally add the eyes ( can be drawn or bought) and if you wish add some hair (wool).

3. finger puppet: trace your fingers in a piece of paper, leave an extra space when do it, you will need two parts when creating the puppet, the front and the back, to add some details other materials can be used, to finish this sew it all together, starting with the details then finishing with the big parts.

How to use it:

Using the puppet, if possible change or use a different voice when speaking as the puppet, present the materials and flashcards, make students repeat after you the names of the objects presented before. Also create a way in which the students interact directly with the puppet and if you want use the grammar objective when speaking as the puppet.

3- TELLING STORIES.

To put in practice this technique is better tell a story with a rot folio just with pictures because in that way the students get familiar with the character and they paid more attention about what is going on in the story. You can use it as a warm-up or as a practice activity.

I will present some tips that you can use at the time of telling the story:

1. Have an interesting story to tell

2. Memorize the basic story

3. Use your hands to emphasize the story

4. Use facial expressions

5. Allow your voice to be expressive.

6. Add details (the students can even tell how the story ends, or participate in the middle of it)

7. Practice in advance

Those entire steps will help you to tell in a fantastic way a story and the students will enjoy it a lot because they like tales.

4- MODELING CLAY.

Cristela to put in practice this technique creates a snail with different colors of clay, then she gave us pieces of clay in order that we to do it, too. It was really amazing manipulate grey because we create different figures of animals, so I really enjoyed this activity.

In order to make any figure. This time we will create and snail. First, you have to make the snail shell. To do it, roll a piece of clay into a long shape. Then, you have to make the snail body, to make it, roll a piece of bright green clay into the same tapered long shape, only slightly shorter. Finally make the eyes of the snail by making some little balls and put each eye in a stick, next put the eyes in the snail.

5-RECYCLING PAPER

Here JC use an empty soft drink can to create a shaker, first he put pebbles (rice, beans, sand) inside the can, then he covered the opening of the can with sticking  a piece of chart paper across it. Then he took colored paper of a size that is enough to cover the entire can, and then he put the stick it over the can with glue. At the end he decorated the can with flowers, cartoons, faces; that made it fantastic. This you can use it as a warm-up or a practice activity.

6- SONGS/CHANTS.

This technique was presented by Juan, he showed us a song called "Days of the Week", so he told us that with the song we can use some pictures that represent objects actions on the song, for this case he use cards with the days of the week. This activity can be applied as a warm-up or a practice activity. Then the teacher showed us other song that is so interesting because let students to practice the vocabulary singing together. Another option that you have will be to look for some songs on the internet according to the topic tat you are going to present, and then you can apply it making movement with your body or another 
adaptation that you wanted.

7- SPINNING WHEEL.

In this activity Monik presented a Spinning Wheel with vocabulary, grammar, number and spelling, so spinning the wheel and when the wheel stop, the student look at it and answer a question.

How does it work?  

Spin the wheel. When the wheel stops of spinning, the arrow will select a category (topic) which includes a set of questions or instead of it pictures. Ask the corresponding question to each category.   

How to make it?   

Select different categories: vocabulary or grammar both can be assessed and both words and pictures could work.   Use Styrofoam to make the wheel.   Use colored papers or foam to divide the categories in the wheel.   Put an arrow to select one category.   Use sets crews and iron to support the wheel.

8- BOXES.

Here Gisselt presented decorate boxes, she told us that we can use the boxes with the purpose to make that the students practice vocabulary; for example, we can create different boxes with different vocabulary and tell to the student to throw a ball in the correct vocabulary word, the boxes might have some pictures or vocabulary words, also this can be apply as a warm-up or practice activity

How to make it?

Is easy and economic to create it because you just need some empty boxes, then you cover with color paper, and then you put a picture about the vocabulary on the box and ready to use it.

9- DISPOSABLE PLATES.

In this activity Mercy taught us how to create a bag using disposable plates, she use two disposable plates, then she cut a piece each one to have where put your hand, and then she put glue, then you can decorate as you want it. You can use it save piece of material that you will use in class or the students can use it for save pictures as the Mercy did. It can use it in practice activity, where that students can create by their own under the supervision of the teacher, is easy to do it and useful to save little things.

10- NAME TAGS.

Here Ingrid presented us how to create name tag, and she told us that there are many way how to create it and many ways how to use it in a class; for example; you can create a name tag with double color paper, inside put a picture and tell the students to take a look at it and say what is inside; other example could be, put the name tag on the board and tell to the students to take a word from a box and then go to the board and find the correct picture.

How to make it?

 First, design a name tag with a double color paper with the topic that you choose. Put the name of the students on each cards, the name will be at the bottom of the picture, paste the picture inside the card. Then, students will review the topic or find the new vocabulary on it.  

11- CROWNS AND HATS.

Gloria taught us how to create a hat, she use paper, then she cut and double in order to create a cone, and then she decorate with pieces of an animal. In a class you can give each student a piece of paper in order to create their own, this will be fun because they can use their imagination to make it. It can be use it as a warm-up or practice activity.