Books : Christmas #1

There are so many Christmas books out there to choose from but I have some favourites that I would like to share with you.

The first go to book each year is Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs.  The book is set up like a cartoon but it is nice to look at with a smaller group of kids and ask them to make up the story or just ask them what they can see.  You can tell them the story as you follow the cartoon strip like story but there isn't much text.

Don't be put off by the above!  It is really a great story and it is really a nice read.  The kids love it especially because Father Christmas isn't a big thing here so they don't know what he actually does.  This book shows a typical Christmas Eve/Day for Santa and a British look at the holiday.

There is also a second part to the story which is actually the prequel.  Father Christmas Goes on Holiday shows you what Santa does the rest of the year.  After all he has a lot of time to waste in between one Christmas and the next.

What I really like about both of these books is the style.  It may not be the best kind of book to read in a group/morning circle situation but it is nice to look at in a small group.  I also love that the pictures really tell the story and the kids know what is happening even if they don't understand the English.  Most books have great illustrations but they don't always tell the story well enough to look at the book without reading.  These two books do.

Another plus is that there is a film of both books (joined together into one piece) and the kids love watching them.  There is more language in the film and the story is changed around a little to make sure both books are fully shown.  If you are lucky you can find a copy of the film which also has The Snowman on it.  Another book/film by this author that is one of my favourites to watch with the kids and is from my childhood.

Books : Halloween #3

Halloween is getting closer and it may be too late to get hold of these books but you can check your local library for copies or make sure you have copies for next year.

Actually the next three books, all from the same author, can be read/used all year around.  They just fit into the Halloween theme and because the kids love them so much I would end up reading them everyday if I didn't associate them to Halloween.  Cheeky and crafty of me but anyone who has had to read the same book over and over again will admire my trickery!

Nick Sharratt was unknown to me until I came across a copy of his funny book 'Ketchup on Your Cornflakes'.  The style of the book was new to me but a huge hit.  Turn the bottom half of the page or the top half of the page to make funny combinations that get the kids talking.

So when I saw the author had more books on offer I picked up a couple and here are the three that you can use for Halloween.

The Foggy Foggy Forest is an easy to read book where the kids have to decide what the shadows are in the foggy forest.

First you have the silhouette and then the full colour picture.  However there are some twists and it may even be an Ogre doing Yoga....

The complicated English terms are easily translated by the children due to the lovely illustrations which means this book teaches some new English words without you having to do anything but read out loud.  Not a story book but still a great book to have in your teaching library.

I mentioned before that Nick Sharratt's 'Ketchup on Your Cornflakes' is a book made up of two halves.  Well A Cheese and Tomato Spider is in the same style.

This time around the spiders legs or head are mixed up with everyday items such as an ice-cream or as the title suggests, cheese and tomato.  Hilarious combinations that will make any kid laugh are hidden inside this well thought out book.  I can only admire the idea and hope that the author thinks up many more of these combination books because they are a huge hit!

The third and last book I want to recommend is What's in the Witch's Kitchen.  While some of the content may be a little harder for younger learners of the English language, the illustrations are so well done that you will find it easy to explain.

The fun thing about this book is the 'Magic Pictures'!  Open the fridge in one direction and there is one item but open the fridge in the other direction and you are in for a spooky surprise!

This is a must have for Halloween and another fun read from Nick Sharratt.  I haven't checked out all of his books yet but this is an author who goes out of his way to make learning funny and if you are teaching English to kids then you will know that humour always works!

Do you have any book recommendations?  Feel free to comment below and let me know!

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Books : Halloween #2

Halloween books may actually be my favourites.  It isn't the 1st of October yet but I am itching to get my trusty friends back out of the cupboard and start reading them to this years group of kids.

My first post about Halloween books was all about Winnie the Witch.  This time around there some more witches but also some creepy crawlies and something for the younger children.

The Witch's Children are three youngsters who haven't quite got the hang of their magic skills.  What starts off as a good deed ends up in chaos and the children have to ask for help to get everything fixed.

The book pictured is the first release and there are two more installments,The Witch's Children Go To School and The Witch's Children And The Queen.

Well written with wonderful illustrations, these books remind children who the most important person is and that they can always go to her for help.  Even if she is a witch! ;)

Next up, Aaaaarrgghh! Spider!

This is a favourite of mine even though I hate spiders.  The story is so funny and the kids always love it and ask it to be read again and again.

If you read this one right, with some drama and loudness, you will get some great reactions from the children.

But beware!  Every time I read this one there is a sudden rise in the spider population in work but all the children start screaming Aaaaarrgghh! Spider! Out! You! Go! and it makes it all worth while ;)

Make sure you check out some other books by this author.  She has some really nice ones out there and each book so far has always been a hit.  I am still collecting but I can highly recommend What the Ladybird Heard as well as The Princess and the Wizard.

Spot is a classic and I remember reading his books when I was young.  They are simple and are over quickly but younger children will really appreciate the pace.

Spot's Halloween has the basics and won't scare your kids.  It is also good for the older Kindergarten age to go over what they already should know in terms of Halloween vocab.

A definite must have for teaching Halloween, counting and much more.  Spot comes in all shapes and sizes and there are also books focusing on Easter and Christmas.  Good books to have in your collection for every festivity.

Do you have any book recommendations?  Feel free to comment below and let me know!

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Teaching Colours #1

Colours is one of the first subjects I teach a new bunch of kids.  It doesn't matter how young or old they are, it is always good to go back over the basics.   Making the subject interesting for the children will get them even more interested and there is more to teaching colours than just singing about a rainbow!

Kids pick up the names of the main colours pretty quickly but why not show them a little bit more?  Teach them some science!  Have some fun! Over the years I have done various colour projects and/or Morning Circles.  This post shows various activities and ideas you can use to be colourful and creative!

Meet Oliver Orange and his friends (you can use any names you want). They came along to Kindergarten and got to know the kids. Oliver asked the children where they have seen the colour orange before.  The other colourful friends also ask about their colours.  This can be a long conversation with the group if you have chatty kids so make sure you plan enough time.

This activity encouraged the children to think about items they see in everyday life.  It is interesting to see what they come up with!  I also used my flash cards in various ways.  For example the children had to match them to the correct Colourful Friend (make them repeat the colours, words, names out loud) and got a little exercise at the same time.  The activity will last longer if your kids get a bit of movement now and again.  Even if it is just getting up and placing a flashcard on the floor.

You can get all the Colourful Friends involved in the morning circle and depending on your activity for the Morning Circle they can even lend you a hand ;)  Let one of the colours tell a story/read a book.  Hide your coloured friends around the group and get the kids to look for them.  Also get the children to find items in the room with the same colour.  This is a great way to observe what the kids have really understood.

My Colourful Friends also had a rainbow house to live in.  Let the kids get involved by helping you make the house.  It's a simple craft project but the kids loved it.   We made the house out of a cardboard box and lots and lots of coloured paper squares but let your imagine run wild and come up with your own special house.   All the colours sleep in the house which made it easy to take the house with me to the other group that I was teaching.

One of the things you really need to show the kids when you are working with colours is how they mix to make other colours.  I usually make a colour wheel with them.  Just draw the circle (as big or small as you like) and divide it into six pieces.  Have the kids colour in a blue area, a red area and a yellow area.  Make sure they leave a space between each colour.

Then let them mix the colours together.  Red and Yellow is orange.  Talk to them about it.  Get them to repeat everything.  This is especially important for kids who are going to school soon.

There are some great books you can use to help teach colours and my go to book is Mouse Paint.  Three mice manage to get their paws on some paints.  What happens next is just fun and educational.  You can even look on the internet for some great activites to use with the book.

Mouse Paint is a great book and I have used it in many activities.  So expect to hear about it again!

Teaching English to non-native speaking children isn't just singing songs.  You can do arts & crafts and also experiments.  A great experiment to try while teaching about colours is this one below.  After mixing colours to make other colours it will interest the children to find out that many of the colours we use (eg. Felt tip pens) are actually two or more colours mixed to make one.  All you need are normal colouring pens and some white coffee filters.

First you need to pick your colours.  Three are usually enough.  Make three coloured dots on the bottom end of the coffee filter and then add water.  Either dip the filter into water or use something to drop water onto the bottom.

Within seconds the coloured dots will spread and the majority will split into different colours.  This is a trial and error process at times because some pens are better than others with some colours working better than others.

You can get some amazing results and can even fill the coffee filters completely and use them for some other arts & crafts.  The filters make great butterflies if you split them in half.

One of the important things to do when you have a project going on is to show off your work! Make a poster to hang up in the group or outside where the parents can see it or make something for the kids to take home.

There are more colour ideas to come!  Feel free to add your ideas to the comments!

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