Making ESL Learning Fun for Preschool Children

Making ESL Learning Fun for Preschool Children

The right ESL pre-k teaching tools can make learning easier and more fun. Take, for example, the research work of Dr. Howard Gardner who came up with the theory of multiple intelligences. This essentially rules out the idea that the best way for children to learn is by sitting at a table doing "desk work". Instead, Gardner pinpoints different "intelligences" which are essentially learning styles. Everyone has a specific intelligence (or a few specific intelligences) that defines how he or she learns best. This means that in order to reach all the children in a classroom, different learning methods must be made available to them. The multiple intelligences are

* Linguistic intelligence: Learning and using spoken and written language

* Logical-mathematical intelligence: Logically analysing problems, detecting patterns, reasoning.

* Musical intelligence: Performing, composing, and appreciating musical patterns.

* Bodily-kinaesthetic intelligence: Using the whole body or parts of the body to solve problems.

* Spatial intelligence: Recognizing patterns of wide space and confined areas.

* Interpersonal intelligence: Effectively working with others.

* Intrapersonal intelligence: Understanding self and feelings.

By using games and other activities in your classroom, you'll be able to create a class period that explores various intelligences and reaches a variety of children instead of just the linguistic learners.

Additionally, it's important to remember that preschoolers simply learn best through play. Just think about how preschoolers learn to count. They may count how many cars they have lined up or how many blocks they've stacked.

Here is an example of how to transform a mundane activity into an exciting game that stimulates the children's imagination and encourages better retention of vocabulary. Imagine you are teaching colours. Tell your children they are pirates who have lost their treasure overboard and they must dive down and retrieve it. Spread coloured objects or cards around the floor. Demonstrate by taking in a big breath, hold your breath and dive down and pick up one of the coloured objects, then come up for air and ask the children to name the colour, or you name it, depending on whether you are doing a speaking or listening activity. Then tell the children which colours to dive down and collect. You could make it even more dramatic by dimming the lights when the children dive down and turning them up when they surface. The children can then sort the different coloured treasure by stowing it safely in treasure chests (boxes or bags - one for each colour).

Any paediatrician will tell you that the best way to encourage a large vocabulary in your children is to read to them everyday. For young children learning English you need super simple stories, and in an ideal world, stories that reinforce the language and vocabulary you are teaching in class. You can access a free ESL preschool story with games in the resource box below the article.

As well as using games and stories you'll need to take into consideration a few other things:

* Preschool children have small attention spans so change your activities every five minutes or so because if they go longer than that, they'll start getting restless and you'll spend more time trying to keep their attention than actually doing the activity.

* Teach a small amount of language in any given session. For this age group, try to introduce three words at a time and then add to the list as you see the children understand the meaning of the words you've already introduced.

* Engage the children on multiple levels. This includes using fine and large motor movement, singing, talking, listening and looking. For example, you could have a game where the children need to move around the room to stand next to a picture or object of the word they heard you say.

* Competition in the preschool classroom causes undo stress on the children. Avoid playing games or doing activities that have winners and losers. Either have the class work together to "win" as a group or do not distinguish between winning and losing. On the same note, be sure to be supportive and encouraging to all of the learners in your class.

* Preschool children can get very excitable so vary excitable games with quiet ones to balance out the energy level in the classroom.

* Preschoolers are very visual. Bring in real objects whenever possible. When it is not possible, find colourful and vivid pictures.

* Preschooler children usually are not yet reading and writing (at least not to large extent) in their own language, so don't expect them to do it in a second language. At this age, you can expect them to listen and understand first. After a while, they will begin speaking individual words and short phrases.

* Themes work well in the preschool classroom. Focus your vocabulary learning on groups of similar types of words such as foods, colours, numbers, animals, families and body parts. You can work in short phrases that are relevant to your theme.

* Be well prepared, plan more than you think you will use and move seamlessly from one game or activity to another. Use colouring or similar quiet activities when the children need some downtime.

* Repeat, review and revise. You need to frequently review the vocabulary that you've previously taught them or they will quickly forget it.

* If you have a particularly naughty or rough student in the class, keep him or her close to you. Ask him or her to be your special helper and be sure to give a lot of praise when you see him or her behaving appropriately.

Above all, just remember what you liked to do in school. If you were bored, you probably didn't get much out of the class and the same is true for preschool and pre-k children. For free games and an illustrated story written for ESL preschoolers, visit the link in the box below the article. Help them have fun and before they know it, they'll be learning!

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How To Choose a Preschool

How To Choose a Preschool

Choosing a preschool for your child requires knowing what you want in a preschool and then asking questions to see if the schools in your town match what you are looking for.

There are many philosophies on working with toddlers. Some programs offer academic curriculums and some don’t. Some offer a pre reading program and some don’t. Some offer a lot of social opportunities and some don’t.

So what questions can you ask to see if the program offered is a match for you?

Let’s start with the hours of the school. Some schools open as early as 7:00 a.m. for before school care and some school open at 9:00 a.m. when the preschool day begins. If you need to be at work at 8:00 a.m. then you’ll first need to narrow your choices to those schools that offer before school care.

It is my suggestion that you visit the school without your child. Speak to the director of the school and ask what the best time of day is to visit. You’ll learn more by visiting during indoor time versus outdoor time.

Most schools have a rough time schedule of what the kids do while at school. Does this time table fit what you hoped to have for your child? My children went to two different schools. My older daughter needed more structure. At the school she went to, the kids moved from class to class. One class was manipulatives such as puzzles, while another room had dress up clothes and yet another room held art supplies. Finally, the last room was what I called the academic room. You could find letters and numbers and books in this room. This system worked wonderfully for her.

My other daughter went to a school where academics were non existent, but socialization was constant. This very much fit the child she was and met both her needs and my needs.

So, it’s very possible to find a good school with a great program, but have it not be the right fit for your child.

I also suggest meeting with a kindergarten teacher when making your choice to find out what the kindergarten teacher at YOUR school hopes to see when your child enters the kindergarten classroom on day one.

Here are some questions you can ask when visiting:

1. Do you teach reading and writing at all? Please remember, there is not a right or wrong answer. You, as a parent need to know whether this is important to you. As I mentioned, for one of my daughters it was quite important and for the other child, it was not at all on my list of what was important.

2. What is the adult/child ratio the school tries to maintain? Every state dictates what the state requires, but all schools have their own set of guidelines within the state system. My older daughter was in a school that did not use teacher’s aides. However they kept the classes small. My younger daughter was in a school that utilized teacher’s aides and so the ratio was very small like 3:1, even though the state allowed a much higher ratio. With more children in the class, there is also more opportunity for playmates.

3. What is the sick child policy? Every school has a different sick child policy. As a mom, I did not want my kids around sick kids all the time. On the other hand, I knew if my child had a runny nose, I’d probably be called to come pick her up.

4. How often are new toys bought and how often are old toys thrown out? This was important to me, both because of safety but also the longer a toy is in circulation the more germs live on it. At some point, the dirt just doesn’t wash off anymore. Also, times change and new toys come out on the market. In addition, when dealing with items like puzzles, pieces will disappear. I wanted my child to be able to complete the puzzle, not have one piece missing.

5. What is the communication system between the school and the parent? Some schools send home a monthly calendar of the upcoming month, while some schools send out a letter on Friday that sums up the week in review. Most schools have conferences. Moms like to hear how wonderful their preschooler is. If the school detects what they believe might be a problem such as hearing, speech, sight, or even a behavioral problem, what is their method of informing you?

6. How are the children separated? Is it by age? Are there multiage classrooms? Does the system this school uses for developing classes meet your needs and the needs of your child? Every child is different. My older daughter did best with kids her own age. My younger daughter did great with kids of many ages.

7. What are the food rules at this school? Do children bring their own lunch? Are snacks served? Is the school peanut free? Some preschools choose to be peanut free to accommodate children who have peanut allergies. Are hot lunches served? If so, ask for a month long menu to see what foods are offered.

Without your child, it’s important for you to observe a class. Do the children interact with each other and with the adults? Do the children play both alone and with others? Are you seeing activities and toys that allow the child to be unique and creative? Or is every child told to make the same color flower? Children are children. If you see two kids argue, how does the teacher solve the problem? How large are the classrooms? Is there enough space for different children to be playing with different items? For example is there space for two girls to play dress up while two boys build a train track? Where are the bathrooms in relation to the classroom?

Plan to visit the school during drop off time. Are kids eagerly running to their classrooms or are most kids unhappy to be there?
If you feel the school matches what you want, ask if you can bring your child for one day. Most schools will allow a test day. If your child is happy, you’ve just found the right school to enroll your child in.

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Preschool Spanish

Preschool Spanish

Why an EarlyAGE 2nd Language?

Research indicates that from ages 1 through 8 is the best time to introduce a new language to a child. If the 2nd language is introduced early in life children will learn it faster and retain it longer. Being exposed to a 2nd language offers numerous benefits to young children including an improved ability to communicate, better cognitive development, richer cultural awareness, improved academic performance, superior educational opportunities and, ultimately, better jobs. The earlier a child is exposed to a 2nd language the more likely they will speak it with native pronunciation. One recent study found that bilingual children learn to read sooner than their single language counterparts, have increased creative skills and become proficient problem solvers. Another study indicated that bilingual children also performed better on math and verbal sections of standardized tests than single language children. Perhaps these are just a few of the reasons that teaching Spanish is becoming popular in many childcare centers and preschools.

Why Spanish?

Spanish is the most widely requested 2nd language for the following reasons:

· Over 27 million homes in the United States have Spanish as their 1st language

· There are over 42 million Hispanic people living in the United States

· Many companies are seeking bilingual (English/Spanish) employees

· Learning Spanish allows communication with over 300 million people worldwide

· Spanish is closely related to the English language and is relatively easy to learn

How to Get Started?

Here are two excellent contacts for preschool Spanish education:

· www.bocabeth.com A great source for colorful flashcards, CD’s, DVD’s and more methods to introduce the preschooler to Spanish.

· www.spanishfun.net A Franchisor providing EarlyAGE 2nd language activities introducing preschoolers to Spanish basics including numbers, colors and everyday words.

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Deciding On Home School Preschool

Deciding On Home School Preschool

The decision of whether or not to send a child to preschool is a personal choice largely dependent on adequate and affordable programs in a particular area. While some areas provide district funded programs designed to prepare children for kindergarten, others offer only private preschool programs that come at a price. However, there is also the option of home school preschool that allows parents to prepare their children for kindergarten while controlling the environment and method of teaching.

The most important goal of preschool is to prepare young children for the school experience. With guidance, parents can successfully deliver these most important lessons through a home school preschool program. So while public preschool programs may be overcrowded or nonexistent, and private preschool may prove cost-prohibitive, home school preschool can offer benefits equal, if not superior, to both.

Further, for very young children who have yet to leave home without their parents, a preschool program out of the home may be extremely overwhelming. This is the age in which to foster confidence and a love of learning; as such, this first school experience is incredibly important. It may be better to introduce school lessons in an environment in which children are comfortable and nurtured. And a home school preschool can offer just that.

Luckily, there are a variety of home school preschool programs specifically designed by professional educators experienced in elementary education. These programs can be found online and include detailed lesson plans that will educate and invigorate young children through play-based learning. Parents who choose to embark upon a home school preschool program need not worry that they are not qualified to teach. These pre-planned home school preschool programs will walk you through the educational process with ease and confidence. And ultimately, your child will flourish with your care and support.

Keep in mind that a home school preschool program does not necessarily mean a long-term commitment to home schooling. You may want to begin with a home school preschool program and then transition your child to a public or private traditional school environment. Or, you may find that you sincerely enjoy the home schooling process and choose to continue. Either way, it is most important that you address your child’s individual needs in determining an educational path. With love, support, and dedication, you will foster a love of learning sure to follow your child for a lifetime.

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Free Preschool Games - Teaching Letters And Numbers

Free Preschool Games - Teaching Letters And Numbers

Here are some fun and free preschool games to teach your preschooler their letters and numbers.

Free Educational Games

1. Alphabet scrapbook

Make an alphabet scrapbook using cut outs from an old magazine, catalogues or by taking print out of letters from the internet.

Have a page dedicated to each letter - stick letters, things that begin with that letter sound and encourage your preschooler in this craft activity.

You don't have to do it all in a day. Let this be an ongoing exercise which can go on for a few weeks.

Let your kid save their artwork and enjoy the creation.

2. Labelling the household items

This is another of a free preschool games which can be quite fun. Weather its just few letters that your little one keeps forgetting or you are looking to teach all the 26 letters.

Label the household items by writing their names on a sticker and sticking them on these items. Start from any corner of the house, you can even begin by having entry and exit signs throughout the house. Label chairs, table, almost any thing you can think of. Kids will get familiarised with the letters slowly by seeing them all around them.

This can be a great game even to teach some numbers to your little one.

If its a chest of drawers, you can number up the drawers, not necessarily number one onwards. If you are looking to teach say 11-20, begin numbering the drawers with 11 onwards. And just use the number for that particular drawer while talking to your child and he is sure to catch up.

3. Alphabet or Number of the day

Have a letter of the day or week. Begin with a cut-out of the letter hanging at some fixed place in the house. Make it a small exercise to find some objects in the house that begin with that letter. Point out as many objects as possible that begin with that letter.
Do the same and have a number of the day, count objects in any place you are.

Free educational games like these can be played almost anywhere anytime.

Watch your preschooler start picking up his letters and numbers by playing such fun and free preschool games.

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Great Preschool Game Ideas

Great Preschool Game Ideas

These Preschool game ideas are sure to make your kids jump for joy and have a jolly good time.

Hunt the Ring

For this game a long piece of string is required.
On this a ring is threaded, and the ends of the string are knotted together.
The players then take the string in their hands and form a circle, whilst one of the company, who is called the "hunter," stands in the center.
The string must be passed rapidly round and round, and the players must try to prevent the "hunter" finding out who holds the ring.
As soon as he has done this, he takes his place in the circle, whilst the person who held the ring becomes the "hunter."

Hot Tamales

The "tamale" in this game is a knotted handkerchief.
One player is chosen for the Hot Tamale man and stands in the center of the room while the others sit around in a circle.
The Hot Tamale man begins the game by saying, "hot tamales, hot tamales," at the same time throwing the hot tamale to some one in the circle who must throw it to another player in the circle and so on, tossing it from one to another without stopping.
The Hot Tamale man tries to catch it and if he succeeds, the one who last tossed it changes places with him and the game continues.

Frog in the Middle

One child is seated on the ground with his legs under him and the other players form a ring round him.
They then pull him about and give him little pushes, and he must try and catch one without rising from the floor.
The child who is caught takes the middle, and the frog joins the circle.

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Free Online Preschool Games

Free Online Preschool Games

Tell Me About Free Online Preschool Games

If you are wondering about free online preschool games, you came to the right place. What are the advantages you may ask? The first advantage is that it gives you a child a headstart on what he/she will face in school soon. It also gives them extra practice in learning basil reading skills such as sounds and recognition of letters that they will definitely need as a base to learn how to read and how to read well. The best thing to do when starting these free online preschool games with your preschooler, is to actually take the time and sit down with them and go through the programs with them. They will love the attention and the fact that you took the time to show them, even if you can't tell this by their reaction. They will be so excited about the game, but they will remember who showed them the games and come to you for help.

Good Time Together With Preschool Games

Just as with our parents and grandparents in the past, time spells love. Today, that is still true. The forms of activity may be totally computerized, but the principle is the same. My teenager still wants me to play Guitar Hero and X-box with him, even though he is in college. This starts in preschool, now for you. Children want you to know what they are doing and why they are doing it. How can you help them with a online game, if you don't know how to play the game yourself? It only takes a few moments. Take the time, learn the game, and enjoy watching the lightbulb come on in your child's mind and heart towards learning and towards you at the same time.

Internet Safety

Be careful and monitor often what your child is looking at on the preschool website. They click a lot of buttons and could wind up in a potentially hazardous-to-their -eyes-site. Check on them about every 15 minutes or more, just to be sure they are still on the free online preschool game site. You won't regret it and you can see their progress in the game at the same time! They will want to show you! Be there! Be there for them! This time is precious and only comes once - just once.


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