Streets calling

Hey there!!
Have you ever wonder why every kid in the world seems to love rap? Is there a rational reason? Why is it that a kid born in Murcia, for example, feels the calling when he hears rap music playing around? I don't know why it is, but it's a fact so....let's take advance of it!!
A simple class routine like asking the kids what day of the week they are in can be funnier and probably much more profitable if we carry it away differently...for example, through a simple, lively, funny rap. Don't you believe me? Well, my kids certainly love this song, and every day I enter the class they seem to wait eagerly for the moment when I say: "well, dearies...can you tell me what day of the week is today?"

Try this song...it's great to break the icea and start a class. Your kids will certainly enjoy it!!!

The gruffalo's child.

Welcome back!!!!

How have you been doing?  Did you enjoy your holidays? I'm sure you did...I certainly enjoyed mine!!

Well, the new term is almost here, but our kids still have some free days ahead....and we must find a way to entertain them. Sometimes it's difficult, isn't it?

I strongly recommend you this fine story. It's a fine pastime for between - beach - moments. Do you remember the Gruffalo story. Well....it has a little daughter now!

Enjoy, it's really cute!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jPP6asFDgk

Holidays.

I'll be absent for a while, so I guess this is a "see you soon". Promise to get back in September with lots of new ideas and activities for you.
Enjoy the summer!!!!

Tacky tornados.

Science is fun. It is an almost inexhaustible resource when dealing with English classes, for teenagers as well as for kids. I've had the opportunity to verify this fact in my classes, and I have to admit I owe science my better, most profitable and funniest classes ever!!
I've recently started a new lesson about landforms and natural disasters with my secondary kids. We're learning lots (English as well as science facts) and having a great time. Yesterday, I taught them how to create tornados in jars. It's ridiculously easy, and it was really funny how they really got into it.
You just need a jar full of water and some washing up liquid. Just pour some of the washing up liquid into the water, close the jar (tightly) and shake. You'll get an amazing and beautiful tornado.
I swear the glitter and the food colouring was entirely their idea, but I'm glad they asked for it: we got the tackiest and funniest tornados ever.
Enjoy!!

Indoors doesn't mean dull

Hi everyone!!
I know, it's been a long time...I guess working in summer is not so easy!! Anyway, I'll try to keep up!

Summer is a great moment to take your kids outside and play (at the beach, in the park). But, oddly enough, it isn't always a good idea. Sometimes the heat prevents you from going out and you must entertain your kiddies at home. Does it mean you're reduced to crafts and board games? Not at all. There are lots of funny things we can do indoors.

Here's an example. What about a game of hopscotch? If you can make do with some flashcards, it's a great way to revise vocabulary and simple structures. You can put a flashcard in every square of the hopscotch grid. Kids toss their markers, and they have to make a sentences including the word their markers fell onto. If course, they have to hop through the course and get the card, just as in a normal hopscotch game.

As you can't draw the hopscotch grid on the floor if you are indoors, you can try with those foamy big puzzles babies use to learn numbers and letters. 

We tried today at the academy and we had lots of fun. So, why don't you try at home!!

Enjoy it a lot!!

Meet the Gruffalo!!

Hey there!!

It seems summer is finally here!! Kids are enjoying their holidays and maybe they don't want to hear a word about English....or maybe we can find a funny and interesting way to take it to them even these hot, sunny days. The Gruffalo can help you here!!

We are doing a Theatrical Summer Camp at the school I work in. And it's focused on a funny story by Julia Donaldson: The Gruffalo. A theatrical camp is an excellent way to practice a lot of things, in this particular case: animals, parts of the body, colours, simple structures.... It involves reading, listening, speaking, even writing (you may need to adapt the play to some specifical class situation and kids can help you do it). It also involves craft (kids can help you make the costumes and the sets). They learn a lot and they have loads of fun.

But if you think it's too difficult, or too much work, or your class isn't ready for this... anyway, the Gruffalo can be a very valuable friend. There's a lot of staff about it in Internet: the song, the story, flashcards.... You can even download the book!!

Here you are the song and the story about the Gruffalo. I hope you like it as much as we do at school.

Enjoy!!

http://viooz.co/movies/12467-the-gruffalo-2009.html

Learning is delicious

Hey there!!

This is my last creation using story jumper. I hope you like it!!

(http://www.storyjumper.com/book/index/10892092/Tasty-spelling-book-)

Smelly ghosts.

Hi there!!
Yesterday, I said goodbye to my 7 years old kids....at least, till September. We decided to do something special for our last class together, and I found this simple, original and hilarious craft. It really did the trick.
It's easy, but slightly messy and, of course, potentially controversial. We have to keep your kids controlled every single moment of the process, but it's so funny and rewarding that it's worth the struggle.
I made my students sat  (on their chairs, of course) in a row. They took off a shoe and a sock. Then, I painted the sole of their feet and they pressed it onto a piece of card placed on the floor in front of them. And....taa-daaa!!! There was a ghost on the card!!
Then, they decorated the card whichever way they wanted...but not before I could clean their feet properly, of course!!
I have to say they behaved really well and we had a lot of fun, even if it was really tiresome. But I'm looking forward to do it again!!
Enjoy!!

Not so fierce as they seem.

Hi there!!
For the last class with my 9 years old kids I chose this funny and simple craft. We had a lot of fun!! You just need some card, plastic plates, google eyes and whatever you want to decorate (stickers, sequins...).
And... lo and behold!! here's the cutest shark family ever. They even made a baby shark!!
Try it at home, it's great.
Enjoy!!