Just read a fantastic quote from Carol Gaab about curricula:
Finally, remember that a curriculum should be a springboard that launches you into lively engagement, not an anchor which stifles your instruction.
Wise words indeed! 🙂
Be genki,
Richard
P.S. If there are any games or songs that you’d like see videoed this weekend, do let me know in the comments and I’ll try my best to film them for you!
P.P.S. There’s a new song! 🙂 Just put up a demo of the North, East, South, West song in the VIP Beta Test forum. Do let me know what you think!
P.P.P.S. Finally, if you happen to be doing any Easter crafts this weekend (Happy Easter!) here are a few minicards that might help- free for today, VIP only from next week! 🙂
Those stationary pictures are great! Wish I had known about them sooner. Its a bit late as having already finished my Easter unit, but a video for the Easter egg hunt song would have been nice. As it was, I made up my own gestures for the song 🙂 Happy Easter everyone. I only wish they celebrated Good Friday in Japan!!! Would love to have a long weekend at the moment!!!
I think the North, East, South, West song is catchy and there aren’t that many songs that teach that kind of language. However, it also doesn’t seem like it is that essential for young ELLs to learn.
Thanks for the feedback Stephen and Adam!
Yeah, North, East, South, West is *totally* way down the priority list! 🙂 I think it was mainly a request for teachers teaching place names esp. North/South. But yeah, it needs to be way near the end of the curriculum! 🙂
My feeling is that especially because it’s way near the end of the curriculum, it would be nice to have some more words/sentences in the song, i.e. Japan and China are in the East, the US is in the West, South Africa is in the South and Sweden is in the North or so… also a good recap for is and are.
And then repeat with some big cities and it fits perfectly with the countries and languages section which I always teach together.
I really like the flashcards, can we have them in A5 as well please, as I use all A5s in the boardgame.
Thanks and Happy Easter Richard to you and your team!
Good for Mom’s day, too! 🙂
Ooo, Mother’s Day crafts, I never thought of using it there – cool!
@Gudrun: This might make great game, put up a map (of the world or your local area) you shout out a name of a place/country and the fastest kid to answer using “It’s North of … South of…. West of … East of ….” e.g. It’s to the North of Morocco, to the South of the France, to the West of Italy & to the East of Portugal” gets the point!
With the A5 flashcards, just use the A4 ones but set your printer to print 2 on one sheet, instant A5 cards! (You can also do this for any size to make super cute nano cards too!)
Indeed, Richard! Thanks a million! I was thinking about a game to teach this! Great idea, I will play this with my 3 and 4 graders and I’m sure they’ll love it!
I could have thought about your tip with the flashcards myself, but I’m in a bit of a vacation mode these days… 🙂
Are you ever taking a real break from everything, Richard? You are always present!!! And your energy seems infinite…
Take care.
Richard’s game idea might work out. I tried something like it. There are too many countries and some are hard to pronounce. Also, some aren’t clearly to the North, South, West, East of each other. Try to find a simple map.
Love these mini cards,Thanks.
Can you please tell me when we can buy Vol.13?
When I finish it! 😉 Nice words like these always help me along though – especially on rainy days! 🙂
Hi Adam, I wonder if that means it would be better with a local map with, say, city names instead of countries? Or maybe change the rules so the kids only have to say 3 of the 4 possibilities??? Ah, it’s always tricky coming up with games in school holidays when we can’t try them out straight away! 🙂
That’s amazing! I just Hope you’ll have a good experience and safe return. Maybe the how do you say…in English lesson, so we can learn about some vocabulary about the space station
Best Regards.
Jorge Vazquez