Thinking Inside the Text

Making a plain text...

Thinking Inside the Thinking Inside the Text Text

...more interesting!

Goals for the TextGoals for the Textl Build passive skills (reading and listening)l Increase reading speadl Increase vocabularyl Formalize testingl Present new ideas

Goals for the ALTGoals for the ALTl Build active skills (writing and speaking)l Increase speaking confidencel Expand vocabulary (synonyms, similar ideas)l Practice for testingl Explore and create new ideas

Reaching Those Reaching Those GoalsGoals

l First Rule: If It Works, Borrow It!l l Second Rule: Have Fun! (Kids having fun will

forget they're studying)l l Third Rule: Link Ideas With the Text

Your Biggest Enemy...Your Biggest Enemy...Rote Memorization!Rote Memorization!

Memorization in itself isn't a bad thing, but it rarely increases understanding. If students don't understand the meaning and usage of a language, the lesson falls into the same trap as using a calculator to do math. You can get the right answer, but you can't apply it.

Your Best Friend...Your Best Friend...Rewards!Rewards!

Especially for your younger students, any reward system that they like can keep them motivated. Whether it's stickers, paper money, or something else, integrate it into your activities to give them energy!

TargetsTargetsIf you look carefully, you'll see that certain language and grammar points are being targetted in the text. When possible, using these targets in your activites and speech will help them practice the ideas, without having to focus on grammar.

Integrating ReadingIntegrating ReadingWhen you read the text with your class, give them an objective or reason for the reading. For example, tell your students to look for keywords that might appear in the next game. If they feel like they are reading to prepare for a game, they will pay more attention.

ActivitiesActivities1 Minute Speechl Gets the students speaking

and sharing opinionsl Can be paired with topics

to match the textl Can be used as a

discussion pointl You can reward people

who speak the most

ActivitiesActivitiesMissing Words Forces students to think about

words in context of sentences Can help practice spelling Helps with understanding the text

as a whole Can be paired with a reading to

give students a reason to follow along

Can be modified to work with synonyms

Fastest groups can get rewards

ActivitiesActivitiesPictionaryl Creates a visual link between ideas and wordsl Can practice spellingl Can be used with vocabulary or phrasesl Allows students to think abstractly while having funl Works well with positive group structuresl Winning groups can get rewards

ActivitiesActivitiesCrossfirel Practices listening to and answering questionsl Questions can use language functionsl Questions can be worded to practice synonyms and

new phrasesl Tests understanding of the text's informationl Can be modified to keep students interested and give

rewards

Videos To Expand Videos To Expand IdeasIdeas

Many of the stories in the textbooks are famous enough to have videos about them on the internet. Using these in class can show students information they are familiar with, while asking them to process new English. You can also create worksheets or questions based on these videos.

Reviewing MaterialReviewing MaterialGames can be played to review the chapter. These include quiz games, variations on Pictionary, or any other activity that is modified to cover a whole chapter's information.

Mario GameMario Game

Mario GameMario Gamel This is a PowerPoint

game that can be used to review a whole chapter. It can mix text questions with image questions. The visuals keep students engaged, and it works well in groups.

Arigatou PeachArigatou Peachl This is a portable

version of the Mario game. It can be used with Crossfire questions, and can be any length. It helps with practicing listening skills.

Testing SkillsTesting Skills Essays Skits/Story Projects Video Projects

EssaysEssaysHaving your students write essays are a great way to judge their skills. You can plan essay topics around information in the book, asking them to think about what they would do in a similar situation. They can express opinions and share ideas, while practicing on a familiar topic.

Skits/Story ProjectsSkits/Story ProjectsStudents are asked to work as groups to act out or draw out and present scenes from the text. This forces them to turn the text from ideas to reality. They also require creativity, writing, and speaking.

Video ProjectsVideo ProjectsLike the essay, your students have to write ideas in English. However, they also must speak, work together as a group, share ideas with an audience, and think creatively. The project can be customized for the book's topics. With the availability of iPhones/Androids, students can create videos on their own with little help.

The End! The End! Thank You Thank You For Playing For Playing

Learning! Learning!