After 3 weeks, I finally made a lesson plan which got some attention, participation, and allows me to literally SEE what the kids do and do not understand (as I'm sure you've all experienced the "okayokay" meaning no).
I tell a simple story (or more elaborate for smarter classes - my kids are streamlined) and they have to draw out what I say, as I say it (obviously I make many pauses and repeats).
For example, my story (which always changes for my own amusement) starts:
Once upon a time there were 5 BOYS and 5 GIRLS....the BOYS lived on TWO HILLS......the GIRLS lived on FLAT GROUND....the HILLS had many FLOWERS....the GROUND had many STONES....one day the boys PICKED THE FLOWERS to GIVE THE GIRLS....(I draw the flowers in the boys hands, and and arrow to the girls).....BUT...the FLOWERS were very STINKY....so the GIRLS... THREW THE STONES at the BOYS....
I draw with them to help them out, and then usually stop half-way through my story to see if they can follow without my visuals. I put all the caps words on the board as vocab.
After the story ends, I have them turn their page over and re-write the story back to me....and if you're wondering, NO, most of my students cannot do this hahaha, but I go around to each one, and ask them probing questions such "the boys lived _________" to give them some help...just that little push can usually get them half way through the story (to the point where I stopped drawing haha)
for my smarter classes, I have been able to have them then write me their OWN stories, and read them out for the rest of the class...which is always funny and entertaining...even my co-teacher stopped sleeping for that part!
