It goes like this. For each word, point to a student.

Mickey – Mouse – built – a – house. – How – many – bricks – did – he – use?

The student where “use” occurs, now states the number of bricks. Any number. The teacher then can

a) continue counting ahead that number. That student is chosen!

b) continue continue back that number. That student is chosen!

c)  continue counting in any direction but every second person.

This avoids the students trying to guess “exactly”. If a student says a very large number like 1,000,000 – simply count 100,000, 200,000, 300,000 etc…

Teach your students the Mickey Mouse chant and they can do it themselves.

For those interested, here’s Einie Meanie Minie Moe!

This post was submitted by David Deubelbeiss.

Many classrooms are grouped into desks, with a points reward system where each group can earn points during class by actively participating (singing, chanting), winning games, and otherwise being helpful towards the learning/co-operative spirit of the classroom. Here’s an idea for rewarding the “winning group.” This strategy can also be used at random times, where a student exhibiting good effort / good attitude / leadership can be given a paper (i.e. “a lottery ticket”).

At the end of class, give each member of the winning team a small piece of paper or stick-it note. They write their name on the paper, and give it back to the teacher, who puts it in a box. At some point, the teacher holds a “lottery,” where a few names are pulled out of the box. Each student whose name gets pulled out can claim a small prize or treat. After the lottery, the remaining papers don’t get thrown out, but rather remain for future lotteries.

I like this idea, because it seems to be a good rewards system that doesn’t break the bank. Also, while students in groups who “win” more often have a better chance at winning the “lottery,” even a student in a group that only “wins” occasionally can still win the lottery.

Setting the period of frequency for the lottery is a little tricky. It can be once a week for classes that meet frequently, once a month, or used in connection with something like “Marbles in a Jar” (search for the recipe here)– when the jar gets full, there’s a lottery!

This post was submitted by Daniel K.

Basically, you get a jar (an old jam jar will do, or else some small piece of plastic tupperware works, too). You also get enough marbles to fill up the jar, and store them in a bag or another jar/tupperware container. Basically, at the end of class, depending on the behaviour and observed effort of the students, you add a certain number of marbles to the jar: the more marbles you add, the better behaved, focused, and on-task the students were. When the jar gets full, there is some sort of reward: a snack, an extra break during class time, the chance to play a favourite game together…

I don’t remove marbles from the jar, no matter how rough a day it is. Also, you can control how many marbles go in, so that you can vaguely predict how often the jar will become full.

As the teacher-trainer said, the marbles in the jar are a good idea, because there’s something tactile about them, and the students can feel a sense of accomplishment as the jar slowly fills up.

During class, I keep a visual indicator on the board to show the students how they’re doing. I use a smiley face, and when things are going well, I make the smile bigger, add hair, a nose, and other details. When some students are being disruptive, I erase bits and pieces of the drawing. You can also use something as similar as “points,” with a point erased (or added) appropriately.

For “rotary” teachers, or those with many classes, consider a big chart or stamp board that you add stamps or stickers to, instead of marbles (with more than two or three classes, the marbles and jars get harder and harder to keep organized!). It doesn’t have the same tactile effect, but it can still work.

This post was submitted by Daniel K.

Use a two step approach. One ring means “FREEZE”. Boys love freezing! Another softer ring means relax and focus attention to the front.

This really works well and train your students to listen well….. Also get more teaching skills tips here.

http://eflclassroom.ning.com/video/teaching-skills

This post was submitted by David.

Yellow is a warning. Make sure to make eye contact when you give it . But don’t make a big fuss either. Red card is a Time Out. Create an area in the classroom where you can send a student to be out of the class group. When you think the appropriate time/penalty has been done – simply wave the student back. Make sure to put some books or manipulatives in the time out area.

This works!

This post was submitted by David.