It's great that you are teaching them phonics and I can tell that you're genuinely concerned for the students. 

Sadly, I think part of the reason that we have "native teachers" in the schools is to motivate the students.  I know my students would be doing listen and repeat by the book for 40 mins per class if I wasn't here. 

It sounds like you have good activities.  Maybe you can show them some phonics videos as these don't actually require active participation from them.  I like the alphablocks vidoes personally, especially episode 1.  And since it is after-school, the kids REALLY don't want to be there so you need some way to motivate them.  Perhaps if they are good you can give them candy or "music time" at the end of class? 

Not much you can do if the kids and the co-teacher don't want to back you.

I had this issue my first year, actually. In the end, I taught the entire class phonics and when we did readings, I had students take turns reading and also do the reading in cadence. Not everyone benefited from it. Some cared more than others and you can't help that. In the end, I did some some progress among the students who really needed the help and that was all I could have asked for.

So, perhaps try this. First, check out this site. www.progressivephonics.com
Find the books that are suitable for your students ability levels, use them in class. Printout the pdfs so they can read together in pairs and have a ppt for display on the monitor/projector.

Structure the class so every aspect is practicing and learning letters. For the warm-up, take a gander at Dreamenglish.com. Kids, even older kids, need movement. Have them get out of their chairs and do a movement song (head, shoulders, knees and toes/days of the week/etc), then have them practice one of the alphabet songs (A-L or M-Z). Do this EVERY DAY. Even if you're not doing phonics, do the songs at the start of every class. If you're not doing it yet, start. Even if they're Grade 6, just do it. They'll hate it, but getting them moving, and singing, and exposed to another form of learning will help reinforce the letter/word sounds and help form connections.

Next, move onto the lesson. How many students you have will dictate how many printouts you will need to make. Adobe has a neat "booklet" feature that I use for this, and it works really, really well. Have them sit in pairs if there are a lot, or sit in a circle if there are a few. Either way, I would re-arrange the room so that "phonics time" has its own feel. They know whenever you arrange a "horseshoe" in the class, its phonics day. Throw your PPT up on the board, and just follow the instructions. Progressive Phonics does a really good job on just providing you with everything you need. So, read the instructions for parents. Go through the readings. They read red (the target sound/phonics) you read black. Read it again if you need to. I would only read 2x's max.

After reading, do another song! This time, its a song about the target sound/letter. Little Fox (find them on youtube, here is an example ) does almost all the letters. Do one of their songs. Teach the song first (I just use the snipping tool in windows and copy the different sections of the video into a PPT) then sing it together. Sing it a couple times. The first time, just listening and watching. The second time, singing. The third with actions (that you make or they make). This song will be repeated at the next lesson. You can use it in the warm-up or after. Layer your lessons. Like a taco salad

After you do the song, do a game (flash cards, board game, youtube video game) or a craft. http://www.kidzone.ws/ links out to crafts, has worksheets and more for every letter!

After ALL of that, assign homework for the letter. Always, always, always. The next day, do the next lesson from Progressive and just repeat that format. Changing things here and there, but always layering the last lesson ontop of the new one, and including art/music/games.

I hope this helps. I've included a PPT from my class (I did last week) as a guideline. If ya need more help or ideas, just message. I have books, work packets, and a whole slew of other things.

So...

I have an afterschool class; the class is very very low level. They don't even know the alphabet. The class consist of 5th and 6th graders (7kids total, even they even show on time.)

We have been working on the alphabet for 4 weeks (two 40min classes per week) and they still have trouble with a majority of the alphabet.

It's getting really frustrating, because only two of the kids in the class are energetic and absorbing/participating well. The other's could give two sh*%s about it.

I told my co-teacher that it's ridiculous, and I can't teach kids who don't participate, say one word, care to come on time, goof around, and after 10 classes can't write the letter T or Z. The kids have to at least try.

I have tried to make games, fun activities, worksheets, team activities etc.... maybe 3 of the students actually try.

My co-teacher's is one of these 45 year-old Korean mom's, who thinks kids can't do anything wrong, and we just have to pitty them and try harder.

I can't force kids to WANT to learn.

Anyone else in this situation? Have any ideas? My CT won't help me light a fire under their butts; can't seem to do anything to get them motivated.

PS: sorry for the mixed in rant.

Wow thanks for all the materials and links/suggestions I guess.

Actually excited to try some of this stuff out in my class tomorrow haha.

Oh shazbot!

I have songs for that.  They have been very popular with my 3rd graders, many of whom are imbeciles.  Check the attachments. 

Try making them do push ups or hold their chairs above their heads or some other mild punishment because that's what they're used to with the Korean teachers. I make my 6th grade boys give me 10 push-ups for disruptive behavior - just make sure they do it in the back of the room so they don't distract the other kids even more.

Also, I agree with some other posts - do phonics every day. Even if you switch it up and do some speaking because YOU are also tired of the tedium of phonics, at least do some at the beginning of ea. class.

Here are some of the things I do:
I have my low levels sing this letter sounds song every day:
along with writing their alphabet and assigning individual letter writing as homework. I also use alphabet bingo and have them do letter recognition and sounds 2x ea. http://www.abcya.com/kindergarten_alphabet_bingo.htm and finally I have them do a little sounding out work (and eventual reading) with starfall.com It sounds like your kids might not be ready for that yet though.

Try telling them that you're going to give a letters and letter sounds test and see if that motivates them.

Otherwise, I'm sure you've tried making games into a competition or giving them some ipad game time if they do well in the lesson. You might also occasionally try telling them that they can watch a kpop song at the end if they try their best.

At least you only have 4...I would take your 4 over my 20 6th graders any time^^

Good luck!

I use this Telephone Phonics Template to teach my students phonics as well as word families. Give these a try either as a whole class (listening to the teacher, then individual students) or as pair work (Student A is odd numbered Student B is even numbered).

The actual telephone numbers are of no consequence, the communication is the key.