Hello and welcome. My name is Renee and together we'll be exploring the topic of
resources.
Many teachers tell me they're overwhelmed by the amount of available resources and
just don't know where to begin. They explain that they are too busy getting
through the work and too tired to make their own.
Maybe this sounds familiar.
It reminds me of Covey's story. A woodcutter was struggling to saw down a
tree when a passing man suggested perhaps he should sharpen his saw.
The woodcutter explained that he had been sawing for hours and certainly did not
have time to take a break and sharpen his saw.
In this video I'll share three essential resources with you and some ideas on how
to use them to help you sharpen your toolkit.
And at the end watch out for my top tip.
A good portfolio may take some time to build so don't rush it. It may involve
some trial and error.
These invaluable essentials are a good place to start. All have multiple uses and
are appropriate for any age and level.
Firstly, a collection of pictures. Find these in magazines, on the internet, use
your own photos or postcards, or even ask your students to bring in their
favourites.
Show your students about five pictures, one at a time. Ask them to work alone and
create a caption for each picture. Give them a minute or two to think and write
before showing them the next picture. Then get them to share their captions with each
other in small groups. They should discuss them and choose which is the most fitting
and why. Finally, get each group to present their best ones to the class.
For lower levels, students can work in pairs to help each other and then share
with another pair. It's an enjoyable activity, especially when the pictures are
unusual or funny. But most importantly it allows students to get creative and
practise explaining, persuading and defending their choices.
Divide your students into pairs. Give one student a picture and the other blank
paper. The student with the picture should describe it, and the other draw what's
being described. Get your students sitting back to back so they can't peep or use
hand gestures rather than words. They'll practise giving clear instructions and
listening.
This is a great activity for getting more out of the pictures you've already used.
Give your students a picture and ask them to decide what happened before that led up
to it. They can do this individually or in pairs. Their task is to write the
backstory. Put all the stories up so they can compare the different paths life can
take us and enjoy each other's stories. To extend the task they can then create
titles for each other's stories or create a follow-up question.
Secondly, small pieces of paper are invaluable for vocabulary games, questions
for a class mingle, board games, quizzes, matching, arranging, etc.
For example, use them to practise linking words and help your students understand
how these can help us organise our thoughts. Choose linkers appropriate to
their level, for example firstly, although, therefore, finally, etc.,
and stick them around the room. Divide your students into pairs. Let each pair
choose a simple topic. The pairs should walk around stopping at each linker and
using it to add a new idea on their topic.
Get the students to create their own board game with Post-it notes. Give each
students in a group three Post-its. Get them to write something important to them
on each of their Post-it notes, one or two words, for example a book or a
skateboard. Arrange all their Post-its randomly into the shape of an S adding a
start and a finish to each end.
Add some extra Post-its with board game language like 'Miss a turn.' or 'Go back
one space.'
Students put their counters at the start and take turns rolling the dice. When they
land on a square, they guess who it belongs to and why they chose that object. If
correct, they roll the dice again. If not, they stay on the square. This is good for
building class cohesion. For lower levels the students can put numbers that mean
something to them. First, model this by showing them three numbers of your own.
Thirdly, dice. Of course, dice are used for board games, but how about using dice to
introduce a writing activity? Write three columns of words on your board. Choose
words you've taught recently. Number each column.
Divide your students into pairs or groups, and get them rolling their dice to
see which two words from each column they'll be using to write a story.
By adding this simple but fun twist you'll get them excited about writing.
So, to end, here is my top tip. Fill a glass jar with a collection of questions,
tasks and interesting facts to keep fast finishers engaged while the others are
still busy.