Korean Job Discussion Forums

[waggo]

Ive always managed to avoid them but now Ive got 'em.
These guys are Really young...I dont mind hanging out with them but I dont have any experience with this age group...could someone give me a few pointers to kill a twenty minute lesson please.

Thanks

[jazblanc77]

There is a very good thread on this subject exactly if you would like to read it.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=19433&highlight=

[Michelle]

I got hit with this too at a previous school...

Singing kindy songs and introducing actions for them to do helped.

London Bridge

Hickory Dickory Dock

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Ring - a - ring of rosies

Hokey pokey can be good as this age group is always 'full of beans'.

You get the idea.

If you're not a singer maybe you can use a tape with songs on it and have them listen whole showing the actions.

Also 'Storybook time' with picture books saved me. Teach the kids when it's storybook time they are to get their chair, sit in the corner quietly and listen. Teach basic vocab with the books pictures.

The least the hagwon should be able to do if it wants you to teach them is to let you pick up a few picture books if they have none.

There are also simple games like Duck, Duck, Goose.

One kid is in the middle.

You go around the circle saying Duck, Duck, until you decide to pick one kid as the goose. the kids run around the circle beating the other kid to their spot. The kid who doesn't get to the spot goes into the middle, and starts again.

Soon the kids learn the game and start going around the circle picking kids themselves.

Good luck.

[shawner88]

Crayons, crayons, crayons, and more crayons!

[ajuma]

Duck, duck, goose is good, but you can use "girl, girl, boy" to teach ... duh, girl and boy of course! Or "he, he, she" or "him, him, her". The kids get it really quickly!

[tomato]

Hello, Waggo!

You are not alone. You are the sixth person who has asked this question since I joined the forum.

I somehow missed the thread which Jazblanc refers to, but here are the five previous threads which I am referring to:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=5552&highlight=

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=16204&highlight=

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=14162&highlight=

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=11817&highlight=

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=5804&highlight=

Here is another one specifically on kindergarten books:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=22645&highlight=

[lookingtoteach]

Duck, Duck, Goose is a good one. With my baby kindergarten class (4 year olds), I taught them that and they loved it. Another one they loved was Head and Shoulders, which also taught them various body parts as did THe Hokey Pokey. They loved "You put your bum in, you put your bum out, you put your bum in, and you shake it all about". Very cute. I used a lot of songs and phonic flashcards and within 2 weeks all but two of them were spelling their new English names.

What books are you using? As much as I hate the Tiny Talk series, it worked well with the youngest ones. They learn one new phrase a day. "How are you? I am fine thank you" was one day and it didn't overwhelm them too much.

Discipline was another story. I used happy faces and Xs for them. Happy faces were good, Xs were bad. It took them a couple of days until they understood that but after that it was great. They would start monitoring themselves. If one of them was bad, I'd hear "Teacher, Sally's bad. X" (admittedly not the greatest English but they're 4).

Have fun. After a few weeks, I loved my baby kindergarten class. I got the most hugs and the most excited "Teacher" whenever I entered the room. They're great!

[Bunnymonster]

[justagirl]

I had a class that couldn't even color...they just scribbled and still had diapers! And it was for 40 minutes. It was really hard to keep them entertained and their moms were all in the class, too, because they would consistantly cry or fight...

Get yourself a felt board and a big roll of the velcro stuff that has a sticker side on the back. They love to stick things on boards. You can do abc things (put the A on the board) or colors (put the blue circles under the blue A) or shapes, animals, etc. Granted, this requires quite a bit of prep, but my kiddies loved it.

I also did the songs, storytime, playdough time, etc.

[Bunnymonster]

40 mins, if only, I have to 'teach' them for their second 80 minute period. Its absolutely crazy they are bored stiff with school by this point and getting tired and irritable. They aren't bad kids as such they just are in an impossible situation which neither they nor I am really able to deal with properly. Well head down keep on going, some more cutting and sticking puzles today I think, they enjoy those...........

[TJ]

Tip ........... don't wear good clothes - they will wipe their snotty noses and grubby hands on your best clothes.

Tip .......... Make sure you keep your flu shots up to date - kindy kids can always be relied upon to sneeze right in your face.

Tip .......... Always assume they will attempt to kill themselves.

Tip .......... Think of it as baby sitting, not teaching.

Tip .......... Be prepared for lots of hugs and kisses.

Finally, if you aren't sure or if you have any problems relating with very young children don't teach Kindy.

Sorry to be so negative but my wife and I raised 4 children of our own (now grown up) and I did not enjoy kindy teaching.