“English games in a 3 years old classroom”

When we start the Daily Routine every morning and every afternoon we usually play some games to remember all the concepts that we already know.

For example:

• Prepositions as: IN/OUT-UNDER/ON-BEHIND/IN FRONT OF-UP/DOWN.
• Concepts: Same/Different-Open/Close the window, the door-Turn the lights on/off-Sit down on the chair, or even on the table because they have more fun doing that. Stand up, touch your friend´s nose, mouth etc. The days of the week, the shapes, my family…
  
  
  
  
  

Now I would like to explain to you how they enjoy the English class.

When I start singing: EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY!!!! They answer me and I give them the first instruction: Up, up, up, down, down, down. EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY, sit down on the table. EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY goes under the table and behind the teacher. EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY goes OUT, IN! etc.

When they are moving and playing with me, practicing all the concepts it´s the time for playing the Days of the Week.

“There are 7 days,

there are 7 days,

there are 7 days in a week,

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY”

Before singing this song, I put on the floor or on the table all the days of the week. I choose one boy or one girl and I sing with all the class this song that they already know. They have to jump on the day of the week that we have chosen. For example: Monday! And he or she has to look for the day and jump on it. I will sing even faster and they have to jump faster. Or on the other hand I will sing like a turtle and they have to do it slower.

To explain SAME or DIFFERENT, I use to put 2 chairs exactly the same, 2 tables exactly the same and I ask them different questions about the chairs. When I know they understand the concept I practice playing with them, touching the objects or things that are the same. When they have this concept I am able to explain the opposite concept, different. The process is the same as I explained before but with different chairs and different tables.

A variation of this game is to put all the chairs mixed in the class and start clapping my hands, the children will move around the chairs and when I shout: THE SAME, they will have to sit in the same chairs. If I put red chairs and just one blue chair they should only be seated on the red chairs.

Sandra Pizarro

Tutora de 3 años C

Teacher de 3 años A

WHO IS THE TEACHER TODAY?

During English classes we try to improve the relationship between the language and the students. The way to achieve this goal is to create a calm and fun atmosphere. Children feel comfortable and secure and they are the main characters of the class.

The first thing that we do in our classes is the daily routine. During this part of the class, every child sits on the floor and prepares to be the LITTLE TEACHER!! This is the most exciting moment of the day. It means that the child is going to be in charge of teaching.

First of all, he sings good morning/good afternoon song.

GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING, HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD MORNING, GODD MORNING, HOW ARE YOU?

I’M FINE THANKS, I’M FINE THANKS

HOW ARE YOU?

I’M FINE THANKS, I’M FINE THANKS

HOW ARE YOU?

After this, he has to take attendance. If someone is not in class, his picture is placed in the poser of “home”. “Poor boy, maybe he is sick”.

Next, we talk about our feelings, asking every student how they are doing. They are capable of letting us know how they are feeling: happy, sad, bored, tired.

Furthermore, the little teacher asks to the student what the weather is like. His job is to touch the correct picture (sunny, cloudy, rainy or windy). If the students say the weather correctly, the little teacher gives a sticker to them. It is a fantastic/wonderful reward! All of us sing the weather song.

IT IS SUNNY, IT IS SUNNY

OUTSIDE THERE, OUTSIDE THERE,

SUN IS SHINING, SUN IS SHINING

IN THE SKY, IN THE SKY

Being the little teacher is a great opportunity to show their English knowledge. They want to feel like an adult. Teachers think that this method improves the students’ personal motivation as well as their autonomy. English teachers notice that this works in English classes, and we can see the enthusiasm in their eyes. 

Patricia Rubio