Before I discuss the ideas for learning through play online I would like to start with a little bit of my experience.
IT STARTED IN 2018…
…when I was in France and I was running out of money. I was looking for a job, but what I really wanted was to teach. But how? Foreigner teaching French in France? It isn’t going to work. “Maybe I should try online” I thought. I wrote an ad, I put it online and done! A little later I shot a short video which helped me find students from all over the world.
MATTER OF TRIAL
I tried to conduct lessons as well as I could in a way I used to know, which means teaching online like not online. Other methods didn’t come to my mind at all. Moreover, My computer was unable to connect to Skype / didn’t support (it wasn’t powerful enough). I didn’t know that there is something like screen sharing. Skype on my phone, Google Drive on my computer and go!
ONLINE NOT LIKE ONLINE
Let’s be honest, constant screen sharing, especially with children, is boring! I don’t mean we shouldn’t do it at all because sometimes there is no other way, but not always, come on!
Well, which is it?
PICTURES AND OTHER PROPS WHICH IS THEATER
I am for using maaany pictures. I also often print materials to show pupils something instead of screen sharing. If there is a person/animal/creature in the picture then I often play him/her/it. I change my voice, I introduce myself or I ask questions. I also have some toys which I use for the same purpose.
A hat and a mustache?
Of course! They allow me to be a Madame or Monsieur.
Let me share short movies from my Instagram with you . They are in Polish but the point is that you see how do I show.
A DESK AND A PLASTICINE
Oh yes! They are marvelous and not all that expensive. I just happen to have a paper whiteboard in A4 format but you can also use a cardboard box, stick a regular sheet of paper in A4 format to it and write on it with a regular marker. Believe me, it’s much better than sharing tabs on computer.
USE OF WHITEBOARD PART 1 OR CONNECTING + PRETENDING YOU DON’T KNOW
As you may have gathered, numbers on the sheets I keep in the videos are witten out in full and also given in figures. Chidrens’ task is to connect them but in that moment this is me who has a sheet of paper so they have to help me. I pretend not to know so I wait for their commands.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF PLASTICINE OR PUTTY
My board isn’t magnetic so we won’t need magnets. I’m glad that so-called putty was invented, though. Thanks to it you can stick more elements to the board. The example is to teach weekday names using a song and place them in right order after listening to it.
WHY THROUGH PLAY?
Because children have a lot of fun doing it! I tell you! They are really excited when you play different roles. They laugh when you pretend you don’t know. They learn because they try to teach you 🙂 And this is beautiful.
I THINK THAT’S ALL FOR TOADY
Because post turns out to be veeeery long. I hope it would be useful and that (if you’re a teacher) you’ll take advantage of my ideas on your classes.
And
now, let me know, but seriously,
was this article helpful? 🙂
Take good care of yourself and till next time,
~Klaudia.
