Autumn already....

Once again I find myself trailing the internets for different ideas for the start of the new Autumn term and I found some fantastic resources courtesy of TES NEW TEACHERS. Its a page that I follow on Facebook and often find that they have innovative new ideas, this shall give me plenty of food for thought before September comes...

Ohhh, beautiful bulletin board!

I must stop thinking about the new term, I must stop thinking about the new term....... But I can't help it. I came across another decoration idea for the beginning of term, I wonder if I could get it organised now and then maybe RELAX during my summer holidays! Hahaha! Click here I think I'm onto a winner here!

Conversing wih your iPhone?

Ok, so this post is more based along the lines of adult ESL, but it grabbed my attention. This is a little app called SUPIKI, which is free to download onto your iPhone. It allows you to practice your spoken English and it responds to you. I will download it later, and give it a test run and full you all in.

Check out this application on the App Store:


Supiki English Conversation Speaking Practice
Linguacomm Enterprises Inc.
Category: Education
Updated: 19 Jun 2012

poster mania!

Just a quick post before bedtime..... I was bowled over by this fab website www.teachfactory.com  . As you are all probably aware, I do like having a pretty classroom so this web is perfect! It has so many free posters that you can print out and put around your class, and they are so unique! This is my favourite so far......

Phonics are hot news....

At the moment in the UK, the teaching of phonics is big, big news. Here in Spain, as children learn Spanish technically before english, the use of phonics is not as necessary as you generally say what you see. However, now that the Spanish Government has implemented the importance of bilingualism in their primary schools, it is becoming increasingly more important the use of phonics within the primary classroom. I have seen that students who enter in Primary who have previously studied the "Jolly Phonics" structure have better pronunciation, and are more able to sight read. Instead of them memorising a word, they are more capable of breaking the sound down thus allowing them more freedom within their learning. Finding a good app that allows teaching phonics in a fun and dynamic manner is quite difficult, however Twinkl has designed an innovative new app for the iPad and Android devices (of which I have neither - YET) which allows teachers to bring more interactive ways of studying phonics back into the classroom. Here you can find the link to their sneak preview, and I for one am quite excited, and am putting away a few pennies, I think I may need an iPad!

Cool door!

Thanks to the website "Scholastic Teachers", I came across this little gem.

Unfortunately, this isn't going to be too appropriate for the level that I teach, however, the idea is easily adaptable in order to make it easier for your little ones to understand. I was also thinking that it would be a great idea to interact the sentences according to what we are studying in English, Science or Maths. I'm a very big believer that the children ought to participate, so it would also make a great little art project too, even throw in some extra alphabet practice! (plus, I think parents would love the friendliness and good messages it evokes!)

Forward thinking!

Different Seasons Tree

Once again, I find myself absolutely obsessed about how eye catching I can make my class in September. I don't believe that having a pretty class is the most important aspect, but as my students are coming up into a different education cycle, I want to make the situation as least stressful as possible. Pretty things help to distract them from their nervousness and anxieties. I came across this pretty tree from Teacher's Pet. I know, I seem to have a small obsession with this website, but I generally love all the ideas that they come up with. This tree is a great way to explain the different seasons (especially as I teach ESL) but it would also brighten up the class. What do you think?

London Olympics 2012

So, tomorrow the Olympics start and I for one am super excited about it. I've been working at a summer school the past month and tomorrow is my last day. Today, we made some awesome torches, made from cardboard and crêpe paper and they looked fab!
So, it got me thinking about where people could find some interesting information about how to follow the Olympics as an English as a second language learner. Although this page is not specifically for primary students, it does provide a great little handbook for teachers and learners who want to better understand the vocabulary! GO TEAM GB!

Back to school already...

So i know we've only just broken up but I'm already brimming with ideas on how to best decorate my class and warmly welcome my new students in September. Teachers Pet has a great post about original ideas on how to decorate your door, something I had t really considered. I was thinking about making a splayed out fan with all the students' name and mine in the centre, opinions? Here is the link to the website http://displays.tpet.co.uk/#/viewPost/id981