http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdfhttp://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part2.pdf
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants
http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdfhttp://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part2.pdf
Preparing for the First Certificate Examination for Free using the Internet
Preparing for the First Certificate Examination for Free using the Internet:
"Cambridge University's First Certificate Examination (FCE) is probably the most widely respected English learning certificate outside of the United States. Examination centres around the world offer the First Certificate Exam twice a year; once in December and once in June. In fact, the First Certificate is only one of a number of Cambridge examinations aimed at levels from young learners to business English. However, the FCE is certainly the most popular. The tests are given in Cambridge University approved exam centres using Cambridge University approved examiners."
12 Days of Christmas
I use "The 12 Days of Christmas" every year and it's always a great success with my students.
Choir:
Muppets' version:
The YouTube Community Choir:
Taking Back Sunday:
Shrek version:
Lyrics for Shrek's version:
Fast version:
Indian version:
Janice Dickinson's version:
Choir:
Muppets' version:
The YouTube Community Choir:
Taking Back Sunday:
Shrek version:
Lyrics for Shrek's version:
Fast version:
Indian version:
Janice Dickinson's version:
Children and Clutter
Children and Clutter:
"Too much stuff can stunt a child's ability to play, learn and grow. Fortunately, Peter says there are some key strategies that parents can put into action in order to get their children to clean up, find structure, and develop good organization skills for life:* Model what you want your kids to do. When it comes to clutter and organization, Peter says parents must lead by example and keep their own bedrooms, bathrooms, cars, closets and other spaces clean. 'Kids learn from what they see far more than from what they hear,' Peter says.* Get your children involved in the process. Don't just pick up after your kids—rather, work together to come up with clutter solutions and a system for organizing. 'If your kids are involved in the activity, I guarantee you they'll be way more inclined to follow through on that stuff because they're invested in how it was set up,' Peter says.* Think of organization as a life skill. Parents should teach their children about the value of being organized and tidy just as they would stress the importance of homework or other extracurricular activities, Peter says. 'The life skill of being responsible for what you own, taking care of it and putting it away when you're done with it—that's a skill that's critical to [his or her] growth and"
Conquering Clutter
Conquering Clutter:
"If you had to step over piles of clothes, papers and unidentifiable 'stuff' just to get to your computer, you're not alone. Organizational guru Peter Walsh, host of TLC's hit show Clean Sweep, says millions of Americans are drowning in clutter.Studies show that although families are smaller, homes are larger than ever. Even with more square feet of living space, many Americans still fill attics, basements and storage units with stuff. Peter blames overstuffed spaces on our super-size mentality. 'We're in a culture that says more is better,' he says. 'We've been led to believe that things bring us happiness.'For more than 10 years, Peter has helped pack rats organize their homes and reclaim their lives. His techniques go well beyond color-coded boxes and plastic storage bins. Peter says he helps people uncover what's really going on underneath all that junk, which often leads to life-changing breakthroughs.'[Stuff] robs people of so much,' he says. 'If your house is full of stuff, all the blessings that could fill your house can't get in. The stuff takes over. It robs you psychologically. You can't be at peace.'Don't distress over your mess—learn to conquer your clutter one room at a time."
Delicious Bookmarks :: Firefox Add-ons
Delicious Bookmarks :: Firefox Add-ons:
"Delicious Bookmarks is the official Firefox add-on for Delicious, the world's leading social bookmarking service (formerly del.icio.us). It integrates your bookmarks and tags with Firefox and keeps them in sync for easy, convenient access."
Webquests
Webquests: "WebquestsWebquests are excellent authentic assessments. Here are links to my webquests and web treasure hunts. You may feel free to use them and adapt them. They are licensed under a Creative Commons License. When I have adapted the webquests from the work of others, I have given proper attribution at the bottom of the page for that webquest. I also include links to webquests I like that I did not create. Webquests are organized alphabetically by subject."
Getting Children to Read
Getting Children to Read:
"Dr. Seuss wrote, 'The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.' Use these suggestions to get your kids excited about reading!* Make a field trip to the library. 'Make a big deal about getting a library card!' Oprah says.* Try to get children hooked on a favorite author or series. Oprah loved Lois Lenski while growing up.* According to the July 2000 issue of Good Housekeeping, 77 percent of elementary school students return to school with a reading level below or at the level they had when they left the previous year. Make sure you have books available at home to read.* Have your child read aloud so you can gauge their progress.* Set a good example. Children need to see you reading, too!* Teach kids that reading is about pleasure. Don't measure their progress by the number of books read, but the time spent reading.* Help designate a special reading spot just for your child. Joke books, comics, newspapers, magazines and maps make good reading, too.* Read the same book along with your child—let them recommend a book to you!"
Get Out the Door Faster
Get Out the Door Faster:
"Prepack Kids' LunchesFor many busy moms and dads, rush hour starts as soon as the alarm clock sounds. Between packing lunches, making breakfasts and helping with last-minute assignments, most parents don't have a moment to spare in the morning.Instead of starting your day by chasing the school bus down the street or stressing over misplaced math homework, use these strategies to simplify your morning routine.When it's time to pack lunches, who has time to cut the crusts off sandwiches in the morning? Save time by prepacking your kids' meals the night before."
Black Friday (shopping) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Black Friday (shopping) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
"Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Since Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, Black Friday may be as early as the 23rd and as late as the 29th of November.Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employees take the day off, which increases the number of potential shoppers. Retailers often decorate for the Christmas season weeks beforehand. Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. Although Black Friday, as the first shopping day after Thanksgiving, has served as the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season at least since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the term 'Black Friday' has been traced back only to the 1960s.The term 'Black Friday' originated in Philadelphia in reference to the heavy traffic on that day. More recently, merchants and the media have used it instead to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers are in the black (i.e., turning a profit).The news media frequently refer to Black Friday as the busiest retail shopping day of the year, but this is not always accurate. While it has been one of the bu"
ESLvideo.com - Learn English (ESL/EFL) with free videos from YouTube, Google Video, blip.tv, and other video hosting websites.
ESLvideo.com - Learn English (ESL/EFL) with free videos from YouTube, Google Video, blip.tv, and other video hosting websites.:
"Free esl video quizzes and resources for ESL / EFL students and teachers."
"Free esl video quizzes and resources for ESL / EFL students and teachers."
Totlol - Video for Kids. Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Grade School, Tweens and Parents
Totlol - Video for Kids. Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Grade School, Tweens and Parents:
"Welcome to TotlolIf you have kids, you just found the site you have been looking for.Totlol is a video website designed specifically for children. It is community moderated. It is constantly growing. It is powered by YouTube.All videos were submitted, screened and rated by parents. The selection is huge and if you like, you can participate too.Totlol is literally Video-on-Demand, and if you have kids, you already know. The video part is easy. It is the demand part that is hard. Are you ready? Here it comes: 'Daddy, Mommy More Video!'"
Back-to-School Prep
Back-to-School Prep:
"Summer is almost over, and the school year will soon begin! The Peetes talk with parenting expert Dr. Michele Borba about things you can do to be more organized and efficient and make going back to school a breeze for you and your children.Dr. Borba, who was once a teacher, says many parents often tell her that when school starts, evenings get hectic and mornings become stressful. Dr. Borba talks about eight common back-to-school hassles and offers her simple solutions.1. Morning franticness: Create sanity savers for your biggest morning nightmares by doing some organizing the night before. Have kids put backpacks with lunch money and homework at the front door before bed, Dr. Borba says. In addition, lay out school clothes and set up the breakfast table the night before.2. You're your child's personal organizer: Hang a large monthly calendar and buy a white board so each child can mark his own weekly activites, Dr. Borba says. List your schedule too.3. Late morning starts: Buy alarm clocks and teach kids how to set them, Dr. Borba says. And start getting your kid back onto the right sleeping schedule at least two weeks before school starts, she says.4. Missing and lost schools supplies: Identify the problem and then brainstorm a simple solution, Dr. Borba says. It could be as easy as putting a box by th"
learn english by doing it
learn english by doing it:
"I like to emphasis on the fact that all the actions in the exercises below should have be physically DONE first. I has no sense to let a student click-click-click with a computer mouse without experience of the physical action. For a student the exercises should not be a surprise of something new, but a surprise of recognition! The following lessons are basic commands with the pictures of Gabriel Garcia. The text is spoken by Martin Holmes from Hot Potatoes"
Phases Children Go Through
Phases Children Go Through:
"With four children at home, Holly and Rodney have their hands full dealing with a host of different parenting issues. They talk with parenting expert Dr. Michele Borba, who shares tips on how parents can help their children as they go through the different phases of childhood.* Pay attention to what your children are saying. 'What children want is undivided time,' Dr. Borba says. 'The number one thing that tells a kid you are tuning in is eye contact. If you could make one rule in your house, when you are talking to your child, always look at the color of their eyes.' She says that helps a child know you are really there.* Help them learn how to tell the truth. Dr. Borba says many children go through phases where they embellish stories, especially when they are young. How do you encourage them to tell the truth? Figure out what is causing the lie, she says. Give your child the attention he needs at a moment when he is not lying so he doesn't feel like he needs to lie to get attention.* Be prepared for your 'tweenage' children to pull away from you. The preadolescent years are the core years—especially for girls, Dr. Borba says. Your daughter may gravitate more toward her peers and pull away from her parents, leaving you feeling like you are losing all power. Dr. Borba says dur"
A foreigner in Britain
I'm not teaching 1st year of Bachillerato / Batxillerat, but the students in my school have also read this book this year:
Mis clases..: A foreigner in Britain:
Mis clases..: A foreigner in Britain:
"On the third term, we have read A foreigner in Britain (Burlington books).The main character visits different places in England, Wales and Scotland and tells us about their customs, traditions, festivals ..After reading it I suggested to my students that they do a powerpoint presentation about the places that appear in the book. They didn´t have to do it,just if they wanted..but almost all of them have done it and what is more they also want me to upload all their projects!..You can see Juan´s presentation below and some others here"
Grade Inflation: The Lake Woebegon Syndrome « The Car Family
Grade Inflation: The Lake Woebegon Syndrome « The Car Family:
"I must be living in Lake Wobegon, that mythical Minnesota town that my fellow Anokaian Garrison Keillor created where all the children are above average. The reason is simple, in classrooms throughout the country the D and F grade are fast disappearing in favor of those that traditional were given to superior students. That could only mean we are living in Keillor’s fantasy village. Unfortunately, this isn’t a fantasy and it didn’t happen a long time ago. The demise of the D and F grade came rather quickly. It was the outgrowth of a society empowered by the government’s legislation that no child is going to be left behind and the general hush of educators who know darn well that they better go along or suffer the wrath of sanctions. The result was that non-performing students, advocates for the importance of self-esteem, and parents desperately wanting to assure others that their child was on the honor roll bullied their way to higher grades using which ever tactic worked.
After this quixotic change the A became a grade for those students achieving above the accepted standards at a school regardless of the State standardized test scores. A B mark was the grade provided for those students who did the work and the C was a gentleman’s way of saying your work was done,"
Minnesota Literacy Council - Teaching with Weblogs and Wikis
Minnesota Literacy Council - Teaching with Weblogs and Wikis:
"Teaching with Weblogs and WikisWeblogsWeblogs are user friendly websites that allow people to post messages as an individual or a group to a website. Teachers can use weblogs to practice a wide range of language skills with their students."
Why talent is overrated - Oct. 21, 2008
Why talent is overrated - Oct. 21, 2008:
"Why talent is overratedThe conventional wisdom about 'natural' talent is a myth. The real path to great performance is a matter of choice."
Monty Python's YouTube Channel
"For 3 years you YouTubers have been ripping us off, taking tens of thousands of our videos and putting them on YouTube. Now the tables are turned. It's time for us to take matters into our own hands.
We know who you are, we know where you live and we could come after you in ways too horrible to tell. But being the extraordinarily nice chaps we are, we've figured a better way to get our own back: We've launched our own Monty Python channel on YouTube.
No more of those crap quality videos you've been posting. We're giving you the real thing - HQ videos delivered straight from our vault.
What's more, we're taking our most viewed clips and uploading brand new HQ versions. And what's even more, we're letting you see absolutely everything for free. So there!
But we want something in return.
None of your driveling, mindless comments. Instead, we want you to click on the links, buy our movies & TV shows and soften our pain and disgust at being ripped off all these years."
Website: http://pythonline.com
Teaching Boys How to Cope with Feelings
Teaching Boys How to Cope with Feelings:
"Bullying can cause problems for your child at school—but what if your own son is the bully? Talking to your son about his emotions could be the key to understanding this behavior.Harvard psychologist Dr. William Pollack, author of Real Boys' Voices, says boys are desperate to reveal their true feelings. Many boys wear a 'mask,' often hiding feelings of sadness, loneliness and vulnerability. Dr. Pollack says that, for many boys, self-worth is tied to their body image. They worry they are not masculine enough.Parents don't realize how they teach their boys to bury emotions. Simple phrases like 'Big boys don't cry' create a lifelong effect, according to Dr. Pollack. Many boys feel they can't express their sadness, so instead they get angry."
Thanksgiving 2008: 14 of the Best Web Resources
Thanksgiving 2008: 14 of the Best Web Resources:
"Celebrants of the Thanksgiving holiday congregate around dinner tables all across the US next Thursday evening, but as any self-respecting feast and party planner would attest, preparations carry well into the preceding week.And in customary fashion, Mashable comes to the service of all those getting themselves and their families and friends ready for the annual arrival of “Turkey Day” and the clattering dishes, champagne glasses, and pumpkin pie that completes every menu."
Woman divorces husband for having a 'virtual' affair on Second Life - Telegraph
Woman divorces husband for having a 'virtual' affair on Second Life - Telegraph:
"Woman divorces husband for having a 'virtual' affair on Second Life
A woman is divorcing her husband after catching him having an affair with an imaginary, animated woman on a computer game."
You don't need to change how you teach to improve assessment scores
http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/assessment.html
-- Alan HaskvitzIt's important to remember tests are a great learning tool. You should have students evaluate their returned classroom tests to see where they need work. Also, look at last year's standardized test scores and note any relationships to your curriculum.In my case, I noted since teaching the Constitution early in the year, my students did not do as well when they took the state test near the school year's end. I didn't want to change my curriculum because it is centered on the Constitution. So, I had students develop an encyclopedia of terms when we covered the founding fathers, and they used this to review later in the year. No muss, no fuss, and it was an integrated learning experience. The scores at our school, without any changes to the way we teach, were among the highest in the state. And we have three minority populations.How I improve test scoresOver the years, my students have done exceptionally well in tests and competitions. The reason is twofold: I teach students how to write test questions so they know how to read them during tests, and I study the material to be tested. It does not take a Ph.D. to realize all the proper nouns in any state standard are the key. No question can be written without using these nouns if the test covers the standards.Now, some tests do not cover the standards, and for that, learning to read the questions is the most important element. As an old coach, you practice the way you play. For a teacher the same applies. If you test the students with the same format as the exam, they feel more comfortable. In addition, I also make sure every student knows the test's importance. I have frequently read and heard about students who simply do not care and make no attempt to do well. Finally, make sure you cover the material for the slower learners. They hold the key to improving school test scores.Assessment resources onlineThe following resources cover a wide range of topics related to assessment. It is a comprehensive list, but if you know of other valuable resources, please e-mail me through the site. Or, e-mail me if you'd like to know more about how I improve test scores.
- No Child Left Behind
- Types of Student Assessment and Testing
- Accommodations
- Rubrics
- Student Portfolio Assessment
- Online Quizzes and Tests, Puzzle Makers and Test-making Sites
- Assessment Research
- Test Preparation Resources
- General Information Sites
- Teacher Assessment Resources
- Authentic Assessment
- Electronic Portfolios
- What Research Says about Student Assessment
- Assessment LISTSERVs
- Report Card Comments
Becoming a Better EFL Teacher: A Simple Approach to Write an Essay for EFL Learners
Becoming a Better EFL Teacher: A Simple Approach to Write an Essay for EFL Learners:
"A Simple Format to Write an Essay for EFL and ESL LearnersA simple format for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) learners to write an essay, is none other than the old standby, “The Five Paragraph Essay”. This writing structure is, of course, based on writing on a topic using five paragraphs. Briefly, here’s how it is set up.Paragraph One – When you write an essay, the first paragraph provides the introduction to the essay or composition. It tells what is to be discussed and why. Your main points or arguments are briefly introduced. This paragraph need not be a lengthy one, four to five sentences will usually suffice.Paragraph Two – In the second paragraph more background information is provided in more detail. Your first, often strongest main point or argument is expanded upon. This second paragraph is usually longer than the first or introductory paragraph. There is a topic sentence, three to five sentences of information, then a summary or concluding sentence which is used to allude or transition to the next paragraph’s content.Paragraph Three – The third paragraph provides your second key point or argument and ties it into your theme, when you write an essay or c"
English language teaching methods and approaches
English language teaching methods and approaches: "Teaching Index
Approaches & Methods in Second Language Teaching"
Approaches & Methods in Second Language Teaching"
- 01 English Pronunciation and Listening to spoken English
- Priorities and materials for phonology and phonetics
- English vowel sounds - the 12 monophthongs
- Presentation and practice of the 8 English diphthongs
- Materials to practise Final Consonant Clusters in English
- Specifying the priorities for pronunciation teaching
- Teaching intonation, rhythm and stress
- Speech versus written English
- Listening to spoken English: techniques for L2 learners
- Should spoken English be the principal objective in language learning?
- idiom, cliché, jargon, slang, motto, phoneme, allophone, redundancy
- 02 Syntax & Semantics
- Ways of presenting grammar
- Short Texts for production and grammar presentation
- Dialogues for grammar-presentation or conversation-facilitation
- Function & Form: uses of the Present Perfect Tense
- Grammar content of FCE as covered in leading exam course books 1979-1987
- Key developments in the teaching of English vocabulary during the mid 20th century
- The importance of concordancers and corpuses in vocabulary learning and teaching today
- Choosing a dictionary for English language learning
- Functional and linguistic analysis of occupational varieties of English
- Specialist English dictionaries and companion workbooks to develop vocabulary
- 03 History and Practice of TESL /TEFL methods & approaches
- Audiolingualism (drilling as habit formation)
- Cognitive Theory (awareness of the rules) Mentalism
- Notional | Functional approach i.e. setting (topic areas) | speech acts (social purpose of utterance)
- The Communicative Approach - the theoretical background
- Communicative Language Teaching and task-based learning
- Definitions of learning
- 04 Language Acquisition Forum on current methods & approaches and the role of the teacher
- "The appeal & poverty of CLT" (Robert O'Neill: March 2000)
- "The limits of functional/notional syllabuses" (Robert O'Neill: 1997)
- "Crucial differences between L1 and L2 Acquisition" (Robert O'Neill: 1998)
- "Dogmas and Delusions in Current EFL Methodology" (Robert O'Neill: 1999)
- "The Myth of the Silent Teacher" (Robert O'Neill: April 1994)
- Verbal characteristics of good teacher-talk. How to be a good teacher: the most common tips.
- What makes a good teacher? Use marketing clichés, catch-phrases and jargon in your answers.
- 05 Principles Syllabus and Course Design
- Selection and Grading of Structural items
- Questions to consider when designing a syllabus (Ron White)
- A critique of Breen's Process Syllabus (Ted Power)
- Motivating large classes of captive language learners in poorly resourced MLT environments
- Planning a visit with captive 12-13 year-old UK learners of French to Boulogne, France
- A list of criteria for evaluating the Main Course Book
- 06 Methods of Testing and Assessment
- INDEX: to Language Testing Objectives
- Objectives of test types: a) aptitude b) placement c) diagnostic d) achievement e) proficiency
- What are a) discrete point tests b) tests of integrative skills?
- Subjective and objective testing techniques
- Standardized tests ("psychometric objective" & "linguistic realistic")
- The main requirements of an efficient test - the problem of "test rubric"
- Item analysis - the facility value of an item and its discrimination index
- The problems of assessing communication in a second language L2
- What are a) norm-referenced tests and b) criterion-referenced tests?
- Test reliability and validity: the most important aspects of both for the teacher / tester?
- 07 Developing a Placement Test
- Getting started & types of test to avoid
- Content specification
- The Placement Test
- Marking instructions and Answer Key
- Item Analysis for selective deletion Placement Tests set on an incline of difficulty
- Testing the test 1: Item analysis: facility value and discrimination index
- Testing the test 2: Statistical measures of the Mean, Standard Deviation and Reliability
- Reliability versus Validity
- Accommodating "complete beginners" during a 60-minute Placement Test and Bibliography on Language Testing
- 08 A Multiple Choice Placement Test designed for quick marking and optimum validity
- Part 1 Grammar
- Part 2 Vocabulary
- Part 3 Reading Comprehension
- Part 4 Listening Comprehension
- Tape Script for Part 4 Listening Comprehension (cassette, minidisk or teacher can read aloud)
- Protecting TEST QUESTION PAPERS for re-use by subsequent intakes of students
- ANSWER SHEETS WITH GRIDS and OVERLAYS for easy marking
- Using computers or computer labs with or without Internet to administer and mark the test
- 09 English Language Teaching songs and games
- Folk songs listed by Level and frequency of problematic English Vowel & Consonant Sounds
- English Phoneme Chart: Key to problematic Vowel & Consonant Sounds
- Folk songs listed by a) Theme b) Discussion Topic and c) Level
- Games for English Language Learning colour-coded by Level
- 10 Reading in the Second Language Class
- Reading is not the same as Text Study
- Classroom activities and Skills for Reading
- L2 Reading objectives for English for Specific Purposes (Business and ESP)
- L2 Reading objectives for English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Candidates for English medium universities
- 11 Writing in the Second Language Class
- 1) Exercise-types for teaching writing in the second language class. 2) Is writing an extension of speaking?
- Adjusting lesson content to the contexts in which writing is needed
- Coherence and cohesion in esl student writing
- Correction techniques: behaviourist (steering round errors) v cognitive (earmarking the fault)
- Link to Adult Literacy Materials for zero beginners with no knowledge of our alphabet
- Link to BBC Skillwise: writing - a community web site, offering general writing tips and practice for learners at lower levels
- Link to Royal Literary Fund - help with essay writing for advanced learners hoping to attend UK universities
- 12 Learner Independence; Learner Autonomy and the Web; Self-access Centres and Practice Time
- Self-access Centres: the rationale
- Using javascript templates on other sites to make your computer lab teaching & testing material interactive
- Downloading freeware from the web to run javascript interactive teach/test templates and how to create your own
- 13 Particular challenges for English language teachers: real communication; very low or very high level learners
Girls and Bullying
Girls and Bullying:
"Bullying and teasing can be just as big a problem for girls as it can be for boys, and it can affect children of all ages, say the Peetes. They talk with Dr. Elvis Epps, the assistant principal of an elementary school in Florida, about his advice for dealing with bullying situations that parents often encounter.Look for signs. If you daughter is acting reclusive and doesn't want to go to school, she may be afraid of a bully, Dr. Epps says.Use your best judgment. Parents should assess whether the situation requires their intervention, Dr. Epps says. If your child has been physically injured, you should step in immediately, he says. If two girls have a verbal dispute, you may decide to let them work it out on their own, he says.Deal with problems sooner rather than later. Call teachers or school administrators before a harmful situation can escalate, Dr. Epps says. 'I like to put the fire out while it's a little flicker [rather] than let it get out of control,' he says.Take responsibility. If your daughter is the bully, Dr. Epps says you need to take measures to resolve the matter. Work alongside teachers and administrators, get counseling for your child if necessary and set a good example for her. 'Create an atmosphere that is positive in your home,' he says."
Thanksgiving Dinner with All the Trimmings
http://esl.about.com/od/engilshvocabulary/ig/Visual-Dictionary---Food/Thanksgiving.htm"Here is Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. The roast turkey is done to perfection with stuffing and gravy for all to enjoy. There are stuffed baked potatoes, a tasty looking side-dish of green beans and cashews. Of course, we can't forget the traditional cranberry salad in the middle. To finish the meal off, the guests will have coffee as we can see a pitcher of cream and a sugar bowl."
Thanksgiving Tips for ESL Learners: Thanksgiving Emergencies -- What to Do
Thanksgiving Tips for ESL Learners: Thanksgiving Emergencies -- What to Do:
"Thanksgiving Emergencies -- What to Do* If the turkey doesn’t thaw out in time, defrost it in your microwave. Or put it in a sink full of cold water. Each half hour, let the water out and put clean water in.* If everything is done before the turkey, you can finish cooking the turkey in the microwave, if it fits. This will make the skin less crisp, but the turkey will be safe to eat. Or you can save the rest of the food and heat it up again when the turkey is ready. Most Thanksgiving food tastes fine reheated.* If there are lumps in your gravy, use an eggbeater to break them up. If that doesn’t work, just take the lumps out with a spoon.* If there are lumps in your mashed potatoes, that’s actually good! It shows you used real potatoes. Just kidding. Put them in your food processor or blender and run it for just a few seconds.* If the crust of your pie is done before the filling, put aluminum foil over the edge of the crust. Be careful not to burn yourself."
Black Friday | Heads Up English | ESL Lessons
Black Friday | Heads Up English | ESL Lessons:
"Black Friday refers to the day just after Thanksgiving in the US. Because so many companies have a four day weekend, many people begin their Christmas shopping on this day. (Thanksgiving always falls on a Thursday in the US, and then people have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off from work.) Black Friday is often reported as one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Shopping malls are packed with people, parking lots are crowded, and lines at stores are very, very long. Some stores even open at five or six in the morning because there are so many people. Other stores have discounts and sales to draw even more customers.The word 'black' to describe the Friday likely began in Philadelphia in the mid-1960s. Traffic jams filled the roads into the downtown area every year. The stores and sidewalks were overflowing with shoppers. The experience for so many of the people who ventured downtown was stressful and chaotic. It was a terrible, or black, day. Because other cities around the country similarly experienced traffic jams, busy stores, and too many shoppers on the day after Thanksgiving, the term spread. Black Friday became a common idiom in American English.Although many people may see the day after Thanksgiving negatively, retailers have a very different opinion."
Alton Brown - Fried Turkey
The dangers of frying turkey... Alton Brown gives good advice about how to do it safely... I love Alton Brown's "Good Eats".
Cooperative learning strategies
Cooperative learning strategies:
"Cooperative learning strategiesVarious strategies exist for cooperative learning and can be used at whenever the instructor see fit for their use. Listed below with a brief description are some of the more common strategies.* Think-Pair-Share is a method that allows students to engage in individual and small-group thinking before they are asked to answer questions in front of the whole class. There are four steps to this method. The first step, groups of four students listen to a question posed by the teacher. Secondly, individual students are given time to think and then write their responses. Thirdly, pairs of students read and discuss their responses. Finally, a few students are called on by the teacher to share their thoughts and ideas with the whole class. This method can be very useful and work well in the science classroom due to the continual request of science teachers having students formulate hypotheses about the outcome of an experiment before it is done.· (Example: A teacher could pose the question, ‘What is photosynthesis?’ students then think individually about the question. After a couple minutes of thought the students then turn to a shoulder partner and discuss their thoughts with each other. The teacher then facilitates a whole class discuss"
Free ESL, PowerPoint, Video lessons, English beginner Lessons, grammar exercises
Free ESL, PowerPoint, Video lessons, English beginner Lessons, grammar exercises:
"We gladly present a free ESL video online lab for beginner learners.These video lessons will help you develop your vocabulary and practice listening and pronunciation. These lessons are one of a kind, developed by Kisi, a teacher with many years of English teaching experience. The videos here are in two formats. Windows media and flash videos. Choose the format that meets your computer setting."
More Thanksgiving Resources
http://home.earthlink.net/~eslteacher/units/holidays.html
THANKSGIVING ONLINE LESSONS
THANKSGIVING ONLINE LESSONS
- VOCABULARY
- Thanksgiving Meal - from a4esl.org
- Thanksgiving Crossword - from iteslj.org
- What's Different? (Cornucopia) - from National Geographic
- What's Different? (Pilgrim) - from National Geographic
- READ / WRITE
- The First Thanksgiving - from Scholastic
- Going to Grandma's Mad Lib - from FamilyEducation.com
- Thanksgiving History Quiz - from FamilyEducation.com
- Thanksgiving Dinner Mad Lib - from FamilyEducation.com
- Thanksgiving Pop Culture Quiz - from FamilyEducation.com
- Turkey Trivia Quiz - from FamilyEducation.com
- Wilster Thanksgiving Quiz - from Wilster
- America's Homepage - Plymouth, Mass. - from Pilgrims.net
- Jokes and Riddles - from National Geographic
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - official site
- Make Your Own Cartoon - from National Geographic
- Oh, how that Thanksgiving spread has changed since 1621 - from CNN
- Thanksgiving Page - from The English Department
- The Thanksgiving Tradition - from Plimoth.org
- Thanksgiving Traditions and History - from Wilster
- The Wampanoag and Thanksgiving - from 2020tech
- The First Thanksgiving - from Scholastic
- COMPUTER SKILLS - MOUSE PRACTICE
- It's Turkey Time - (Shoot turkeys) - from EZone
- Turkey Drop - (Gobble turkeys) - from KidsCom
- Thanksgiving Jigsaw - from KidsCom
How to Teach Reading Strategies: EFL/ESL Teaching Methods for Motivating Students to Read
How to Teach Reading Strategies: EFL/ESL Teaching Methods for Motivating Students to Read:
"When reading comprehension breaks down, ESL/EFL students need to find ways to repair their understanding. This is where the importance of knowing how to teach reading strategies come in, so as to facilitate the reading process and give students a clear sense of what they are reading.
Students can become easily frustrated when they do not understand what they are reading and as a result, they become demotivated. A teacher needs to design and teach different strategies in order to help students close the gaps in their understanding. The ultimate challenge for the teacher is knowing exactly which strategy is useful and most beneficial to teach, since each student needs different strategies. This article in this respect, will give many strategies and a few general pointers for how to teach them.
General Reading Strategies
The website www.readinga-z.com recommended by parents in 2004, has a wealth of activities, games and articles on reading strategies. There are plenty of strategies for the beginner reader and many can be adapted to fit the needs of more advanced readers as well."
"When reading comprehension breaks down, ESL/EFL students need to find ways to repair their understanding. This is where the importance of knowing how to teach reading strategies come in, so as to facilitate the reading process and give students a clear sense of what they are reading.
Students can become easily frustrated when they do not understand what they are reading and as a result, they become demotivated. A teacher needs to design and teach different strategies in order to help students close the gaps in their understanding. The ultimate challenge for the teacher is knowing exactly which strategy is useful and most beneficial to teach, since each student needs different strategies. This article in this respect, will give many strategies and a few general pointers for how to teach them.
General Reading Strategies
The website www.readinga-z.com recommended by parents in 2004, has a wealth of activities, games and articles on reading strategies. There are plenty of strategies for the beginner reader and many can be adapted to fit the needs of more advanced readers as well."
The date of Thanksgiving 2007, 2008, 2009
The date of Thanksgiving 2007, 2008, 2009:
"Thanksgiving is observed on the every fourth Thursday of November. The holiday is celebrated in remembrance of the pilgrims and in order to give thanks.
Thursday, November 22nd 2007
Thursday, November 27th 2008
Thursday, November 26th 2009
Thursday, November 25th 2010"
"Thanksgiving is observed on the every fourth Thursday of November. The holiday is celebrated in remembrance of the pilgrims and in order to give thanks.
Thursday, November 22nd 2007
Thursday, November 27th 2008
Thursday, November 26th 2009
Thursday, November 25th 2010"
How to Handle Bullies
How to Handle Bullies:
"Why Children Bully Each Other:* Children today are more aggressive. Rabbi Shmuley says children are emulating the violent video games, TV shows and movies they're exposed to.* Marriages today are weak. Many parents fight with each other, and Rabbi Shmuley says children absorb their aggression. 'Here is the other thing—when you spend your time battling your spouse, you are going to have little energy left to discipline your kids, and he may become a bully,' he says.* Children today are angry. 'They rage against their parents' neglect; thunder against their parents' indifference,' he says. 'As their parents ignore them more and more, they feel resentful, so they look for victims around them to take out their aggression.'* Children today are being bullied by parents. 'Parents themselves are overworked and tired,' Rabbi Shmuley says. 'Rather than inspiring their kids with heart-to-heart conversations, they bark orders at them, find constant criticism and the child passes on the bullying.'Solutions to Help Children Deal with Bullies:* Never show fear before the bully. 'Don't respond to him, but don't run from him,' Rabbi Shmuley says. 'Just go about your normal business as if he or she is not there.'* Make it clear to the bully that you wi"
How to Deal with Bullies
How to Deal with Bullies:
"As kids go back to school after the summer break, they have a lot to think about, from new classes and teachers to extracurricular activities and seeing their friends again. But in addition to the excitement and nervousness of the new school year, some students also have a major fear on their minds—bullies.Many children worry about not fitting in, especially because of the teasing and bullying that can go along with it. Intimidation and bullying can not only rob your son or daughter of self-confidence, it can become violent. Watch for warning signs that your child is the victim of a bully—and know how to help."
Freedom Writers
The story behind the story:
"Take a group of restless, inner city students raised in the wrong side of the tracks, a determined teacher with a mission, and a session in Room 203, exploring beyond what is written in textbooks, and you get a movement that starts through writing. "Freedom Writers" is based on the true story of Erin Gruwell (played by Hilary Swank) and a diverse group of racially charged students. Unfortunate moments add up to memories that scar us with little or no explanation as to "why" it had to happen. This film inspires viewers to give hope a chance, even under the pressures of society. The Freedom Writers found an outlet to express their angst and rebellion through the help of their mentor, their teacher. Together, they mentally battled their way to survival. Sometimes the best way is the "write" way. "
SchoolNotes
SchoolNotes:
"Teachers - Create Notes for homework and class information and post them on the web in seconds using this free community service. First time registrationParents and Students - view notes from your teachers by entering your School ZIP Code:"