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Hello and welcome back to another post full of easy ideas and practical tips  to help you practice English in a simple and stress-free way! One of the most common things I hear from my students (and parents too!) is: “I really want to practice English, but I don’t have time.” And honestly—I understand. Life is busy. School, work, family, activities… it all adds up. But the good news is this: you don’t need hours to practice English . What you really need is a little English every day . Let me show you how. Listen to English While Doing Other Things Small Daily Practice Makes a Big Difference From my experience in the classroom, students learn much faster when English becomes part of their everyday life—not something they only do once or twice a week. Even 5–10 minutes a day  can help a lot when it’s done consistently. ➽ Easy Ways to Practice English Every Day 1. Change Your Phone Language to English This is one of my favorite tips because it requires no extra time at all . By changing your phone or tablet language to English, you start seeing and reading English words naturally every day: settings notifications apps It’s a simple change, but very effective! 2. Listen to English While Doing Other Things You don’t need to sit at a desk to practice English. ➮Try: short YouTube videos simple English podcasts reels or videos made for English learners ➮You can listen while: cooking cleaning driving walking This kind of listening helps your brain get used to the sound and rhythm of English. 3. Think in English During Daily Activities This is something I always encourage my students to try. ⇝While you’re doing everyday things, ask yourself: What am I doing? What do I need? How do I feel? ⇝For example: “I’m making breakfast.” “I’m tired today.” “I need my keys.” These small sentences help you stop translating and start thinking  in English. 4. Speak Out Loud (Even If You’re Alone!) Yes—talking to yourself really helps! ➾You can: describe your day talk about what you see around you repeat sentences from videos or lessons Speaking out loud helps your mouth and brain work together. This is very important for building confidence. Think in English During Daily Activities A Simple Weekly Routine (Realistic and Easy) Here’s an example you can follow: Monday–Friday:  5–10 minutes of listening or speaking Weekend:  watch a movie, cartoon, or longer video in English Every day:  think in English for a few minutes Nothing complicated—just small, daily habits. ❧ Final Thoughts ☙ You don’t need more time. You don’t need perfect English. What you need is consistency . A little English every day is much better than a lot of English once a week. And remember—learning English doesn’t have to be boring. With the right habits, it can be fun, natural, and part of your daily life. If you enjoyed this post and find these tips helpful, don’t forget to join my email list  so you never miss a new post full of ideas, tips, and free resources. I’ll see you in the next one. Toodaloo! 💛 -Miss Marilena Do you know that I have my own ' This or That' handouts? You can check them here in my store or my TPT store. If you liked this post you might also like this one:

Teaching grammar takes time, patience , and clear explanations. We break rules down, give examples, and guide students through practice. Handouts and structured activities help students feel confident and secure. But after all that effort, we still wonder: Did they really understand it? After 12 years teaching students aged 6 to 14 — including many with learning difficulties — I’ve learned that explanation alone isn’t enough. Students also need reassurance. They need grammar to feel light, positive, and confidence-building. That’s where grammar games come in. Not instead of teaching — but after it. Games support the lesson, reinforce understanding, and quietly tell students: “You’ve got this.” In this post you will find 6 different grammar games and a free instructions handout you can print and use in your own lessons. 1. Grammar Charades: Reinforcing English Grammar with Movement After teaching a tense or structure, write a few example sentences on the board. One student acts out a sentence, and the class guesses using a full sentence. This is a fun, active way to reinforce lessons and helps students who struggle with writing or memorising rules. Connecting grammar to movement and meaning helps students internalise the structure without pressure. 2. Sentence Building with Student-Made Word Cards Ask students to create their own word cards (subjects, verbs, time words, places). Students exchange cards and build sentences using someone else’s words.Turn it into a friendly challenge : the most creative or interesting sentence wins. Teacher tip:  with teens, quickly check the cards before the exchange. Teen creativity can be impressive — and occasionally too “creative.”🤭 A gentle veto keeps it appropriate and fun. Word flashcards from our own lesson for a fun creative learning activity 3. Grammar Relay Race: Correct the Teacher Write sentences on the board with intentional grammar mistakes. Divide the class into teams. One student from each team runs to the board, corrects one part of a sentence, and tags the next teammate. The goal: correct all sentences before the other teams do. High-energy grammar games like this motivate students, build teamwork, and make revising lessons exciting. Even quieter students feel engaged because their team depends on them. 4. Mini Role Play with a Grammar Goal Give students a short situation and one grammar target (shopping: countable/uncountable nouns; doctor: present simple questions; yesterday: past simple). Keep it short and guided. Role plays help students practise grammar in context and reinforce lessons naturally, especially for learners who need extra support. 5. Simple Grammar Board Games Use a simple board, a dice, and grammar prompts related to the structure you’ve taught. Students move, answer, or create sentences while playing together. This low-pressure activity allows repeated practice and helps reinforce lessons in a fun, collaborative way. I have created a free grammar games handout with ready-to-use activities designed to complement English grammar lessons. All of the ideas mentioned here, summarized in one place so you can refer back to it anytime. 6. The Power of a Simple Exit Task At the end of the lesson, write one grammar prompt on the board such as Passive Voice - Present Simple . Students write one sentence on a small piece of paper and hand it to you as they leave. That’s it. No marking on the spot. No calling out mistakes. Sometimes you can read a few anonymous examples aloud — not to correct, but to show that the structure really did make sense such as "The cake is baked  by my aunt." or "The homework is done  by the students.", you can also include wrong ones as far as they are close to the correct answer. Looking for more fun games to use in class? Check out my latest blog post on using UNO cards as prompts for grammar games. Final Thoughts Grammar handouts, explanations, and guided practice are the foundation of effective teaching. Grammar games and classroom activities  simply support them, reinforcing understanding and leaving students confident and successful. The last 10 minutes of a lesson  are powerful . Ending with a short, fun grammar game can completely change how students remember the lesson. When parents ask, “Was your English lesson okay?” Students might not remember the rule. But they will say: “Yes! We played a fun game!” Ending lessons with a game boosts morale, reinforces lessons, and builds a positive connection between teacher and student. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you use grammar games at the end of your lessons? Or do you have a favourite activity your students enjoy? Let me know in the comments! I will see you in the next one. Toodaloo!  😊 -Miss Marilena Do you know that I have my own Passive Voice Grammar handouts? You can check them here in my store or my TPT store. If you liked this post you might also like this one:

Looking for a fun, interactive way to practice English grammar ? UNO cards aren’t just for family game night—they’re a perfect tool for learning ! These three simple games will get your students thinking, creating, and recalling grammar  while having fun. Want to use these games in class right away? I’ve created a printable PDF with all three UNO grammar games clearly laid out, so you can download, print, and use it instantly in your lessons —no prep needed. 👉 Download the printable instructions below. #Game 1: UNO Grammar Challenge Goal:  Build correct sentences using grammar prompts while discarding UNO cards. What You Need: UNO deck (numbers 1–10 only; remove action cards) Grammar prompts (subject, object, noun, verb, past/present/future tense, etc.) 2–4 teams How to Play: Divide Teams:  Split students into 2–4 teams. Assign Numbers to Prompts: 1 = subject 2 = object 3 = noun 4 = verb 5 = past tense 6 = present tense (Customize based on your grammar topic.) Take Turns:  Teams play cards to match the assigned prompts. Example: A team plays 2 (object)  and 5 (past tense)  → they must make a correct sentence with an object in the past tense or any target tense you are working on. Check Sentences: Correct? Team discards cards used . Incorrect or can’t make a sentence? Say “pass” and keep cards . Turn ends. Winning:  First team to discard all their cards wins!🏆 Why It Works: 𖥔 Encourages teamwork and creativity 𖥔 Reinforces grammar naturally 𖥔 Mistakes are part of the learning process #Game 2: Fast-Paced UNO Grammar Race Goal:  Build correct sentences quickly under time pressure—perfect for the last 10 minutes of a lesson! What You Need: UNO deck (numbers 1–10) Grammar prompts written on the board 2–4 teams or even better single players (individually) How to Play: Set Up Teams:  Divide students or let them play individually and put a stack of UNO cards (numbers 1-5 for example only) in the middle of the table. Draw an UNO card:  Each UNO card represents a tense which is written on the board (such as present perfect simple, etc) along with verbs and objects they can choose from. Each player draws a prompt and must make a correct sentence using the UNO card(s) they play. Time Limit:  Teams have 30–60 seconds  to complete their sentence. You can use a timer for extra effect! Correct? Discard cards. Incorrect? Keep cards and lose the turn. Optional Twist – Double Trouble:  Advanced students can play two cards at once , combining prompts in one sentence. Winning:  Whichever player collects the most UNO cards wins!🏆 Why It Works: ♠ Adds energy and excitement to the lesson ♠ Boosts confidence and teamwork ♠ Keeps all students engaged with short, fast turns Mistakes are part of the learning process #Game 3: UNO Grammar Grab – Irregular Verbs & Tense Practice Goal:  Practice irregular verbs, tense keywords, or example sentences using memory and recall . What You Need: UNO deck (numbers 1–5 only; remove higher numbers) A pile of cards placed face down Grammar focus: irregular verbs past simple, past participle, tense keywords, or example sentences How to Play: Draw Cards:  Students take turns drawing a card from the pile  without looking. Check the Number:  The number on the card tells the student how many examples they must give. Example: Draw a 3  → give three examples . Give Examples: Irregular verbs past simple: say three verbs in their past form (for example give-gave, make-made, choose-chose) Past participle: give three past participle forms (for example give-given, make-made, choose-chosen) Tense keywords: give three words or phrases for the grammar tense you are studying (e.g., yesterday, last night, last year  for past simple). Example sentences: say three short sentences using the grammar target. Correct or Pass: Correct? Keep the card aside (or assign points). Mistake? Return the card to the pile and try again next turn. Winning/Goal: Focus on accuracy and recall, not speed. Optional: First student/team to collect a set number of correct cards wins.🏆 Why It Works: ➼ Encourages active recall , not just recognition ➼ Perfect for irregular verbs, tense keywords, and grammar review ➼ Adds surprise and engagement —students never know which number they’ll draw! Boosts confidence and teamwork ⋆✮ Teacher Tips for All Three Games ⋆✮ Adjust prompts or numbers for student level: 1–3 cards for beginners, 4–5 for advanced learners. Model examples before starting, especially for tricky verbs or tenses. For large classes, play in teams  to keep everyone engaged. Keep the tone fun and supportive —focus on learning, not just winning. Final Thoughts ✧.*. ⋆·˚ UNO cards make grammar interactive, memorable, and playful . These three games: UNO Grammar Challenge  – sentence building Fast-Paced UNO Grammar Race  – timed sentence creation UNO Grammar Grab  – recall and reinforcement …are perfect for reinforcing lessons, boosting confidence, and ending class on a high note . Remember: the last 10 minutes of a lesson are golden  ✨. Ending with a fun game makes the grammar stick — and when students go home and their parents ask, “Was your English lesson okay?” , they won’t say, “We did grammar.” They’ll say: “It was great! We played a fun game!” And that is all from me. I hope you liked this kind of post. Let me know your own thoughts and ideas in the comments. I will see you in the next one! Toodaloo! Did you know that I have a created many resources that can make learning English even easier and more fun? You can check all my premium products here or register in my Resource Library for all the free handouts I post there monthly.

Hello and welcome back to another post full of ideas and free handouts! This season of Halloween was another great hit in our English class. I have noticed that my students learn easier when I introduce something new in the context of a holiday or through a game. That's why I believe the best thing to do for you is to put everything we did the last three years for our Halloween party lessons in one post. Here is everything I prepare for my English learners for our Halloween party. If you are a teacher or a student you can find these ideas, handouts and presentation helpful for your own teaching or learning. And if you find these kind of posts and handouts useful, don't forget to register in my email list and never miss another post from me. 1. Spooky Ghost experiment Let's kick off the Halloween party with a 'Spooky Ghost Experiment.' This experiment is fun and easy. A few hours before the party I take some baking soda and a few drops of water and I form some balls with my hands. Then I shape those balls into ghosts and put them in the freezer on a parchment paper lined tray. Before the lesson starts I take them out and add with a black marker two eyes and a mouth so it really looks like a ghost. I also prepare some vinegar mixed with a bit of red food colouring in a small bowl. I bought some drippers off of Amazon but a spoon can work too. Once the experiment begins I ask the kids what do they think will happen to the ghosts? Will they change colour because of the 'bloody' vinegar? Will they melt? Will they fuzz? Will they get bigger? I use basic vocabulary with younger students and many many gestures. It's always fun to see everyone's expression when the ghosts come into contact with the vinegar! They are always awed and shocked. Level : Easy Loved it! 100% Amazing and easy Halloween themed craft. Duration: It will only take 10 minutes maximum to complete from start to finish during your lesson with some minimum prep effort. 2. Creepy Halloween Cooking This Halloween whip up some 'Creepy Halloween Cooking' where students get to practice their cooking skills but also their English vocabulary . Through the years we have explored many different recipes. We have made cakes, cupcakes, cookies and many more. It's safe to say that cooking is always a great hit with kids. Even if sometimes things don't turn out as expected kids always have fun and laugh about it . For example last Halloween our cupcake recipe asked for sugar and some of my students confused sugar with salt (I always have extra ingredients on the desk for word recognition practice). Needless to say our cupcakes turn out really really salty!!! Not the best flavor to be honest... Kids have no problem making mistakes as long as the process is great fun and guided. It's important to have recipes printed for them and talk them through the steps. Guiding kids through cooking not only makes them feel safe but also practices their English skills in a natural way. Level : Difficult Loved it!  Amazing, kids love it and we end up with snacks and treats Duration:  takes a bit of time to prep, takes 15 minutes to mix in class and 30 minutes to fully cook your recipes. Pro Tip : have some of your recipes pre-cooked the day before for backup or for limited time 3. Pumpkin Decoration This is such a cute detail you can make ahead of Halloween for your class or at home. Using small round pumpkins and some black markers we draw faces on them and learn vocabulary such as pumpkins, trick or treat or spooky night. Pumpkins also make great conversation starter for teens who are ready to learn all about the old Halloween scary movies that they haven't watched yet and probably shouldn't. 😂 If you like this post so far don't forget to put your email in my email list and I promise to send you only things you will love! Level : Easy Loved it!  Kids love to decorate pumpkins Duration:  takes maximum five minutes from your lesson 4. Mystery Word Masquerade All this new Halloween vocabulary can seem difficult at the beginning. That's why I'm always using my easy vocabulary presentation and then my Halloween handout. They are the perfect combination for vocabulary building and speaking practice. You can get my handout for free by clicking on the icon below. You can also use this video presentation in your class for introducing Halloween themed vocabulary. Level : Easy Loved it!  They love love love presentations that look like games Duration:  takes around 15 minutes for both presentation and handout 5. Haunted House Vocabulary Search Do you want to surprise your students with an amazing haunted activity ? Make this easy vocabulary activity and you won't regret it. All you need is an empty file and a black A4 paper. On the file write as many Halloween themed words as possible and draw things such as bats, castles, witches and pumpkins. You can also make your own DIY easy torch by cutting out some black paper and a yellow paper circle. When you enter the torch under the file and on the black paper, Halloween themed words are revealed. This activity has always been a hit with m students. After finding all the words they can write them in their classwork or just talk with you about them. 6. Spooky Crafts Make your own paper Halloween puppets with this easy craft. The idea is to have a long rectangle strip of paper where you draw a pumpkin on it or a Frankenstein monster. The trick is to fold your paper in a way that the top piece and the bottom piece touch in the middle leaving hidden the middle part. Once you draw a pumpkin or a monster you open the piece of paper and trace a huge mouth with a tongue inside. Once you colour and decorate your craft it's a ready to use paper Halloween puppet! Enjoy! 7. Writing about Halloween Look at this spook-tacular way to get kids excited about writing this Halloween! My fill-in-the-blank story lets young writers choose their own words to personalize the tale! It’s a fun way to practice descriptive language, sequencing, and creative writing — all while getting into the Halloween spirit. Plus, I've included a helpful teacher and parent guide  on page 2, with suggested words for each blank. This makes it easy to support vocabulary building and differentiate for every learner. Perfect for Halloween!👻 In conclusion, a Halloween themed lesson can provide many opportunities for engaging and immersive learning for both teachers and parents who try to teach English to their kids. By infusing lessons with creative Halloween-themed activities, teachers can spark students' passion for language learning, making teaching an enchanting adventure that goes beyond the ordinary classroom experience. So, grab your broomsticks, put on your wizard hats, and embark on this thrilling language-learning journey with me this Halloween season! If you liked this post don't forget to register in my email list so you never miss a post from me again. I will see you in the next one. Toodaloo!!! 🎃Happy Halloween🎃 Did you know that I have my own English books? My new book ' Ollie needs a new body ' helps students practice face and body vocabulary , have got and can in a fun and engaging way! If you liked this post you might love my Easter themed post and my Christmas themed post! Check them out right here.

Are you a parent wondering when to start your child's English language learning journey? Many factors come into play when deciding the best age to introduce English to young learners. In this article, we will dive into the world of ESL (English as a Second Language) classrooms and discuss the ideal age to kickstart your child's learning adventure, effective tips for teaching English to young learners, and the challenges and advantages associated with starting language lessons at different developmental stages. If you like these kind of posts register with my email list  and never miss a post from me! The Early Bird Catches the English Worm When is the right time to start English lessons for young learners? Research suggests that the earlier children are exposed to a new language, the better their linguistic abilities will develop. Introducing English to kids as early as 3-5 years old can be highly beneficial. At this age, children's brains are like sponges, eagerly absorbing new information and forming language structures that can set a strong foundation for future learning. In my personal 10 year experience in teaching English, I have noticed a pattern of amazing use and understanding of the language when children start their English lessons early. Children as young as 4-5 or even 6 who start dabbling with English for the first time have better results than children who start their English journey at 9. Remember though that these are generalizations and observations I made as a teacher throughout the years without forgetting that there were many exceptions to this rule. I have met many students who started their English journey later in life, but were still able to catch up with their fellow students, one of them being me. The best age to start learning English is 5 to 6. The latest age to start learning English should be 7 or 8 if your child's goal is to have the IELTS certificate by the time they are in high-school. The point is that the latest a student starts the more they have to catch up and keep up with their fellow classmates. Nowadays in Cyprus, high-schoolers are expected to finish with their IELTS or IGCSE certification by the first year of high-school. In order to achieve that, if we take into account the seven or eight levels they must complete before that, students should begin their ESL journey at age seven or eight. Any English lessons before that age just gives your child a better start to this long and sometimes difficult journey to their IELTS. Starting as early as 6 will give your child the option to have fun, draw and sing in English for the first two years in his Pre-Junior classes before moving on into more difficult grammar and vocabulary. Pre-Junior classes is what makes learning English fun in my opinion. Try not to skip those important years where the child gets into the world of English with the most fun way. Learning should always be fun so you need to make sure the teacher you choose has the right philosophy about that. Tips for Teaching English to Young Learners Make it Fun : Games, songs, and interactive activities keep young learners engaged and eager to learn. Visual Aids : Using colorful flashcards, storybooks, and videos to help children associate words with images. Repetition is Key : Practice makes perfect. Regular practice and repetition reinforces learning. Encourage Communication : Create a language-rich environment where children can practice speaking and listening to English daily. Help them remember common sentences used in class such as "Where is my pen?", "What? Come again?" Challenges at Different Developmental Stages Starting at a Young Age : Attention Span : Young children may have shorter attention spans, requiring more interactive and dynamic teaching methods. This is the perfect chance to make English fun and help children love learning. Pronunciation : While young learners can pick up accents easily, they may struggle with pronunciation accuracy. It is such a small setback though to the benefit of introducing the language early. Starting at a Later Age : Inhibitions : Older children or teenagers might feel self-conscious when speaking a new language. Classes with younger children on their level might feel too childish for them but at the same time difficult when it comes to proficiency. Learning Speed : It may take longer for older learners to grasp grammar rules and vocabulary compared to younger children. If you need some help with grammar or writing in English check this post with my very own personal free handouts. Benefits of Early Language Learning Cognitive Development : Learning a new language enhances cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills. In other words learning languages early helps the child's brain work even better. Cultural Understanding : Early exposure to English can foster a deeper appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. Career Opportunities : Proficiency in English opens up a world of career possibilities in an increasingly globalized job market. In Conclusion There's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of when to start your English language learning. My recommendation is to always have English lessons as early as possible. However, each child is unique, and factors like individual interest, learning style, learning difficulties and exposure to English in daily life should be considered. Set your family priorities and decide what is best for you and your child. By incorporating engaging teaching methods, addressing age-specific challenges, and make use of the advantages of early language learning, you can set your child on a path to success from an early age. Are you ready to embark on this exciting language learning journey with your child? Remember, whether they start at 5 or 9, the key is to make the process enjoyable and rewarding. Stay enthusiastic, patient, and supportive, and watch as your child blossoms into a confident English speaker! I hope you find this article helpful. Whatever you decide remember learning English should always be fun. Toodaloo! If you found these tips helpful, don’t forget to register for my email list  to stay updated with more educational tips and advice. Check out my other posts for more insights and resources. Did you know that   I have published my own Handwriting Activity books ? You can check them out right here and of course you are welcome to ask me anything. Register in my email list so you never miss a new post from me. I promise I will send you things you will love!

As an educator, I know just how exciting (and a bit nerve-wracking) back-to-school season can be. It's not just about buying new bags and clothes; there’s so much more you can do to ensure your child is ready for a successful school year. Here are six essential activities to consider before school begins. Number six might surprise you! If you like these kind of posts register with my email list and never miss a post from me! #1 Revise Old Lessons: Revisit last year's lessons to give your child a head start. Spend some time going through old notes, textbooks, and assignments. This refreshes their memory and makes them feel more confident stepping into new subjects. If you need some help with grammar or writing in English check this post for my own handouts. #2 Prepare for Hard Topics: Identify subjects or topics that were particularly challenging last year. Spend extra time working on these areas. Whether it’s math problems or essay writing, a little extra practice can make a big difference. #3 Organize Handouts and Folders: Go through old handouts and files, and organize them into folders. This not only helps in keeping everything neat but also serves as a great reference throughout the year. Plus, it teaches your child the importance of staying organized. #4 Adjust to Early Wake-Up Calls: Start getting used to the school schedule by gradually adjusting wake-up times. Establish a routine that includes earlier bedtimes and wake-up calls. This helps make the transition smoother once school starts. #5 Get the Right Supplies : Beyond the basics like bags and clothes, make sure your child has all the necessary supplies for their lessons. Pencils, notebooks, art supplies, and even digital tools like a reliable laptop or tablet can make a huge difference in their learning experience. #6 Make a Bucket List: Create a bucket list of fun activities to do before school starts. It could be a trip to the park, baking cookies, or a family movie night. This ensures that your child has a memorable end to their vacation and is ready to jump back into the school routine. I know how hard it can be to get back to a routine after a summer full of exciting new things. Trust me when I tell you, preparation is the best thing you can provide your child with in order for them to feel confident in September. I hope you find these simple but important tips helpful. Here’s to a fantastic academic year ahead! Toodaloo! If you found these tips helpful, don’t forget to register for my email list to stay updated with more educational tips and advice. Check out my other posts for more insights and resources. Did you know that I have published my own Handwriting Activity books ? You can check them out right here and of course you are welcome to ask me anything. Register in my email list so you never miss a new post from me. I promise I will send you things you will love!

Ως εκπαιδευτικός, γνωρίζω πόσο συναρπαστική (και λίγο τρομακτική) μπορεί να είναι η επιστροφή στο σχολείο. Δεν είναι μόνο η αγορά νέων ρούχων και τσαντας. Υπάρχουν πολλά περισσότερα που μπορείτε να κάνετε για να διασφαλίσετε ότι το παιδί σας είναι έτοιμο για μια επιτυχημένη σχολική χρονιά . Ας δουμε μαζι έξι βασικους τρόπους που πρέπει να λάβετε υπόψη πριν την έναρξη του σχολείου. Η έκτη εισήγηση είμαι σίγουρη θα σας εκπλήξει . Αν σας αρέσ ουν αυτου του είδους άρθρα εγγραφείτε στην λιστα μου και μην χάσετε ποτέ άλλο άρθρο ξανά. #1 Αναθεωρήστε παλιά μαθήματα: Επισκεφτείτε ξανά τα περσινά σας μαθήματα για να δώσετε στο παιδί σας ένα προβάδισμα. Αφιερώστε λίγο χρόνο τον τελευταιο μηνα των διακοπων διαβάζοντας παλιές σημειώσεις, σχολικά βιβλία και εργασίες εστω και για 20 λεπτα την ημερα. Αυτό ανανεώνει τη μνήμη τους και τους κάνει να νιώθουν πιο σίγουροι όταν μαθαινουν νέα θέματα. Αν σας αρέσουν συμβουλές σαν αυτες και δωρεάν υλικό εγγραφείτε εδώ ! #2 Προετοιμασία για δύσκολα θέματα: Θυμηθείτε τα θέματα που ηταν ιδιαίτερα απαιτητικά πέρυσι. Αφιερώστε επιπλέον χρόνο δουλεύοντας σε αυτα. Είτε πρόκειται για προβλήματα μαθηματικών είτε για συγγραφή δοκιμίων, λίγη επιπλέον εξάσκηση μπορεί να κάνει μεγάλη διαφορά στην αυτοπεποιθηση του παιδιου. #3 Οργάνωση φυλλαδίων και φακέλων: Ανατρέξτε μαζι στα παλιά φυλλάδια και αρχεία του παιδιου και οργανώστε τα σε φακέλους. Αυτό όχι μόνο βοηθά στο να διατηρούνται τα πάντα τακτοποιημένα , αλλά επίσης χρησιμεύει ως μια εξαιρετική αναφορά καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια του έτους. Επιπλέον, διδάσκει στο παιδί σας τη σημασία του να μένει οργανωμένο. #4 Προσαρμογή στο πρωινο ξυπνημα: Αρχίστε να συνηθίζετε το σχολικό πρόγραμμα προσαρμόζοντας σταδιακά τις ώρες αφύπνισης. Καθιερώστε μια ρουτίνα που περιλαμβάνει νωρίτερα ωράρια ύπνου και ξυπνήματα. Αυτό βοηθά να γίνει η μετάβαση πιο ομαλή μόλις ξεκινήσει το σχολείο. #5 Αποκτήστε τις σωστες προμήθειες:   Πέρα από τα βασικά όπως τσάντες και ρούχα, βεβαιωθείτε ότι το παιδί σας έχει όλα τα απαραίτητα για τα μαθήματά του. Μολύβια, σημειωματάρια, προμήθειες τέχνης, ακόμα και ψηφιακά εργαλεία, όπως ένας αξιόπιστος φορητός υπολογιστής ή tablet, μπορούν να κάνουν τεράστια διαφορά στη μαθησιακή τους εμπειρία. #6 Δημιουργήστε μια λίστα επιθυμιων: Δημιουργήστε μια λίστα με διασκεδαστικές δραστηριότητες που θα θελατε σαν οικογενεια να κάνετε πριν την έναρξη του σχολείου. Θα μπορούσε να είναι μια βολτα στο πάρκο, ψήσιμο μπισκότων ή μια βραδιά οικογενειακής ταινίας. Αυτό διασφαλίζει ότι το παιδί σας θα έχει ένα αξέχαστο τέλος στις διακοπές του και είναι έτοιμο να ξαναμπεί στη σχολική ρουτίνα. Το ξερω πως μπορει να ειναι δυσκολη η επιστροφη στην ρουτινα, η καλη προετοιμασία ομως θα κανει μεγαλη διαφορα στην ψυχολογια του παιδιου και ακομα και στην δικη σας. Ελπιζω να σας βοηθησουν οι απλες συμβουλες μου στο αρθρο αυτο. Μέχρι την επόμενη φορά. Toodalloo! Εάν βρήκατε αυτές τις συμβουλές χρήσιμες, μην ξεχάσετε να εγγραφείτε στη λίστα email μου για να ενημερώνεστε με περισσότερες εκπαιδευτικές συμβουλές και συμβουλές. Ρίξτε μια ματιά στις άλλες αναρτήσεις μου για περισσότερες πληροφορίες και tips. Σας ευχομαι μια φανταστική ακαδημαϊκή χρονιά! Γνωρίζατε ότι έχω δημιουργήσει τα δικά μου βιβλία δραστηριοτήτων για παιδιά; Δείτε τα εδώ στο κατάστημά μου και μη διστάσετε να με ρωτήσετε οτιδήποτε. Αν σας άρεσε αυτή η ανάρτηση και δεν θέλετε να χάσετε άλλη δημοσίευση από εμένα, απλά εισάγετε το email σας στη λίστα μου   και θα είστε πάντα οι πρώτοι που θα λαμβάνετε μια νέα ανάρτηση γεμάτη ιδέες και συμβουλές για να μαθαίνετε Αγγλικά με πολλή διασκέδαση.

Once upon a time, in a beautiful field, lived a hard working ant and a carefree grasshopper. While the ant slowly and patiently prepared for the future, the grasshopper spent away his summer days. When winter arrived, the ant was well-prepared, while the grasshopper found itself struggling. The moral of the story? Consistent practice and preparation gives the best results. Just like the ant, your child can use this summer to enhance their English language skills, ensuring they are well-prepared for the upcoming school year. Here are four engaging ways to help your child practice English this summer, making learning fun and effective! Fun interactive online games First, consider incorporating English practice into your child's daily routine with interactive online games . Websites like Funbrain and TurtleDiary offer a variety of free online games designed to improve vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension. These games are structured to be educational yet entertaining , ensuring that your child remains engaged. By setting aside just 20 minutes a day for these activities, your child can significantly improve their English skills without even realizing they're learning. If you like this post so far don't forget to   register in my email list   so you never miss another new post or free resources from me. Screen time can be educational too! Another fantastic way to practice English is through watching educational TV shows . Shows like " WordGirl ," " Martha Speaks ," and " Reading Rainbow " combine entertainment with education, making them perfect for young learners. These programs introduce new vocabulary and concepts in a fun, relatable way. Encourage your child to watch an episode daily and discuss it with them afterward. Ask questions about the plot, characters, and new words they learned, turning a passive activity into an interactive learning experience. My Free Handouts just for you Additionally, you can make use of my free handouts  available on my website. These handouts cover various topics, including grammar exercises, reading comprehension passages, and creative writing prompts. Print them out and work through them together with your child. This not only helps in reinforcing their learning but also provides an opportunity for you to spend quality time together. Plus, the satisfaction of completing a handout can be a great confidence booster for your child. Find many more handouts here and don't forget to download this summer bucket list below. Practicing English outdoors! Lastly, take advantage of the beautiful weather and organize outdoor activities  that incorporate English practice. For example, you can go on a nature walk and create a scavenger hunt with clues written in English. Or, have a storytelling picnic where your child narrates a short story based on their surroundings. These activities encourage your child to use English in real-world contexts, making the learning process dynamic and enjoyable. And that is all! This summer, let’s channel our inner ant and make the most of these sunny days to boost your child's English proficiency. By integrating online games, educational TV shows, my free handouts, and outdoor activities into your routine, your child will be well-prepared for the next academic year. Don't let the grasshopper's fate be your child's! To stay updated with more tips, free resources, and exciting news, be sure to register for my email list. Together, we can make learning English a fun and enriching experience for your child. Happy summer learning! Toodaloo! Are you looking for more amazing resources for the summer? Check out these these posts in my blog with amazing free handouts and fantastic tips. Did you know that I have created my own Activity Books for children? It's the best workbook for practicing writing and getting ready for the new school year. Perfect for summer practice! Check them out here in my shop 👇 Don't forget to register in my email list  so you can get a notification every time I post a new post and free resources.

This year I set a new goal at the beginning of September to make learning more fun for all of my students. Now as this academic year is slowly coming to an end I realized how much of a difference this change has been for every one of my students, even for me. It has definitely been more fun but also less stressful of a year. Here are some of the things we did. Are you ready for a huge load of pictures? This post is full of visual information rather than words. So for my visual loving readers you are welcome. 😄 Before we start I would love to remind you that all these extra activities, crafts and games are part of a whole lesson. The biggest part of the lesson is usually spent going through our English-level-appropriate books. All these extra fun activities we are going to talk about today happen at the beginning or end of some (not all) of our lessons for 5 to 10 minutes. Having said that I hope you enjoy this new post. And don't forget to subscribe to my mailing list so you never miss a post from me again. Alphabet practice Let's begin from the basics. We have practiced Alphabet a few different ways these past years and they are all pretty fun to do. The kids always love hands on activities and anything that's similar to a game. Here are some of the more creative ways we practiced the Alphabet: pic.1 Tracing letters with water pic.2 Playdough letter shaping pic.3 Magnets letter recognition pic.4 Letter puzzle toys pic.5 Alphabet letter crafts pic.6 Alphabet ice cream matching (fun fact: I made these cute activities during the summer and ended up with a full busy book) pic.7 Alphabet tracing Vocabulary practice Many children luck the confidence to speak when we first start our lessons together. My goal is to make them feel comfortable and start talking English as soon as possible even if they make mistakes. That is why I start out with a vocabulary boost at the beginning of each year. I personally talk to my students (and even their parents) in English, I deliberately talk slowly and name everything I do or think. For example, I make a lot of fuss over my lost pens, which I happen to loose at the beginning of every single lesson 😜 pro tip: repetition is key to learn something new "Where is my pen? Oh no! I lost my pen! Have you seen my pen? It's blue. It was right here. Is it under the table? No... Is it under the chair? No... Oh! It's in my book. Here it is. In my book. My blue pen." Real life conversation I have by myself almost every other lesson. Do I look and sound silly doing it? Yes! Does this work as a great teaching method? Yes! So that is a simple way of how I introduce more vocabulary without lots of preparation in my lessons but here are some other ways I love using: Pic.8 Spelling game with magnets Pic.9 Spelling with blocks of letters Pic.10 Picture - letter matching (a fun way to connect the word with the picture and then the letter itself) Pic.11 Different ways of checking for dictation. Here we are using our class simple tablet to practice our vocabulary and later on check what my students remember Pic.12 We play a lot of of vocabulary games on the computer to make sure we remember our new vocabulary from the lesson of the day Pic.13 This fun handout is an example of vocabulary homework I usually ask my younger kids do at home. They will choose pictures of things that are blue, or start from the letter 'A', or things that you can find in a classroom, etc. This way when they come back the next time we talk about their pictures and practice the words. Pic.14 The holidays are always an inspiration for me for more fun activities. Here is the most fun search word Halloween activity you will ever see. My student is looking with his torch for Halloween related words to fill in his notebook and win a prize! Grammar practice As a teacher I am a strong believer of using English to teach English. What I mean with that is that I believe that by simply talking and reading in English, grammar will come to the students naturally. That does not mean that we don't practice Grammar though. We do and I try to always make it fun. Here are some of the different ways we practice grammar: Pic.15 This is one of my favourite ways to practice 'have got' and vocabulary as well. My students go crazy over this simple game and they even challenge each other who will do it the fastest. Pic.16 Find and match plural Pic.17 DIY flashcards for irregular verbs practice Pic.18 So many fun books to read and practice English. Reading is an amazing way to learn new vocabulary but also pick up grammar structures without a lot of effort. Pic.19 I have created four different board games in a hurry so far and I can only say that they are easy to make and so much fun to play! You can even try this at home, using grammar questions to help players move along. Pic.20 Another fun game that took quite of a preparation from my part. My students chose everything for their players (ears, lips, clothes, etc.) and then described them. Excellent way to practice 'have got'. These were some of the many fun and amazing ways we have enriched our lesson throughout this year. I always do my best in each and every lesson so that my students can enjoy learning English. It's also been a blessing to have such great students and lovely parents to work with. But remember learning should always be fun and children should enjoy spending time with their teachers. Learning should come easily and stress free. That's all from me! I hope you liked this post as much as I did creating it. If you don't want to miss another post from me register in my email list. I promise I will only send you things you will absolutely love. I will see you at the next one. Toodaloo!!! If you liked this post you might also like this one: Did you know that I have published my own Handwriting Activity books? You can check them out right here and of course you are welcome to ask me anything. Register in my email list so you never miss a new post from me. I promise I will send you things you will love!

How to practice your English in five easy ways this Easter holiday Easter has always been a fun holiday for me while growing up. As a kid I would get super excited taking two whole weeks off from school. I couldn't wait for those 14 days of holiday to do something fun. I would look forward to going to church and of course eating all the delicious traditional food. Overall, it was a pretty awesome holiday to anticipate. As far as I know that is true for every child. I can help you make the best out of these 14 days of holiday and practice English with your children through play and fun. These five tips can give you some ideas how to practice English in your free holiday time, Easter and more. Register so you never miss any English Language Freebies from me.🐇 Tip #1 - Online Free Easter Games Did you know that games are the best way for a child to learn? Well why not combine English with games and practice the language easily and with fun? Here are some fun online free games you can play with your child A Super Mario inspired Bunny that hops into adventure https://www.primarygames.com/holidays/easter/games/rabbitrunadventure/ Easter Crossword Puzzle https://www.abcya.com/games/easter_crossword_puzzle Easter Word Search https://www.abcya.com/games/easter_word_search Make an Easter Egg https://www.abcya.com/games/make_an_easter_egg Tip #2 - Online Easter Resources Check out these fun worksheets and handouts online. They are separated in ages and levels of proficiency: for younger students https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/category/topics/easter for older students https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/study-break/magazine-zone/easter for all ages https://www.esolcourses.com/topics/easter.html Games are the best way for a child to learn! Combine English with games and practice the language easily and with fun. Tip #3 - Easter Videos Videos are the best way to capture a child's attention. Check out these Easter related videos for more English Language practice: Easter vocabulary practice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcIX7bUpfQY Easter Peppa pig video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrNI1m5jBC4 Easter HOP the movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLfdYlVZT3s If you like this post so far, you can register in my email list and you will never miss another new post from me. Don't worry I promise to send you only things you will love! for Easter crafts check out this post Tip #4 - Read some Easter jokes Have you ever read a joke in another language other than Greek? It's the best way to try and understand what a sentence really means. Not all jokes are a hit but most of them are funny and give you the chance to practice English. Here you can find all that and more Easter reading stories: Easter Jokes for kids https://parade.com/1165566/marynliles/easter-jokes/ Easter Riddles for kids https://www.playosmo.com/kids-learning/easter-riddles/ Easter Stories to Read for younger students https://www.storyberries.com/category/easter/ Easter Stories for older students https://www.readthetale.com/holiday-stories/easter-stories-for-kids If you are looking for more Free Printables check out my older post full of Easter crafts and poster to print and keep as your own. Tip #5 - Free Printable Looking for something to print and actually have in your hands? I've got you! Here are my very own Easter handouts that I use in class and they are all yours. I have included all of them in an Easter Activity Book as a bundle and made it easier for you to access. Don't forget to register so you never miss any other English Language Freebies. Enjoy and let me know if you liked them down in the comments. Easter Activity Book for younger learners 2. Easter handout for older students our very own Easter creations from our Easter party This Easter holiday use these ideas for your English Language Practice to up your level And that is all from me. I hope these ideas give you some inspiration this Easter holiday for more English Language Practice. Do you take some time during the holidays for practice? What are your family traditions about learning this Easter holiday? Let me know down the comments. If you are looking for more free handouts and resources I've got you covered. You can click the button below and it will direct you to an older Easter post. If you liked this post, register in my email list and never miss another post from me.  Have a fantastic Easter holiday and Easter day. I will see you in the next one. Toodeloo! 🐰 Did you know that I have created my own Reading and Activity book? It helps children practice grammar structures such as can and have got, as well as Body Vocabulary. It also has a great low price! Check it out in my shop: Register in my email list so you never miss a new post from me. I promise I will send you things you will love!

How to make sure that online learning will work for you and your child. Even if you are teacher these will be your ideal guide to become the best online teacher ever! Don't let online learning scare you anymore, go for it and skip all the driving back and forth. You can thank me later! Online learning has become increasingly popular since COVID. However, making it work effectively can be quite challenging for both teachers and students. Here are some tips for both parties on how to make online learning work. But first let me introduce you to my back story and tell you a bit about me. At the beginning of 2020 when the first lockdowns hit the world, I was pretty much lost as a teacher. I am embarrassed to say that it took me a while to figure everything out. Teaching online was different than teaching in person. Needless to say whatever I was doing was not working. Until one day I just tried something new, something different. I focused on games and interactive videos. I sat down and learned everything I could about the platforms I was using (such as ZOOM, Microsoft Teams, VIBER, etc.). And let me tell you it was life changing. I went from an average online teacher to the best teacher my kids had during that difficult times. I'm telling you mums were calling me, thanking me for making their kids look forward to our lessons! After online teaching was not a necessity anymore and we all went back to work I had my little baby and stopped teaching soon after. But that didn't stop mums that had experienced my work and by now knew how successful online learning could be to switch over from their traditional class learning to online learning with me! Without attempting to boast or praise my own self but I strongly believe that the work I put in during those two years is paying off in buckets now. And that's how it should be right? You only need the desire to learn and passion for what you do and you can become the best in your field. Now I feel more than qualified to help you make sure online learning is working for you! Even if you are a parent or a teacher, this list is for you! Read it, follow it and I promise it will help you a lot! Make sure to register in my email list so you never miss a post from me again. And with that let's get to it! Tip #1 - Make it fun Learning English should never be boring. I have been saying this for years now. On the contrary, when learning English kids should have fun, that's the only way to make anything stick. Make it fun and they will remember it. Make sure the teacher you choose to teach your child online is as playful and goofy as they get! Trust me. Talking loudly, making faces and telling jokes is the only way to keep a kid's attention on the screen for a whole hour. It takes a lot out of us, as teachers, it can become really tiring but that's why we get well paid. Bonus Tip: Kids love to look at themselves on the screen. So make sure when they are joining you online through ZOOM, to enable the setting camera view and have everyone look at everyone, even when you share your screen. Tip #2 - Use online resources Don't just stick to the books you are teaching. As a teacher you can choose to slow down and incorporate more online games and videos to your teaching. The children are already sitting in front of the computer so use it in your advantage. Download apps on your pc and use them. I always download the Tech it Easy apps and the I like Junior apps even when I'm not using the books. And for God's sake please learn how to use your online teaching platform. ZOOM is free, download it and learn how to use it. It's easy, I promise you will love it. The children are already sitting in front of the computer so use it in your advantage. Bonus Tip: This one is for the teachers. If possible have two cameras on you. You might connect from your mobile as well, not just your laptop. I guarantee that it will make a huge difference. Now children can not only see your face but your body movements as well. It's key for teaching younger ages. Tip #3 - Feedback is key Try to keep communication between teacher and parent as regular as possible. It does wonder to the child's progress when these two parties just get on the same page. Even if it as simple as letting the parent now how they did that day or as big as behavioral issues. Parents should always know as soon as possible as they are the only ones who can do something about it. Personally I have always informed the parents weekly such as he is doing great or she needs to be more focused and every three times I give them a big review, such as things that still need work and things that have been accomplished so far. Parents please take this as an opportunity to make sure learning is going as best as it can go. Even if the teacher tells you something you might not like, they will also possibly (they should actually) give you a solution too. So listen to your teachers and always ask for feedback. Tip #4 - Set goals Don't let the word 'online' before learning fool you! This is still learning and as such it should have clear goals and expectations set by the teacher and the parent. An example could be a final exam at the end of the year or a speaking goal for a trip. Whatever the big or small goals student should have, a teacher should always have a rough schedule of when each unit from the book should end. Make a schedule and try to stick to it. Now if you can't do everything in your curriculum as long as your student is learning and progressing that is fine. And remember to always leave 8 to 12 lessons at the end for exam preparation. Tip #5 - Have a designated room This is the last but in my opinion the most important tip in my list. There should be a designated room for online learning even that is a whole room or a spot in a room, you should have it. During the lockdown and the early online learning I learned pretty quickly that if just one student's mum was trying to cook somewhere in the background we would all just tune in to hear her mixing and clunking her pots. No one was paying attention to the teacher, not even the teacher herself. 😂 Too much noise can make a lesson impossible, so please for the good of the students but also for the sanity of the teachers keep the online learning in a quite room with all the gadgets the student might need. That's all folks! That's all you need to keep in mind as a parent or a teacher to make online learning successful. Remember online learning can be used anytime anywhere as long as the teacher is passionate enough to pull it off and the parents are collaborating with them successfully. Don't let online learning scare you anymore, go for it and skip all the driving back and forth. You can thank me later! Don't forget to register in my email list so you never miss a post from me. It's totally free an I will only send you things you will love, I promise! I will see you again in the next one. Toddalloo! If you liked this post you might also like this one: Did you know that I have published my own Handwriting Activity books? You can check them out right here and of course you are welcome to ask me anything! Register in my email list so you never miss a new post from me. I promise I will send you things you will love!

Πώς να βεβαιωθείτε ότι η ηλεκτρονική μάθηση θα λειτουργήσει για εσάς και το παιδί σας.Ακόμα και αν είστε δάσκαλος αυτές οι συμβουλες θα είναι ο ιδανικός οδηγός για να γίνετε ο καλύτερος διαδικτυακός δάσκαλος που υπήρξε ποτέ! Μην αφήσετε τη διαδικτυακή μάθηση να σας φοβίζει πια, προχωρήστε σε αυτήν και παρακάμψτε όλη την οδήγηση μπρος-πίσω. Θα με ευχαριστείτε αργότερα! Η διαδικτυακή μάθηση έγινε ιδιαίτερα δημοφιλής μετά το COVID. Ωστόσο, η αποτελεσματικότητά της μπορεί να αποτελεί πρόκληση τόσο για τους εκπαιδευτικούς όσο και για τους μαθητές. Παρακάτω ακολουθούν ορισμένες συμβουλές σχετικά με το πώς μπορεί να λειτουργήσει η διαδικτυακή μάθηση. Αλλά πρώτα επιτρέψτε μου να σας πω δυο λογια για μένα και να σας περιγράψω λίγο την ιστορία μου. Στις αρχές του 2020, όταν το πρώτα lockdowns εμφανίστηκαν στον κόσμο, ήμουν λίγο πολύ χαμένη εκπαιδευτικός. Ντρέπομαι να πω ότι μου πήρε λίγο χρόνο να καταλάβω πως λειτουργει αυτη η διαφορετικη προσεγγιση προς την εκπαιδευση. Η διαδικτυακή διδασκαλία ήταν διαφορετική από την προσωπική διδασκαλία. Περιττό να πω ότι ό,τι κι αν έκανα δεν λειτουργούσε. Μέχρι που μια μέρα δοκίμασα κάτι καινούργιο, κάτι διαφορετικό. Επικεντρώθηκα σε παιχνίδια και διαδραστικά βίντεο. Κάθισα και έμαθα ό,τι μπορούσα για τις πλατφόρμες που χρησιμοποιούσα (όπως το ZOOM, το Microsoft Teams, το VIBER κ.λπ.). Και θα πρέπει να σας πω ότι αυτό άλλαξε τη ζωή μου. Από μια μέτρια διαδικτυακή δασκάλα μετατράπηκα στην καλύτερη δασκάλα που είχαν τα παιδιά μου σε εκείνες τις δύσκολες στιγμές. Σας λέω ότι οι μαμάδες μου τηλεφωνούσαν και με ευχαριστούσαν που έκανα τα παιδιά τους να ανυπομονούν για τα μαθήματά μας! Όταν η διαδικτυακή διδασκαλία δεν ήταν πλέον απαραίτητη και επιστρέψαμε όλοι στη δουλειά, γέννησα το μωράκι μου και σταμάτησα να διδάσκω σχεδόν αμέσως μετά. Αυτό ωστόσο δεν εμπόδισε τις μαμάδες που γνώριζαν τη δουλειά μου και ήξεραν πόσο επιτυχημένη μπορεί να είναι η διαδικτυακή μάθηση να μεταφερθούν από την παραδοσιακή τους μάθηση στην τάξη στην διαδικτυακή μάθηση μαζί μου! Χωρίς να θέλω να είμαι υπερόπτης ή αλαζόνας, πιστεύω ότι η δουλειά που έκανα κατά τη διάρκεια αυτών των δύο ετών ανταμείβεται τώρα. Και έτσι θα πρέπει να γίνεται, σωστά; Το μόνο που χρειάζεται είναι η επιθυμία να μάθεις και το πάθος για αυτό που κάνεις και μπορείς να γίνεις ο καλύτερος στον τομέα σου. Τώρα αισθάνομαι παραπάνω από κατάλληλη για να σας βοηθήσω να σιγουρευτείτε και εσεις ότι η διαδικτυακή μάθηση λειτουργεί για εσάς! Ακόμη και αν είστε γονέας ή δάσκαλος, αυτή η λίστα είναι για εσάς! Διαβάστε την, ακολουθήστε την και σας υπόσχομαι ότι θα σας βοηθήσει πολύ! Βεβαιωθείτε ότι θα εγγραφείτε στη λίστα με τα email μου, ώστε να μην χάσετε ποτέ ξανά κάποια ανάρτησή μου. Και με αυτά ας ξεκινήσουμε! Tip #1 - Κάντε το διασκεδαστικό Η εκμάθηση της Αγγλικής γλώσσας δεν πρέπει ποτέ να είναι βαρετή. Το λέω αυτό εδώ και χρόνια. Αντιθέτως, όταν μαθαίνουν Αγγλικά τα παιδιά πρέπει να διασκεδάζουν, αυτός είναι ο μόνος τρόπος για να κολλήσει κάτι. Κάντε το διασκεδαστικό και θα το θυμούνται. Βεβαιωθείτε ότι ο δάσκαλος που θα επιλέξετε για να διδάξει το παιδί σας στο διαδίκτυο είναι όσο διασκεδαστικός και χαζουλης γίνεται! Πιστέψτε με. Το να μιλάτε δυνατά, να κάνετε γκριμάτσες και να λέτε αστεία είναι ο μόνος τρόπος για να κρατήσετε την προσοχή ενός παιδιού στην οθόνη για μια ολόκληρη ώρα. Μας καταβάλλει πολύ, εμάς τους δασκάλους. Μαλιστα μπορεί να γίνει πραγματικά κουραστικό, αλλά γι' αυτό άλλωστε πληρωνόμαστε και καλά. Bonus Tip: Τα παιδιά λατρεύουν να βλέπουν τον εαυτό τους στην οθόνη. Γι' αυτό βεβαιωθείτε ότι, όταν σας συνδέονται online μέσω του ZOOM, να ενεργοποιείτε τη ρύθμιση προβολή κάμερας για να μπορούν όλοι να βλέπουν τον κάθε χρήστη, ακόμη και όταν κοινοποιείτε την οθόνη σας. Tip #2 - Χρήση διαδικτυακών πόρων Μην κολλάτε μόνο στα βιβλία που διδάσκετε. Ως δάσκαλος μπορείτε να επιλέξετε να ρίξετε τους ρυθμούς και να ενσωματώσετε περισσότερα διαδικτυακά παιχνίδια και βίντεο στη διδασκαλία σας. Τα παιδιά κάθονται ήδη μπροστά στον υπολογιστή, οπότε χρησιμοποιήστε το προς όφελός σας. Κατεβάστε εφαρμογές στον υπολογιστή σας και χρησιμοποιήστε τις. Κατεβάζω πάντα τις εφαρμογές Tech it Easy και I like Junior ακόμα και όταν δεν χρησιμοποιώ τα βιβλία της συγκεκριμένης εταιρειας. Και προς Θεού, μάθετε να χειρίζεστε αρκετα καλα τη διαδικτυακή πλατφόρμα διδασκαλίας σας. Το ZOOM είναι δωρεάν, κατεβάστε το και μάθετε πώς να το χρησιμοποιείτε. Είναι εύκολο και σας υπόσχομαι ότι θα το λατρέψετε. Τα παιδιά κάθονται ήδη μπροστά στον υπολογιστή, οπότε χρησιμοποιήστε το προς όφελός σας. Bonus Tip: Αυτό είναι για τους δασκάλους. Εάν είναι δυνατόν, να συνδεεστε με δύο κάμερες. Μπορείτε να συνδεθείτε και από το κινητό σας, όχι μόνο από τον φορητό σας υπολογιστή. Σας εγγυώμαι ότι αυτό θα κάνει τεράστια διαφορά. Τώρα τα παιδιά μπορούν να δουν όχι μόνο το πρόσωπό σας αλλά και τις κινήσεις του σώματός σας. Είναι βασικό για τη διδασκαλία ειδικα μικρότερων ηλικιών. Tip #3 - Η πληροφόρηση γονεων είναι κλειδί Προσπαθήστε να διατηρήσετε την επικοινωνία μεταξύ δασκάλου και γονέα όσο το δυνατόν πιο τακτική. Είναι εξαιρετικά σημαντικό για την πρόοδο του παιδιού όταν τα εμπλεκόμενα μέρη συμβαδίζουν στην ίδια γραμμή. Ακόμα και αν είναι τόσο απλό όσο το να ενημερώσετε τον γονέα για το πώς τα πήγε εκείνη την ημέρα ο μαθητης ή τόσο μεγάλο όσο θέματα κακης συμπεριφοράς. Οι γονείς πρέπει πάντα να γνωρίζουν το συντομότερο δυνατό, καθώς είναι οι μόνοι που μπορούν να κάνουν κάτι γι' αυτό. Προσωπικά πάντα ενημερώνω τους γονείς σε εβδομαδιαία βάση, όπως ότι τα πηγαίνει περίφημα ή ότι πρέπει να είναι πιο συγκεντρωμένος και κάθε τρεις μηνες τους παρέχω μια μεγάλη αξιολόγηση, όπως πράγματα που χρειάζονται ακόμα δουλειά και πράγματα που έχουν επιτευχθεί μέχρι στιγμής. Γονείς παρακαλώ εκμεταλλευτείτε το γεγονός αυτό ως ευκαιρία για να βεβαιωθείτε ότι η μάθηση πηγαίνει όσο το δυνατόν καλύτερα. Ακόμα και αν ο δάσκαλος σας πει κάτι που μπορεί να μη σας αρέσει, πιθανώς θα σας δώσει (θα πρέπει βασικά) και μια λύση. Ακούστε λοιπόν τους δασκάλους σας και ζητάτε πάντα τα σχόλια τους. Tip #4 - Θέστε στόχους Μην αφήνετε τη λέξη "online" να σας ξεγελάσει! Πρόκειται ακόμα για μάθηση και ως εκ τούτου θα πρέπει να υπάρχουν σαφείς στόχοι και προσδοκίες που έχουν τεθεί από τον δάσκαλο και τον γονέα. Ένα παράδειγμα θα μπορούσε να είναι ένα τελικό διαγώνισμα στο τέλος της χρονιάς ή ένας στόχος ομιλίας για ένα ταξίδι. Όποιοι και αν είναι οι μεγάλοι ή μικροί στόχοι που θα πρέπει να έχει ο μαθητής, ο δάσκαλος θα πρέπει πάντα να έχει ένα πρόχειρο πρόγραμμα για το πότε θα πρέπει να τελειώσει κάθε ενότητα από το βιβλίο για να το πετυχει αυτο.. Φτιάξτε ένα πρόγραμμα και προσπαθήστε να το τηρήσετε. Τώρα, αν δεν μπορείτε να κάνετε τα πάντα στο πρόγραμμα διδασκαλίας σας δεν πειράζει, αρκεί ο μαθητής σας να μαθαίνει και να προοδεύει. Και να θυμάστε να αφήνετε πάντα 8 έως 12 μαθήματα στο τέλος της χρονιας για την προετοιμασία των εξετάσεων. Tip #5 - Να έχετε καθορισμένο δωμάτιο Αυτή είναι η τελευταία αλλά κατά τη γνώμη μου η πιο σημαντική συμβουλή στη λίστα μου. Θα πρέπει να υπάρχει ένα καθορισμένο δωμάτιο για τη διαδικτυακή μάθηση, ακόμη και αν αυτό είναι ένα ολόκληρο δωμάτιο ή ένα σημείο σε ένα δωμάτιο, θα πρέπει να το έχετε. Κατά τη διάρκεια των lockdown και της αρχικής διαδικτυακής μάθησης έμαθα πολύ γρήγορα ότι αν έστω και μια μαμά ενός μαθητή προσπαθούσε να μαγειρέψει κάπου στο παρασκήνιο, όλοι θα είχαμε συγκεντρωθεί για να την ακούσουμε να ανακατεύει και να χτυπάει τις κατσαρόλες της. Κανείς δεν έδινε σημασία στη δασκάλα, ούτε καν η ίδια η δασκάλα. 😂 Ο πολύς θόρυβος μπορεί να κάνει το μάθημα αδύνατο, γι' αυτό για το καλό των μαθητών, αλλά και για τη ψυχική υγεία των καθηγητών, φροντίστε η διαδικτυακή μάθηση να γίνεται σε ένα ήσυχο δωμάτιο με όλες τις συσκευές που μπορεί να χρειαστεί ο μαθητής. Αυτό ήταν όλα, φίλοι μου! Αυτά είναι όλα όσα πρέπει να έχετε κατά νου ως γονέας ή δάσκαλος για να κάνετε την ηλεκτρονική μάθηση επιτυχημένη. Να θυμάστε ότι η διαδικτυακή μάθηση μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί οποτεδήποτε και οπουδήποτε, αρκεί ο δάσκαλος να είναι αρκετά παθιασμένος για να το καταφέρει και οι γονείς να συνεργάζονται μαζί του με επιτυχία. Μην αφήσετε τη διαδικτυακή μάθηση να σας φοβίζει πια, δοκιμάστε την και αφήστε πισω σας όλη αυτη την κίνηση με το αυτοκίνητο. Θα με ευχαριστείτε αργότερα! Μην ξεχάσετε να εγγραφείτε στη λίστα email μου, ώστε να μην χάσετε ποτέ μια ανάρτηση από μένα. Είναι εντελώς δωρεάν και θα σας στέλνω μόνο πράγματα που αγαπάτε, το υπόσχομαι! Θα σας ξαναδώ στο επόμενο. Toddalloo! Αν σας άρεσε αυτή η ανάρτηση μπορεί να σας αρέσει και αυτή: Γνωρίζετε ότι έχω κυκλοφορήσει τα δικά μου βιβλία Αγγλικης γραφής; Μπορείτε να τα δείτε εδώ και φυσικά είστε ευπρόσδεκτοι να με ρωτήσετε οτιδήποτε! Εγγραφείτε στη λίστα email μου για να μην χάσετε ποτέ νέα ανάρτηση από εμένα. Σας υπόσχομαι ότι θα σας στέλνω πράγματα που θα λατρέψετε!