Author Topic: Kindergarten Lessons (Read 16098 times)

HazelJane · « **on:** June 04, 2010, 09:47:12 pm »

NOTE FROM MODERATOR - Here are other threads that relate to teaching Kindergarten

Alphabet Lessons/Resources

Phonics Lessons/Resources

Marty's Videos For Young Learners

As the school yr is winding down,
I am looking for some really great activites, games to play with my kindergarten class...
one last hooppp -la!
suggestions greatly appreciated!

Dyl · « **Reply #1 on:** June 07, 2010, 12:25:59 pm »

Hi HazelJane,

Try http://genkienglish.net/TopTenGameseBook.pdf

http://www.havefunteaching.com/ also has good ideas.

Dayle.

erindipity · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2010, 11:15:10 am »

I started teaching K last semester at one of my elementary schools. Totally unprepared, just kind of got thrown into it. But we've worked into a routine. At that age they barely speak Korean let alone English so it's predominantly vocabulary building because I have a bigger class. I introduce 2-4 new vocabulary words a week.

How's the weather? Ss answer.

Review all vocabulary from previous classes.
(Now they are able to also answer little questions, eg. what color is it? where is it?)

Introduce new vocabulary.

Play easy activity with all vocab cards.

They're so happy and wonderful. K is intimidating at first, but after you get the class into a set routine, they're a blast. And theysoak up vocab like little sponges.

Good luck

evy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2011, 09:10:07 am »

Just learned yesterday that I have Kindergarten to 6! My mother is a kindergarten teacher and referred me to this site:

http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/

Lots of simple activities and songs.

AndyR · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2011, 08:54:09 am »

I've 2 kindy classes in chungbuk starting next wk, when I taught that age in Taiwan last yr I found they love to run around!
So, I made it into a hide and seek game with objects, letters, phonic sounds.
Also, I'd bring in a big hammer and let them hit objects, themselves, others...
Another great one was getting them to form letters from their bodies on the floor, have two or three sts making a 'T' or 'J' shape, or if they're really smart 'A' and 'B' - they're difficult!!
As much kinesthetic stuff you can manage, and I'd always finish with a story. Any big book with lots of pictures where they can make the story up along with narration.

Ilikebunny · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2011, 03:44:29 pm »

Hi all,

I'm not sure if there is already another thread for this or not,but this is my first time posting,so I wasn't really sure what to do.
Anyway,I've recently started teaching a kindergarten class and thus I've had to begin creating many activities and powerpoints for them. I've always gotten some great materials from here, so I thought I should share what I've done so far.

There is an alphabet powerpoint where students say each letter along with me,and then have to match the capital letter to the lower case letter. There is also a link to an alphabet song they LOVE!

Unit 1 powerpoint is just reviewing classroom objects discussed in the text. There is also a quiz game at the end.

Color objects is reviewing the students knowledge of colors,shapes,and classroom objeccts.There is a quiz game.

Peanut Butter and Jam sandwiches is just steps to illustrate how to make a sandwhich, I used when actually making the sandwiches with the kids.This was after they had learned (and loved) the peanut butter and jelly song.

rokdav · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2011, 04:47:59 pm »

thanks for this. I mostly do similar topics but the matching of the big and small letters is a good that I think they will enjoy. I mostly use www.starfall.com for most of my kindergarten lesson. good for phonics and basic reading

amycock · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2011, 08:30:58 pm »

Songs

http://bussongs.com/
http://www.dreamenglish.com/
http://www.supersimplesongs.com/

negacoca · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2011, 04:12:24 pm »

For kindergarteners, there are lots of games you can do with flashcards. They like to copy exactly what you say, at least for the first two or three minutes before they get tired of that. That is enough time to at least introduce some vocabulary like colors, animals, body parts, etc. Then, you can do a flashcard cakewalk, call out a vocab word and have kids race to touch the flashcard, or let them try to hit a flashcard with a ball. It's also easy to teach kindergarteners simple orders like stand up, sit down, spin around, and clap your hands. They will just copy you. I recommend teaching "talk" and "shh, be quiet" early in the year. Eventually, you will be able to add some simple sentences into your lessons. And of course, songs with actions are very important.
Shelly Vernon's stories for preschool aged children are extremely helpful. There are games, flashcard, and coloring sheets to go along with each story.

Inesarie · « **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2011, 02:21:05 pm »

I just started teaching kindergarten this semester and have been really enjoying it, although today the students went kind of crazy and I had no way to control them. I only see each class once a week for 40 min. so that makes it challenging too. I tried using a reward system, but that didn't really work. They were just rolling all over the floor, jumping on each other and grabbing my flashcards, haha, wow what an hour!
I was wondering if anyone had advice for this age students regarding classroom management. If I keep going this way the only thing they will learn by the end of the year is "Be quiet!"
Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

misskris · « **Reply #10 on:** March 28, 2011, 02:48:32 pm »

Well...
a rewards system should work, and should work very well.
I would definitely re-evaluate your system, look up some ideas for help.

Any good rewards system MUST and I mean MUST have both a merit and demerit component. Meaning, if the kids are not following the class guidelines (which also MUST be clarified and preferable posted in the classroom) they should lose a point that gets them to their final reward go.

Most importantly you MUST follow through with whatever consequence you threaten them with. Kids are smart cookies, and they all know there is no reason to behave if you don't expect them to and hold them to the rules/standards. If you let any one of them get away with anything ONCE, then they will generally all follow!

Also... NEVER and I mean NEVER speak OVER students. I am a certified teacher back home and this was one thing that we were constantly told and I agree with it. You should never struggle to be louder than or talk over your students. Remember as kids when our teacher would just stand at the front of the room glaring at us until we all shut up? it WORKS.
but FIRST however, you need to establish some cues for their attention.
They may be a chant they have to repeat once they hear it, or non-verbal cues such as clapping a rhythm or flashing the lights.

All of these things will help you a GREAT DEAL. And they work for any age, not just kindie. Hope this helps!!!

suzettec · « **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2011, 03:15:20 pm »

I also teach kindergarten for 40 mins. but I broke it up into two 20 min. classes. It's way too hard for them to see there and concentrate for 40 mins even if you have many activities. Try and see if your school will let you do this. You can tell them it would be better cause that way the students get to see you twice a week instead of once and you can better review witht them what you taught the first class.

Barring that you have to teach them a chant with gestures so they will know if they are being loud and not paying attention when you tell them "clap, clap clap" or whatever you use.

travller87 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 28, 2011, 03:45:11 pm »

Similar to the previous post, it is crucial that you don't change the rules on them. They will be seriously pissed off and feel like they can't trust you if they think there's one rule for them and another for another kid. The first week is the most important for them to see what they can get away with and what they can't. The merit/demerit system can be a s simple as putting up a chart with all their names on it with spaces for them to receive stickers if they're good. You can use a big red marker to cross of their stickers if they're bad! Bragging rights are installed software from a young age

I also totally agree with the thought that you shouldn't talk over them. You're going to be louder than but if you just limit your talking-over to a short-code word that they have to respond to (e.g. Class!/[Name of]Class/Friends! to Yes! Teacher! etc.), then it can work, I feel.

I awlways tried to be a paternal figure; I kinda had to as I really had know idea how to look or act like a teacher. I wanted them to know that we could play and have fun while working, but if they crossed the line they were going to know about it (in a Kindy-appropriate way, of course!)

I'm now at an Elementary and I miss my Kindies. Enjoy it!

Inesarie · « **Reply #13 on:** March 29, 2011, 09:24:33 pm »

Thanks for the advice! I really appreciate it and will hopefully get going on a better foot with this class.

Zeegs · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2011, 02:01:49 am »

I can vouch for the power of the hamster alphabet. It pretty much grabs the attention of 30 or so kids to the point where if I let them they would just sing that for the entire 50 minute class. I've been using a lot of songs with them and powerpoint for flash cards. I try to get them out of their chairs for half the class for circle time. It's hard to give them all solo speaking time without the rest of the class losing focus so I've been sticking to songs and repetition more.

Setting a routine is good since they know what to expect. We greet each other, ask a routine question like "How are you today?." Then we do a hello song where they can call out feelings to use for the next verse. Then they get that hamster video since it starts a bit of review. We've done alphabet, feelings, numbers, colours, and shapes so far. We sing at least one song that goes with each theme.

In the last 3 classes we studied numbers, colours, and shapes. So I've ben trying to build up the questions and answers. Starting with what shape is it? Then the set of slides would have them count, and identify shape and colour. We also used "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See" that someone posted as a ppt on this board. My school seems pretty concerned about budget right now so I've felt like they don't want me making many worksheets. It wouldn't hurt to give them some tracing sheets and start building them up to writing on their own.

I'm lucky that sometimes one or both of the kindergarten teachers are in the room sitting with some of the students in the back. I'm still trying to figure out ways to work with the big group of kids too. I tried reward system my first year in a hagwon and it worked ok, but the kids got a little greedy for the stickers or candy. I haven't tried it in a bigger class, but I do know that kids love getting stickers. I stopped giving rewards my second year at the hagwon and the students I had seemed better behaved.

I think the best thing to do with kindergarten is try to make them associate learning English with having fun. They'll have plenty of time to have mountains of homework and stress when they older. They need time to play now and use up some of that energy with dancing or games.

Zeegs · « **Reply #15 on:** March 30, 2011, 02:10:52 am »

Is there a kindergarten index on the board?

Here's a sheet to use with a lesson on feelings. It's a set of blank monkey faces. After going over "How are you?" and going over the different feelings I asked them to draw two different feelings. They enjoyed it. A few took the initiative to ask me how to spell the words to write with the monkeys. Then you can have them ask questions to each other based on the feelings they drew.

grajoker · « **Reply #16 on:** March 30, 2011, 09:51:51 am »

with this age group there is a lot of singing, laughing;

action type games and after all the chaos hopefully they learned something!

evy · « **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2011, 10:45:27 am »

A bit of advice that my mother (actual kindergarten teacher) passed along to me:

Start a routine! They may only be imitating the words you are saying now, but eventually, they will make links and understand what they are saying.

Here is my routine:
1. Hello Song (attached)
2. What day is it today?
3. How's the weather?

They really enjoy singing the song since you incorporate their names.

For now, my kindergarten students are still only repeating the days of the week, but they are starting to say them on their own. I used flashcards from mes-english.com. I also use the video from www.dreamenglish.com 'Days of the Week'

I also used flashcards from mes-english.com for the weather. My students also enjoy the 'How's the Weather' video from www.dreamenglish.com.

Get them singing and dancing as much as possible.

kbrue082 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2011, 10:59:40 am »

If you have a coteacher ask them to help you teach chants so that when they're not there you can still get their attention. My homeroom kindergarten teacher uses loads of chants (Korean) with her kids and they are extremely receptive.
Hope it helps!

aaabbey · « **Reply #19 on:** April 07, 2011, 01:31:06 pm »

I too can also vouch for the power of the hamster alphabet. I don't teach kindy but I do teach an after school class of first graders. They're so used to the routine and the song that they start singing it as soon as I walk into the room without having to turn the actual song on haha. I don't know what it is about that song but it even gets stuck in MY head.

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Author Topic: Kindergarten Lessons (Read 16098 times)