Author Topic: How do I interact with my first and second graders?  (Read 113 times)

Offline alyssa.callahan

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How do I interact with my first and second graders?
« on: April 12, 2012, 03:20:39 pm »
Hi there, all.  I've been finding a ton of good and helpful things on here for class ideas, but I've been having a really hard time getting my first and second graders to even understand what I want them to do.  I teach an after school program and it's relatively easy to teach my third and fourth graders in one class and then my fifth and sixth graders in another.  However, because my first graders have absolutely no English knowledge yet, I can't communicate well with them.  I teach by myself and while I have asked one of my co-teachers to translate what I'm saying so the kids can understand, she keeps telling me she understands my frustration and doesn't help because it's not her day to teach.

But absolutely nothing is getting done.  I've been teaching these kids for an entire month and they still don't know how to say "Hello, my name is ______." even though that's been the topic forever.  All I get for 40 minutes is glazed and confused looks.  They're not learning anything and I don't know how I can help them without a Korean-speaking teacher there.  How have other people gotten past this roadblock?  Anything you found that helped?

Offline TheWB18

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Re: How do I interact with my first and second graders?
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2012, 03:54:15 pm »
I had a terrible 1st and 2nd grade after school class for the first 2-3 weeks of the semester.  Now it's pretty good.  Here's a sample of what I did today, hopefully it will help you out a bit as far as what a class can look like/what a routine might be.

BINGO song, because they love it and we just finished with farm animals           5'
Introducing new fruit vocab and the structure "It's a ________"                        5-8'
Guess Where? PPT game using the fruit vocab                                                   8-10'
Coloring/writing practice with 2 vocab words                                                       12'
FC game, repeated song, fun game (duck duck goose), etc.                                 5'

Then I play the clean-up song, rush around making sure all my crayons get back in the boxes and chairs under the desks, and end class.  Sometimes I will limit the coloring and play a flashcard game instead, but frankly, they're too rowdy after school and destroy the flashcards, and they'd rather color.

As for speaking to them...work on "Hello" and "How are you?" individually or in tables/groups when they come in, for the first 5'. After that, speak to them the way you would speak to your 3rd graders, but act out what you want them to do.  So if I only say "Put the crayons in the box", perhaps 2 kids will get it.  If I say this once I've gotten their attention and then act out putting the crayons in the box, they start to learn what I mean, even if the words themselves are so much gibberish.

One last thing which has taken me forever to learn - you need routine! Same song, same order of activities, same seats, same clap/chant for attention...it seems boring as possible but the kids like it and it's what their homeroom teachers do.

Hope this helps a little.

Offline meesh

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Re: How do I interact with my first and second graders?
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2012, 07:14:40 pm »
i just posted this in another topic:

you could do some songs to help them speak, but you don't have to do them the whole time. super simple songs are good cds that will help them learn basics like "hello, how are you" "how's the weather" "goodbye" etc etc.

if they don't know anything, start them off with learning the alphabet, but have them write how to say it in korean as well, so they can remember. (ex. A 에이, B 비,  and so on). i would steer clear of teaching them the entire time in korean because then they will just get lazy and ask you to translate everything when you meet them. i started off a month ago with fresh beginners that barely knew the alphabet, and yes it was SO frustrating, but they have improved so incredibly much. have them repeat multiple times what you are saying, use a lot of flashcards, and only use korean if you absolutely need to to translate something new or to check their understanding. i can speak korean but choose not to if i can help it.

a good game for beginners is to set out maybe 5-6 different letters on a table, have 2 students come up, give them giant flyswatter things or something to hit the letters with. call out a letter, and see who hits the right one first. it will help with letter recognition plus will keep them focused for a little longer

it is really frustrating at first, but if you can be super patient and keep up with repetition, you will be able to see the improvement. it's almost like a night and day difference from when i first started with my level 1 kids (i'm also working an after school program)

Offline landi.groenewald

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Re: How do I interact with my first and second graders?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2012, 07:33:23 pm »
i just posted this in another topic:

you could do some songs to help them speak, but you don't have to do them the whole time. super simple songs are good cds that will help them learn basics like "hello, how are you" "how's the weather" "goodbye" etc etc.

if they don't know anything, start them off with learning the alphabet, but have them write how to say it in korean as well, so they can remember. (ex. A 에이, B 비,  and so on). i would steer clear of teaching them the entire time in korean because then they will just get lazy and ask you to translate everything when you meet them. i started off a month ago with fresh beginners that barely knew the alphabet, and yes it was SO frustrating, but they have improved so incredibly much. have them repeat multiple times what you are saying, use a lot of flashcards, and only use korean if you absolutely need to to translate something new or to check their understanding. i can speak korean but choose not to if i can help it.

a good game for beginners is to set out maybe 5-6 different letters on a table, have 2 students come up, give them giant flyswatter things or something to hit the letters with. call out a letter, and see who hits the right one first. it will help with letter recognition plus will keep them focused for a little longer

it is really frustrating at first, but if you can be super patient and keep up with repetition, you will be able to see the improvement. it's almost like a night and day difference from when i first started with my level 1 kids (i'm also working an after school program)

Thanx - I'm also having quite a hard time with my kindy class... it's been going better the last week, but I'm still exhausted after every class. my kids lack so much discipline. I am brining in a reward system where I have a chart with each student's name.  then next to the name there is a row of blank blocks.  if a student behaved nicely that day - I give him a stamp. if he behaved REALLY well, I give him a sticker. if a student have 7 stamps, then I give him a candy. if a student have 5 stars I give him a small chocolate bar....

as for bonding - My kids love playing follow the leader!!! and they have to repeat the instructions in english... we will walk around the class saying I can sit, and the whole train of kids sit down. or I can jump - and everyone jumps... and so forth...


Offline alyssa.callahan

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Re: How do I interact with my first and second graders?
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2012, 03:56:53 pm »
Thanks, guys!

I made a last-minute Bingo game and they seemed to like it.  I think next week I will try the follow-the-leader strategy!  Thanks so much!

Offline milkyway8613

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Re: How do I interact with my first and second graders?
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2012, 05:20:36 pm »
I had the same kind of problem.
I definitely agree with having things be routine.
Songs along with choreography is good as well.
I made a dance to 'Mr. Sun.'
It's really easy and fun.
'Father Abraham' is good because it's really active and enjoyable for them.
I know it's a religious song, but it works out fine.
Having simple Korean translations for your instructions on powerpoint or on paper beforehand might also help.
I had this really cute and attentive kindergarten class.
This was at the very end of class.
They were learning numbers, so I would count to ten on my fingers.
They would follow along.
When I got to ten, I would wave my hands and say bye.
Every class is different though.
I've had first and second graders who weren't as fast as my kindergarten class.
You have to experiment with each class.
For some reason, little kids really like the 'Annoying Orange' video on youtube.
Although, one parent said it was a little cruel.
Having a reward system is good.
You might want to be very generous with your points, but assign prizes at a higher level.
Also remember they're just kids.
Try to have fun with them.