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ssjup81 · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:27 am Post subject: Advice Appreciated

Hi guys. It's me again. ^^ Anyway, I could use some suggestions/advice once again and thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Okay. As I've mentioned before, I'm working at an eikaiwa this time around. For the most part, I'm now at the point where I feel comfortable with the students as far as capabilities and abilities go. I know what I want to work on with them or what they could use improvement with, etc. Unfortunately, there is one class which consists of only two students that is a bit of a problem for me still.

With me, one of the main things I like to work on with beginners is the alphabet and, of course, phonics. The problem is that no matter what I try, they still can not get the alphabet. I can't even go to the textbook with these two yet because of their having trouble identifying the letters of the alphabet. I've used drilling, I've given examples, I've even given them writing drills as homework and played memory games with them, but nothing seems to help them. I've been working with these two since April and they still can't figure out the alphabet unless it's in order and even then, they still get some of them wrong. For example, I can point to the letter "M" on the chart and they might say..."J". That type of thing.

So, any suggestions? The two do like being active (hence the games), but of course an entire lesson can't be all about games. Oh, and both, iirc, are in their second year of elementary school.

Has anyone ever had this type of situation?

Edit: For the record, I'm not sure how long both have been studying English. My set of Lesson Plans only go back as far as January, and by the looks of it, both were there prior to that.

ssjup81 · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 12:24 am Post subject:

Wow, nothing? No tips from all of you experienced ones for this meek newbie. ^^

surendra · Joined: 09 Feb 2012 Posts: 82

hey, I'm in Korea at the moment and a newbie as well. I can only give theory. Since you already practiced drilling, I would say just to continue on and they will eventually get it. It is hard for even some adults to learn new alphabets. I think that if they learn some spelling with words, they might catch on.

Example: They keep forgetting 'M'. Teach them "Home" and show the picture and emphasize that there is an 'M' and then move on to the next word. Eventually they will get it.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You might want to try one of the ETJ Yahoo discussion forums. They deal with kids.

ssjup81 · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:12 am Post subject:

ETJ Yahoo? I've never heard of it, but I'll check that out.

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

See if you can find a picture teaching dictionary or worksheet that turns each letter of the alphabet into a picture. Not 'd is for dog & a picture of a dog', but a letter d incorporated into a picture of a dog. Children usually find them more engaging and easier to remember.

Or better still, have them create their own, so they have to draw the pictures themselves. Incorporate lots of dictionary work while they look up words. Turn it into a 'project' to help motivate them.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

ETJ is the name of the group. The forum is just Yahoo.

easyasabc · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 179 Location: Japan

Try doing things that get them more physically involved and actually interacting with/moving/touching the letters.

As well as having the letters on flashcards (or however you have them now) have the actual shapes of the letters and get them to pick up and feel the shapes of the letters. You can get a whole alphabet of plastic or rubber letters at 100Y Shop.

Teach them what �pick up�, �put down� and �touch� means. And them get them to �pick up ___�, �put down _____� , �touch ____�.

Get them to pretend they are writing the letter in the air as they say it.

Once they start getting it a bit you can play a game where one kid #1 stands behind kid #2 and pretends to write a letter #2�s back (tracing a letter outline with their finger as if writing). Kid #2 has to try and guess what letter is being �written�.

Get them to make the shape of letters with their body. They might need to team up to make some letters (like "E") but they'll have loads of fun doing it. They'll also learn some useful instructions (like "stand up", "sit down", "turn round" etc.) as they are doing this.

Cool Teacher · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 12:57 pm Post subject:

How old are these kids? Confused

Here'a an idea...Make it FUN!!!! Cool

Don7t worry about them knowing the NAMES of the letters get them to learn how to write them and idenitfy them with pictures or something. So do it from a whole word instead of just the letters.

Like show a cat with the letters "cat" next to it. Then write the word on the board and have the students look at it on the board. Tell them to remember it then wipe it off but only some of it. Then have them get up and dance and sing and stuff then sit them down again. Now tell them to write the word. Mayeb some of the word it still theere so they will try to see it a bit. Cool

Then play matching games with cards. Pictures on one and words on the other. Expect them to pcik it up gradually. Cool

Also, you can have some other stuff a bit boring like worksheets of handwriting you can get from the internet and just tell them the first one to copy out the tracing things gets a sticker.

Look, here:

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/handwriting_practice_worksheet_maker.html

Or you could make a wordsearch:

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/WordSearchSetupForm.asp

Remember that they don't need to do everythign perfectly just get them going and involved in ti. I think anyway... Cool

aynnej · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:48 am Post subject:

I used funny sounds to teach the alphabet/sounds to young kids. "A-A-A goes a-a-apple!" Then make the "a" sound like crazy, with your voice high and low.

I second easyasabc's and Coolteacher's advice, especially about making it fun and including a physical element. Have the children point, touch, color, pick up an alphabet block when you call out a letter and put it in a basket (for young learners), etc.

Four corners is an easy, fun game. Place one of four letter flashcards in each corner of the room. Say the letter. The children run to that corner. Then you can do whatever chant or activity you have for the letter (making the shape with their bodies YMCA style, etc.). For older children, you can use the letters that are more difficult to recognize or are often confused (b, d, r, l, etc.).