I like using magic tricks to get student's attention. Along the way, they are learning a lot as you explain and show using language. A great way for rich language learning. Here's a favorite I used to use with my kids.
I"ll guess your birthday Magic Trick
Ask your students to do the following, calculating for their own birthday. Go slow and repeat the instructions so…
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This technique can be used in many ways. It is simple and focused both on student listening skills and also creating class atmosphere.
1. Put large posters of "Yes" and "No" at opposite ends of the classroom. (you might also use "Rocks! - Sucks! or "I think so" or "I don't think so" etc....)
2. Students stand. Read a statement such as "I love chocolate…
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Conversation is the "art of exchange". Students learn English but very seldom really learn the art of "holding a conversation" and making it a 2 way exchange. This technique helps this.
Any time students are performing an activity: dialogue, discussion, task etc... train them to "pass the pen". After speaking, the student passes the pen to someone else. If you have the pen…
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I was reminded of this game while watching an excellent Korean teacher's English lesson this week. Pass the Paper (Snowball).
Students in groups pass around a piece of paper while music plays. When it stops, whoever has the paper must answer the question or do a specific task. In this game - finish the Christmas Carol.
Pass the paper…
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I learned this just recently in a staff workshop (shows the power of peer learning/sharing!). thanks Rona!
Whatever vocabulary list / word bank you have - you can map it! Yes, just ask the students to draw a local map or a floor plan of a house or even a zoo layout.
Next, ask the students to put each vocab item in a particular…
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8 Oct 2009First, hand out a list of sixteen homophone pairs to your students, such as tale and tail, night and knight, ect. These lists can be readily found online or you can make your own. You might need to take some time to explain or review the meanings of words on the list. Next, give each student a standard 8.5 X 11 inch (A4) sheet of paper. Folded in half four…
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In: All Ages & Levels| Business| High School| Recipe
3 Oct 2009
The Society for Technical Communication's award-winning
Technical Literacy Project adapts many
real-world science instructions and descriptions for use in
high-school science classes. These cases gradually build
student writing skills by revising, correcting, or expanding
scaffolded, sequenced text samples adapted from practical
materials outside the classroom.
Such structured technical-writing practice is especially
helpful for English language learners because:
(but, because, on the other hand) that ELL students often
ignore or underuse
What's a teaching recipe? It's a step by step guide or general description of the ideas you use to keep your classes exciting and educational. It can be a lesson plan, a numbered list of steps, a game idea, or whatever you like! We invite you to share your teaching recipes, and browse the ones other teachers have shared.
