Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ChopChaeJoe]

No problems teaching 4 and 5 year olds, but starting in March I'm going to have a new class with kids as young as 2. What in the world do you do with kids this age? Is there possibly a book to use? Any help welcome.

[spyro25]

phonics is all you can do as that is all they will be able to do in their own language. try smart phonics series or phonics for kids with the big book and tape.

[Satin]

Montessori? Music, reading stories, rhymes, very basic art projects, naming objects, colors, basic numbers. The key is to keep them active. Most kids that age can't sit still very long.

Who is going to be responsible for changing diapers/underwear?

You are in for some interesting times! Good luck!

[Dawn]

It's neither a textbook nor specifically for ESL, but Creative Resources for the Early Childhood Classroom by Judy Herr is a great springboard for teaching this age. It's basically a collection of 50+ thematic units, complete with arrt activities, songs, book recommendations, circle time activities, math and language activities, etc.

As far as an ESL text goes, Teddy's Train (from Oxford University Press) is supposed to be for this age group. I've never actually taught the book, so I can't say how effective it is. I do, however, use the corresponding video tape and incorporate activities from the teacher's manual in my preschool class.

[heydelores]

[ChopChaeJoe]

We have the Tiny talk flashcards at my school, and the Teddy puppet. No problem to get the books, but I don't know about the video as there isn't a TV in the classroom at pesent. is the video needed?

It will probably be an hour long class, 5 days a week. I honestly can't think of how to fill that much time. Duck, duck goose is going to get really old.

[heydelores]

[tzechuk]

Well, I think *formally* teaching 2 or 3 year old kids is way too early.

Letty is 26 months and through play and activities, she's learned 13 letters and can count up to 10. Knows some colours and sings lots of songs.

My mum sent over a pack of bath time alphabet puzzle and through that, Letty learned and is learning her letters.

So as a mother who is keen on homeschooling until we return back to the UK in 4 years' time, all I can say is: forget text books. If you want books, use story books. Read them stories, act them out. Right now they don't need to learn to write yet but they do need to build up their vacabulary bank, and that is our emphasis with Letty.

Also, I think what heydelores has said is solid, sound advice. You should take notes!

BTW, my husband came home last week with a sticker book FULL OF pictures and their names printed at the bottom of each picture. There are over 500 every day words, including animals, flowers, automobiles etc. The book is actually in Korean but Letty and I have fun putting the pictures in the empty slots and for me to teach her what they are called in English (and sometimes Cantonese).

I actually never thought that Letty would be able to tell the shapes but after showing her once or twice how it should be done, she now knows exactly how to put each sticker according to the way it is shaped.

See if you can pick one up in English (well, several, because each kid needs one). I have discovered children this young LOVE stickers!!

[heydelores]

[ChopChaeJoe]

Yeah, i think the parents of these kids are doing what's akin to child abuse, but I was raised to do a good job in what I do, so there I am.

i have a feeling though that this is my fault. I started giving occasional English lessons to kids this age for fun, not counted towards my monthly hours, on days when I had a couple hours with no classes and I had no errands to run. I'd pop into their class, show som pictures, have them guess letters, shapes and colors, maybe read a baby book, then give them a cookie. They were so cute and well-behaved I didn't see any harm.

I guess the director smelled money.

But the problem is that in my regular classes, I'm of the iron fist in the velvet glove variety. I expect progress and I get it. I don't think that appoach will work here.

[heydelores]

2- and 3-year-olds are practically babies. Just have fun with them, ChopChaeJoe.

[tomato]

ChopChaeJoe, I understand that your question is specifically about 2-year-olds, and that the kindergarten threads up until this one have been about 3-year-olds and older, but maybe something in those kindergarten threads will help you:

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I hope you find something useful.

[ChopChaeJoe]

Thanks tomato, I'll bookmark the post.

[Cerriowen]

I taught preschool and LOVED it.

But... keep in mind that the learning only happens when they're having a good time.

Books... sure... big ones, with lots of pictures. Make faces and do all the sounds.

They can learn the rythm of english through nursery rhymes.
Sing silly songs like "eensie weensie spider" and "Patty Cake".
Look for regular pre-school ideas, because these kids will learn english really fast. Even if they can't actually talk.

I had a 2 year old that was as fluent in english after 1 month as he was in Korean. OK he could say like, 5 Korean words and 5 english words, but he spoke them without an accent.

Kids learn faster at that age than they ever will again.

[ChopChaeJoe]