Job Discussion Forums

Craig! · Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Posts: 202

For my classes (junior middle and primary school), I employ everything but the kitchen sink. Not only to set up lessons, but also to bail me out when a lesson fails. I often have to dig deep into my "bag of tricks" (briefcase).
Besides my banjo, I've found that my toy microphone is most effective in making the kids speak individually.
With it, the reporter game is fun, and funny to watch the peer pressure put on.

I'd like to know of your single best prop or teaching aid (aside from textbook) ... flashcards? beating stick...?

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

My whistle. It's not just any whistle -- it has such an eardrum-piercing high pitch, it can quickly silent a noisy room of 120 students.

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

the student's parents home number

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

Greatest asset: my galactic charm and indomitable style. The cigar is especially popular with certain developmentally repressed students.

Tomato_Can · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 88 Location: Suzhou

tarzaninchina · Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 348 Location: World

That would have to be a toss up between my stomach or my hands. During the winter, definitely my beard. Cool

Sonnet · Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 235 Location: South of the river

Ah, I'm going to be boring & give a serious answer.

A small, soft ball is a lifesaver & can be used in endless activities; works with all young learners.

The most useful teaching prop is my whiteboard, though. From all the new teachers I've observed, I've found that their most common problem is a criminal underuse of the whiteboard. It can be used to model language (phonemic transcriptions, or sample sentence patterns), in language feedback, to provide a clear reference for instructions/rules... and there's pretty much no end to the number of games/activities you can run with only a board & 2 markers.

You can effectively teach any & every level with nothing more than the coursebook, a whiteboard & maybe a ball. You never need to photocopy anything ever again. Don't get me wrong, I do use a whole range of other materials, but they're nothing more than the icing on the cake.

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

Electric cattle prod - inside the classroom and outside!

james s · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Raincity

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

Me lucky charm Wink

Yu · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 1219 Location: Shanghai

I am lucky to have a room with a computer. I can show movies and use powerpoint. I love having a technology room!

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China