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Toss the Markers! By Carolyn Flores. Okay…well it’s just an idea!. How it all began….
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Toss the Markers!By Carolyn Flores Okay…well it’s just an idea!
How it all began…. • One day, about two years ago, I was enjoying my class and writing some interesting words on the board. All of a sudden, I felt queasy AGAIN andbegan to notice the familiar lightheadedness I would always seem to get just before lunch. • I tried to shake it off and as I turned around, I dropped my marker which happened to roll down my new white summer pants. • I suddenly realized it was that very marker making me feel sick! • And…..from that day on……..I never looked back.…….
I tossed the markers out! Okay…..well, it wasn’t THAT dramatic. But I was determined to find another way to teach!
And lo and behold…it was the best idea I have ever had in all my years of teaching. And to share with you, here are a few things that I’ve discovered about teaching with the computer, the keyboard, and the mouse……
The Advantages • Effective and efficient use of time • Caters to all levels (great for multi-level!) • Students just need to listen and get a copy later • Has spell check and synonym words on the spot • Is VISUALLY attractive! • You can COPY, SAVE, and REUSE your lessons • Allows for file management – it’s SO easy! • Allows for picture vocabulary (clipart and on-line)
More Advantages….. • Students can do more grammar and writing activities. They can focus on what they need. • Allows for editing sentences and paragraphs as a class. • Allows for lower level students to be part of any lesson designed for intermediate and advanced. • Environmentally friendly – fewer photocopies! • Resourceful – little digging for material in books. • Allows for reinforcement – just pull up, copy, and review, review, and review! • Interactive – On-line quizzes, games, and exercises. You can buy your own programs and use them, too!
Disadvantages Ummmm…..maybe these ones…… • The projector does get warm if it is being used for 5 hours a day. The bulbs are expensive – however 1 bulb = 2000 hours. Electricity = $ • If you are not comfortable using a computer ….this style may not be for you • Available classroom technology may not support this method
Great for….. • Tuning into listening websites, news releases on Yahoo, CNN…etc • Reading CURRENT online stories together and analyzing sentence structure • Working on grammar quizzes together • Typing out and editing sentences to highlight key points • Practicing pronunciation lists and separating words into syllables • Finding and printing off instant lessons from the internet & using your file management systems
Let’s try some websites! www.dailyesl.com www.usingenglish.com/quizzes www.rong-chang.com www.esl-galaxy.com/grammarsheets.html www.esltower.com/vocabulary.html www.breakingnewsenglish.com http://a4esl.org/q/f/ www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9N1ia1RgU www.yahoo.com