Showing posts with label Tips for Teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips for Teaching. Show all posts

12.22.2010

12 Tips for Reading to Your Children

I haven't always been good at taking the time to read with my children. But recently I've turned over a new leaf and am trying to do it faithfully each day (even if it's only for a few minutes). So I came across this list of tips for reading to your children and thought I would like to pass it along. I hope you enjoy it!

When you read together, make sure to cuddle up with your child. Giving this physical touch is a great way to show your child that you love them as well as make them want to read more with you.

Take time between pages to look each other in the eyes. Giving your attention in the moment is incredibly important when spending time with your kids. So between pages or at a break in the story make sure to look into your child’s eyes.

Relax. If your child wants to skip pages or read the same story again, and again (and again), it’s okay. This is a good reminder for me, because many times I take control of the reading time, where it’s better to let my kids lead.

Ask your children to point out things in the picture, “Where’s the balloon?” This interaction will help teach them and keep them interested, reading books should be an interactive time.

Ask your child what’s in the picture and talk about whatever they answer. “What is this?” Then ask, “What sound does it make?”

Use the pictures to teach new words. This is a great way to teach your child about the world around them.

Use the story to start a conversation. Like, “Look at this beautiful butterfly”, “Remember when we saw were walking the other day and saw a butterfly?”

Ask questions about the story. “What are the butterflies doing in this picture?” and let your children make things up and stretch their imaginative muscles.

Act out parts of the story, this will keep your children entertained and wanting to read more. Don’t make reading time dull.

Do you have a long wait while running an errand with your child? Then bring a book along and take the time to read to them.

Talk about the books you’ve read when after you’ve read them. “Look! That squirrel is running up the tree, I wonder if he knows the squirrel from the story we read today”

Use a phrase or word from the book you read throughout the day.

Do you have any tips that help you read with your children? Please share them below!

Enjoy this day,

Matt

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8.14.2010

Customer Review of www.teflonline.com/

Hey everyone! How are you doing today? I hope that you’re doing well.

So I wanted to take a moment to share my opinion on the 40 hour course I just took online to get my TEFL certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). I went with TEFLonline.com, which is sponsored by BridgeTEFL. The course was a basic 40 hour one, but you can find many more options on their website. The course costs $185 and certifies you to teach English all around the world.

Here are some things I liked about the website and the Basic 40 hour course I took. First off, the website is designed well and laid out in a very easy to follow way. I can’t stress how important this is, if you’re going to spend 40 some hours on the website, it makes a big difference if you can navigate it well and your eyes don’t bleed every time you look at the site. But hey, that’s just my opinion. I also like that they have instructional videos included with the material they present. They lay out a lot of material that will help you manage a classroom and to teach English in an effective way.

It I had any criticism of this particular course; it would be that it didn’t seem like I learned a TON. I mean, maybe my expectations were to high, but I just don’t feel a whole lot more equipped to teach. But hey, that’s just me.

I do feel like I came away with a lot of resources to help me teach better and help my students. In the end, I’m glad I took the course -I had too- but still I’m glad I did. Getting your TEFL certificate is VERY important when getting a teaching job overseas. If you have any more questions, feel free to comment on here or write me.

Enjoy this day,
Matt

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3.14.2010

Tips for Teaching - Be a Kid

Well I haven’t taught long, but I have learned one valuable lesson throughout my life when working with kids. You need to be a kid when you teach. Full of life, energetic, fun and not caring what anyone else thinks of you. Nothing will disarm a child more than you being one of them and not just a stiff lifeless teacher.

So you need to be over the top in your expressions. Sing, dance and jump around just as they do. You’ll be one of them and not just some adult punching into his or her job. Forget what others think of you and be a kid when you teach. Make the lessons fun and the kids will be more engaged and retaining more of whatever you’re sharing with them.

Enjoy your time with your students and they too will enjoy the time with you.

(ohh and…)

Enjoy this day,
Matt

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