Helpful hints for handling little ones

In recent issues of The Macmillan Magazine we’ve looked at the importance of songs and stories in the Infant classroom. As the new term begins to gather momentum, Josefina Ares has some tips for other ways to ensure success with our very young learners.   

It’s hard work, they’re exhausting and unpredictable… but there is also an array of positive reasons for wanting to work with Pre-primary children. They’re usually curious, keen, receptive and open to trying out anything. Here are a few ideas and tips for making your lessons that bit smoother so everyone leaves the classroom smiling (including the teacher!).

Routines
Routines are essential as they go a long way to helping children feel secure. Taking the register, revising language or having a little chat are great ideas for the starter. New language in the form of a story, a chant, some colouring in or arts and crafts makes up the main course and for dessert, maybe a tidy-up song or rhyme before pushing chairs under desks and saying goodbye. But nothing is set in stone; every teacher has their own set of routines.

Variety is the spice of life
Pre-primary children have short attention spans so a variety of activities is essential. Be ready to drop something that isn’t working or let it go on for a bit longer if it is. You also need to think about lively and calming activities, changing the pace according to the feel of the lesson. Using a bell, whistle or a maraca (my favourite!) are just some of the possibilities to signal a change of activity.

Organizing yourself and the classroom
Being slick and not slack is essential with little ones. If not, they’ll make you pay! Check that any DVDs, CDs, story books or materials are ready to use, and have as little clutter as possible on the desks.

Motor skills
When planning activities, don’t forget that at such a young age the children are still learning to use their hands and to master basic skills such as how to use scissors and glue, hold a pen, colour handouts or even fold a piece of paper. Most activities take longer than you had thought so give them plenty of time to finish and have something up your sleeve for fast finishers.

Arts and crafts
Making an object with their own hands and taking it home gives kids a sense of achievement. As well as the enjoyment factor, craft activities stimulate creativity, work on motor skills, expose children to language with a purpose and give them a reason for listening. Make the end product yourself in order to experience what difficulties might arise and keep an example to show the children. Always have extra materials in case someone makes a mistake. A few examples of objects I’ve tried successfully include flowers with different coloured card, spiders with plastic cups, faces with paper plates, Xmas cards with recycled bits of material, simple hats with newspaper, weather mobiles and animals masks. Use your pupils as helpers and take turns with different children each lesson. As well as helping you out, it makes them feel important.

Drama
Acting is fun and helps pupils to assimilate language chunks rather than words. The first rule of thumb is to designate roles – don’t let them choose or you could have 20 lions! Keep the script short and simple and give the children a copy of the ‘whole play’ (one page at most) highlighting their part. Make simple costumes for each of them such as a crown, a wand, a hat, etc. Let them have as many rehearsals as they need and if you can, video them as this gives it that extra importance.

Have fun!
Last but absolutely essential is having fun, as studies have proved that this greatly benefits the learning process. We need to think about how to sustain all that enthusiasm so that they wish that all their lessons were as enjoyable as English!  But it’s also necessary for you to believe in what you do and enjoy what you’ve planned so that hopefully all your positive energy and attitude will be absorbed by the kids. It’s a good job you can close the door and no one can see you because sometimes it seems like you’re having a better time than your pupils!

Josefina Ares is a teacher and teacher trainer based in Ponferrada.