Demo Class

[ELevin]

I am new to all of this, (living in China, teaching, etc) and I have an interview and demo class scheduled for today. I am told that I should have a lesson plan of about 30 minutes to teach 5 year olds that have a reasonable knowledge of english (can hold a conversation that extends beyond their name and age). I need some suggestions of what kind of activities to do for the class. Please help!

[ichini]

Oh, so your demo class is today? Wow.... your're leaving it a bit late.

Anyway, hopefully you can read this message in time.

Some teaching ideas:

1. As the students enter the class, get them to knock on the door, and you answer the door by saying "who is it?". They then say their names and ask if they can enter the classroom.
2. Start off with a song - "heads, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, heads shoulders knees and toes, eyes and ears and mouth and nose, heads, shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes." Do you know this song?
3. I doubt 5 year olds can read the alphabet very well, so make sure to include alphabet practice in your class. After the song, you write the word "toes" on the board. Then you pronounce each letter to the students. Eg: T ter T ter, O oh O oh O oh, E er E er E er, S es S es S es. That way they practice the phonetics. After that, get the students to write the word on the board. Tell them to choose a marker by asking the colour from you. You ask them "What colour do you want?", and their answer will be "Red please" etc. That's providing you have different colour markers. The students then write each letter at the same time as you write your letter on the board.
4. Text book work. Tell students to open their book at page 5 or whatever. Slowly go through the text. You may want to use props or other things that are in the class to reinforce the text. After the text, then practice it in real life. If the text was on brushing your teeth and other actions, then practice these actions.
5. Time for another song. Perhaps the Mulberry Bush song. "Here we go around the mulberry bush, mulberry bush, mulberry bush...." etc.. Have the students to hold hands with you included and walk around in a circle.
6. Flash cards, animals, etc. Reinforcement through snap, or acting out how an elephant walks etc.

Have a look at http://www.aacircle.com.au/blog/arch...-Children.html for a sample lesson plan for kids.

Let us know how it goes!

[ichini]

Forgot to mention, ensure you talk clearly, slowly and choose simple words. Use also lots of body language and have a nice smile on your face.

All the best!

[ELevin]

Thanks for the reply. I got it in time, and I used some of what you suggested. I think my interview went well, and my consultant says he expects me to get the job. Hopefully we can share ideas when I start working.

On another note, I would suggest that this site have some more material for very new teachers like me. As someone doing this for my first time with no experience, I took to the internet for help and suggestions on what to do and was pretty dissapointed to not find very much aid for newbies like myself. Most of the people that I know that are teaching are just like me (just out of college, no experience, no clue what we are doing). I am suggesting that this site have some tips and strategies on how to prepare for new classes and demos.

[ichini]

Great to hear you got it on time. If you do a search on "sample lesson plans" etc.. I'm sure you can find an abundance of free worksheets etc.

But I agree, would be good to have a video of a sample lesson so new teachers know what to expect.