March 21st to 23rd - Numbers - part 1

1st and 2nd grades

I had planned to do an alphabet song activity and a numbers song activity on the same day. For some groups it worked like that, but, for others, I had time to do only the alphabet, as they were very engaged, so I postponed the numbers part to next week. In some classes, after some time, the classroom seemed like a dance floor and that was ok for me.


What was really a surprise is that "Do you know how to count? Yes, I know how to count." the part was really well pronounced by the chorus class. Were they understanding what they were saying. I do not think so, even though I used to gesticulate, pointing to the numbers board (how to count) or to myself (I) or to them (Do you) or to the head (know) or doing a positive sign with my hand (Yes), but MAYBE I am creating a kind of memory in their phonological system for English pronunciation... I do not know.

I left the part from 1:38 on to a different class, to vary the subject a little bit. I am feeling that for some kids the dynamic of the class works better if I change the subject in the middle. But, if I feel it is working well, I just stay on the same topic.

I was feeling successful because even the first grade students, who are having contact with English for the first time, could rapidly memorize the numbers from 1 to 10. So, I pointed to a random number and asked: "What number is this?". And there was silence and I realized that they were just repeating the fonemics of a song. They knew it was about the numbers, but one class was not enough time to notice that 4 is "four". I need to come up with new ideas on this topic.

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