MAC&COMMUNICATION
  • Home
  • Blog 今日の出来事
  • English 英語
  • Classes/Events 授業・行事
    • 園児
    • 1, 2 年生
    • 3年生
    • 4年生
    • 5年生
    • 6年生
    • Teens 中学生
    • Photos and Videos 写真や動画
    • Christmas クリスマス
    • Halloween ハロウィーン
    • Performance 発表会
  • Around the world 国際交流
    • 水5時Poland 2015〜Margit's Academy
    • 火4時Spain~ Margit's Academy 
    • 木5時 France〜Margit's Academy
    • 金4時Russia〜Japan
    • 木5時, Russia 〜 Margit's Academy, 
    • Exchange Project Poland ポーランドプロジェクト 2013
  • Parents & Kids・親子で楽しく
  • Contact 問い合わせ
  • Untitled

Step by step

Game of the month (January)

2/7/2021

0 コメント

 

Codenames



Do you know the game 'Codenames'?  If not, go ahead and read, watch You Tube videos about it, and more than anything else TRY IT!

It is so much fun, gets your brain working and thinking out of the box.
It looks pretty easy until you actually become a 'Spymaster'.  

I've played it in all my teens classes last month, and the kids loved it so much, they are begging for 'just one more round', even though lesson time is over, it is 8h30 pm, they haven't had dinner yet, and are in the middle of their exams.

The other day we had class on Zoom, and we tried the online version, but unfortunately that one didn't work well, due to too much traffic, I suppose.

But it is easy to make one for online teaching as well, using just the words we would like to practice or review.

As you can guess from the picture ↓, I have been using different cards to play.  I admit, I didn't buy the game.

I will write about this↓game again in a different blog.
But for JANUARY definitely our game of the month was

画像

CODEnames!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0 コメント

Stories , Cartoons,  Manga,  Animations

2/5/2021

0 コメント

 

4 Frame Cartoons

Over the last year I have tried to get more comprehension into my Phonics instructions from a very early stage.
I am creating 4-frame-cartoon stories (without pictures), and the kids read them and draw the cartoons.

100% Understanding

What I found most important for this is, that the kids can understand the story 100%.  No new vocabulary or grammar included.
It works a treat.  My kids have improved their reading in highest speed and confidence.

Part of a story after 'ur' and 'ar' sounds

Story on right after first 26 sounds.  

More about the story on the left below!
My students love it so much, they create stories without having to do this for homework:
​
画像

Monty the Penguin

I learned about this video in last year's Comprehended Conference., from Madame Litten.
I looked into it this winter, and changed the lesson plan so it suits my needs.
Such a fun video.
And for next week, I entirely changed the Cartoon Story, still 100% comprehended.  I am looking forward to what the kids will come up with:
​


​It is Valentine soon!  ♡♡♡


​Here is a link to the pdf.  
0 コメント

Comprehended 2021

2/2/2021

0 コメント

 
画像


How to choose what to watch


I got requests from teachers to give some ideas on how to go about with the HUGE CONFERENCE, 'Comprehended Online' as there are sooooo many great!!! presenters and presentations.

There is no real formula, but from the eyes of me as a
PRIVATE ESL and GERMAN TEACHER & schoolowner, I am happy to share my thoughts.


​Many 'new' presenters
​

Ahead, I must say, this year the conference is huge, it has always been, but never have I seen THIS amount of presenters, so there are many names, I myself don't know yet.  And I bet all of them are worth watching, so forgive me but in the end we all have to figure out ourselves.

I can tell you how I went ahead so far:


Who are you teaching?

Who do you need ideas for?

Little kids?  Teenagers?  Adults?  

What are you looking for?

Writing?
Reading?
Speaking?
Online teaching (I think there is an extra section this year)

Classroom demonstrations

This one is big for me.
If a presenter just talks about what is done, or if he actually shows it, is such a difference.
So, I usually start here.

However, there are lots of gems of classdemonstrations in presentations, that are not listed under this section here.  MY OWN ONE AS WELL!  I have LOTS of Classroom videos from different ages and stages in my presentation, so make sure you don't stop after watching the demo section.

​GAMES

I also watch ANYTHING that seems to be about classroom games! 
Obvious!


I usually skip:
Classroom management (don't really have huge issues, and if I do they are so different from most teachers in the conference because most of them teach in regular schools)
same with 
Curriculum 
Assessments and grading (don't have to do this)

My favorites


Movie talk
Reading related things.


Presenters I highly recommend


This is soo hard.  Mostly all of them.
They are very different though, all of them.  No two alike.  And as the presentations are usually quite long I find it very important to find those that suit you.  Their style, way of talking, way of teaching....!

A good idea might be to check some of the names beforehand, most of them have websites.

I got the kick of it all through La Maestra Loca.
She is also teaching in 'regular schools', but her classroom just looks as 'crazy' as mine, without desks, often lying on the floor when writing, brainbreaks whenever possible, and just energizing!  

Getting more and more into the whole idea behind CI, last year I was very impressed with Madame Litten!  She also offers a wonderful amazing list of materials and just inspires.  I would check all of hers.

This year I am very curious about Ben Fisher, as he is a  German language teacher, and those are rare in CI.  But now I checked and WOW, there are a few more of them this year,  GREAT

Then the Jamboard presentation, as I just learned about it in the 
Ditch Summit and I  have had some great classes using Jamboard.

And of course the one about songs.  I think this will be the first one I jump into.

You should also make sure that, even if you don't listen to all of the presentations, do check the pdfs coming with them and download! There is a lot of great material!


​
I hope this all helps a bit.


BTW, The conference starts on February 14 (HAPPY VALENTINE!  Do yourself a favor)
​
you can still sign up HERE
And:
Use coupon code 25OFF to save $25

​
0 コメント

Demon Slayer for ESL

1/31/2021

2 コメント

 

Demon Slayer Jamboard


Admitted, today I am being lazy.

I have been thinking all weekend about next week's classes.  Staying ONLINE, going OFFLINE.  And many things around that.  It made me so tired.

So, instead of writing a blogpost, I made another Jamboard I want to use in class next week.  And if you like, use it.

Kids interactively will drag the yellow tiles on the pictures.
Then, they will write a description of each character in slides 3-10.

Hope you can make use of it.  My kids love it.


​
​Here is the link

One month is over.  Have a great start of February, and a wonderful week.
​
2 コメント

Winter Storytelling

1/29/2021

0 コメント

 

Storytelling with short Animations~snowman


In one of my posts this week, I mentioned another way for a winter (snowman) topic.  

Read all through the end, because the big tips come further down!
​
画像


Stories!
​

I've mentioned various ways of storytelling so far in past posts.  Kids love stories, and I do not get fixed on ONE method.  And there are many:

Reading a book.
Retelling a book.
Creating a story together from pictures, from videos,...
using Story Cubes
using songs.
And and and.

The one method I use most frequently now, and kids just get so creative about is movietalk.

I learned about Movie talk several years ago, in a CI Conference.
The way La Maestra Loca introduced it, fit excellently with my classes, so I started of doing it her way.

After a while little by little my own style and ideas came alive more and more, and ...that is what I will be presenting about this year myself at just that CI Conference.  So, if you want to learn more about the details of Movie talk, or learn and practice one of the hundreds way of storytelling, check that link and see if you can still get a slot to participate.  Regular registration was planned to be till midst of January, but because everything is different this year, you might have a chance.  No idea, but asking is free.

Anyway.  Let me share a few mini movies, I use around this time of year.

As with most of the videos, I learned, and love it the way, that you stop the video all few seconds and talk about the details in each little passage.
Who is there?
Where is she?
HOw old is she?
What is the weather like?
What is she doing? ...

Also lots of time for prediction:
Why is she doing this?
What is he going to do next?
Why ....


This movie is VERY moving!


Under the winter sun


This is another moving animation, with lots of vocab.  The great thing is that you can choose one of these videos for this year's season and then go with this one video for all levels.

For simpler questions here you could have them describe how Snowman A (We call him Frosty) makes Snowman B (WE call him Icy)

Or, what their favorite winter sports are.

For older kids you can get into feelings, and WHY Frosty feels sad, happy, etc.

If you are interested in this story's pdf, leave me a message and I will send it to you.


​The snowman


And another cute one, which goes well with Moral Education Class as well:
​

And finally, in case you like to work with lyrics and songs and love SIA:



It is really cold again today. 
Have yourself a heartwarming drink, a cuddly blanket and a good story, and ENJOY THE WEEKEND.
0 コメント

Daruma

1/27/2021

0 コメント

 

What is a Daruma, and what does it have to do with a snowman?

画像


In my last post I talked about my favorite topic for ESL class, 'Let's make a snowman' >>>and why I use the Japanese word 'daruma' when talking to my students.

So, let me explain what 'daruma' is.
​


India>China>Japan
​


It is one of these things with roots back in India.   
'Bodhidharma was a buddist monk, in the 5th or 6th century, and pretty little facts are known about him. 
However, he was the one who took Buddhism from India to China and from there to Japan, where it evolved into Zen.

According to my findings he is also the father of Martial Arts.

There seems no doubt about his look though.  Big eyes, thick eyebrows, beard and mustache, and a red (cape) covering his body.  
Please do read the Link I have added ↑‥There are some rather interesting legends and stories about him.

Daruma in Japan


And finally  I can explain you a bit more, what a Japanese Daruma is.
In the foto I posted under the title you see a bunch of Daruma.
You get them in all sizes from mini to giant.
Most common is a 4,5 cm tall Daruma, usually made of wood.
It comes without the black eyes.  So, just white 'eyeholes'.

Why?

After buying it, one makes a wish and draws a black eye into the left white part.
When the wish comes true, -this may take time- the owner draws a black eye in the right part. You maybe won't be able to read the Japanese, but have a look at some beautiful Daruma made of different materials, here.



conncetion to snowman

The connection to the word 'Snowman' is simply the looks, I think.
The Japanese word for SNOW is YUKI
And SNOWMAN is 'YUKIDARUMA.

DARUMA=達磨


This is the Japanese Character for DARUMA and it consists of :
達='to pass' or 'enlighten'
磨='to polish'

As I mentioned in my post the other day:  I am using the word 'daruma' because for kids it is this roundish jolly shape of a snowman, and noone can tell me that I am ignoring any genders.  So instead of Fruitsmen we have Fruits Daruma, ...

​😉



画像
0 コメント

one of my favorite topics of the year!

1/25/2021

0 コメント

 

Let's make a snowman.
​

画像
Why do I love it so?  

It improves language as well as thinking skills, as well as creativity.

It could start teaching simply the words :
Make a snowball
Make head, eye, nose, mouth..etc.


The next level would maybe be:
'A snowball for its body/ head/ .. '
'A carrot for its nose.' etc etc


Then the next year  it would go on to:
We need a snowball for his head. etc.
or
I make a snowball for his head etc.


So, lots of language improvement, but that is not all:


Culture



Funny to see how different the culture of snowmen is.
Here in Japan people are always completely surprised when they see my pictures of snowmen having three balls.


And more even when I tell the kids that I used to give my snowman always coal eyes, and later, when we had no coal, potatoes for his eyes as well as for his buttons.


Even the carrot nose, most kids cannot believe.  Using food for playing is not common here in Japan.  

And of course all this can lead into great and engaging talks, either in L1 for very little kids, or in the target language for higher grades.

BTW: How do YOU usually make snowmen?
Two snowballs or three?  Or maybe four?  Or none, and just a little hill instead?

And from here I get to the next topic:


Creativity 


The fun part aside the 'SNOWMAN' is, that we make all kinds of other creatures, using the same concept.
By the way, I want to use the word 'Daruma' (The Japanese word for the 'man' in 'Snowman'  because I don't want to get into trouble with teachers who think I am not thinking enough about the equality of genders.  

I will write another post about the origin of this word, though many of you may have recognized it from 'Bodhidharma' 

Let's get back to the lessons:
So, after having made 'Snow Daruma' we make 
'Fruits daruma '
First I do a little 'dictation' and the kids draw the pictures.  They mostly say 'This can't be correct.  I think I misunderstand you', when I tell them:

A pineapple for his nose.
Three bananas around his neck.


But once they  realize they did perfectly well, they are eager to create some more of these funny guys for homework;  they send it in with a video presenting in English.


...Daruma

Next it can be anything.
Sometimes I leave it up to them.
Sometimes I give another topic, like 'Sports daruma' or 'Hobby Daruma' or have them come up with topics.
​Lots of great thinking involved here.

These are some recent ones a few kids presented to me.

​


Stories Stories Stories.

And finally then, there are so many stories about/with snowmen.
Another post for this.

Have a wonderful, white day,  and please post me some photos of your snowmen!


0 コメント

Little Red Riding Hood interactive

1/24/2021

0 コメント

 

Little Red Riding Hood Jamboard Template

画像

Last week I got some of you disappointed because the Gingerbread Man is out of season.  
So here is another of my Jamboard Templates which you can try and edit if you like.
I hope Little Red Riding Hood is less season dependent.

I learned about Jamboard and how to create, edit, share and work (with) them in December's Ditch Summit.  Some amazing educators to follow there, who I will blog about at another time.

Anyway, enjoy watching the kids reading and dragging the word cards on the pictures!  It is great.

You can of course also set this as homework.  
​Have a great Sunday.
0 コメント

A Little present for you

1/20/2021

0 コメント

 

A jamboard template

​



​
Hello everyone.  I know most of you are having a hard time, now, longing to meet and hug your students.  It is tough, isn't it?  And how much were we thinking the teaching online would be so inspiring, relaxing and relevant.

Well, it does have so great aspects, and how lucky are we, that we CAN do this.
But it gets exhausting.

So exhausting that I hardly updated this page for a long time.  I hope to change this this year.

First of all a little present for you.
I created a Jamboard, which you are free to use, edit and work with.

I guess for many of you the topic is not a January theme.
For me this is a story I start teaching in winter, and then I arrange it and have the kids create their own versions, so we often do it in the middle of summer.

Hopefully this can inspire you a little.  Let me know what you think.
And 
Hang in there!  We will make it!


​Here is the link!
0 コメント

Big News:   I Got accepted as a presenter at Comprehended!                                                                    The  Online CI Conference

11/23/2020

0 コメント

 

 accepted !   wow.

For several years I have participated as a listener in this conference, and have learned sooooo much.

The teachers presenting here are so inspiring, so creative, so passionate, so transparent, and so out of the box!  
​
画像
When I read the announcement of next year's conference I wanted to sign up right away, but I pressed a different tab and ended in a 'proposal section'.
Uh, wow!  I figured that I fulfill all the needs to get my proposal out, and thanks to this very challenging yet amazing teaching year or 2020, I also felt that I have a few new ideas that would inspire  other teachers.
So, I did it~and ....Congratulations to me, I got in.

So humble and grateful

This feels so weird to say, because really, all the presenters are sooooo amazing and huge.  How can my name be amongst everyone else.   
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!     I will do my very best.

Now, to all the language teachers who have been following me, supporting me, taking my courses, learning with me or from me:  If you want to give yourself a Christmas present, you want to enjoy for all over 2021 or even far beyond, don't hesitate to register.  This is such an amazing chance.  Don't miss all those great presenters.
I just checked the long list: HERE. and also the program: HERE 
This year there will also be quite a lot ideas for Online learning.  

Go and check the program.  Do not miss it.

And of course I will be honored and encouraged if you also log in and check my completely new presentation, no one has seen yet ~and it will only be viewable on Comprehended.  My presentation will be about what I call 'Soundstories'.  I wrote a blog about how it started, but this year it developed into more.
0 コメント
<<前へ
    画像


    Margit Yokota
    
    Born and grown up in Germany I came to Japan with 22 to make my mom's wish come true:
    BE HAPPY!
    Now I'm a mother and I wish from my heart that my kids
    BE HAPPY!
    And I'm an educator and I do all I can to fulfill this big dream of most parents for their kids:
    BE HAPPY!

    Archives

    2 月 2021
    1 月 2021
    11 月 2020
    6 月 2020
    5 月 2020
    4 月 2020
    3 月 2020
    1 月 2020
    9 月 2019
    8 月 2019
    7 月 2019
    6 月 2019
    5 月 2019
    4 月 2019
    3 月 2019
    1 月 2019
    12 月 2018
    10 月 2018
    9 月 2018
    8 月 2018
    7 月 2018
    6 月 2018
    5 月 2018
    4 月 2018
    3 月 2018
    2 月 2018
    1 月 2018
    12 月 2017
    11 月 2017
    10 月 2017
    8 月 2017
    7 月 2017
    6 月 2017
    5 月 2017
    4 月 2017
    1 月 2017
    12 月 2016
    11 月 2016
    10 月 2016
    9 月 2016
    8 月 2016
    7 月 2016
    6 月 2016
    5 月 2016
    4 月 2016
    3 月 2016
    2 月 2016
    1 月 2016
    12 月 2015
    11 月 2015
    10 月 2015
    9 月 2015
    8 月 2015
    7 月 2015
    6 月 2015
    5 月 2015
    4 月 2015
    3 月 2015

    Categories

    すべて
    Challenge Ideas
    Classroom Ideas
    Easter And Spring
    Events
    Life In Japan
    Phonics
    Show
    Teacher Training
    Teaching Online
    Teenagers
    Travelling

    RSS フィード

    Archives

    2 月 2021
    1 月 2021
    11 月 2020
    6 月 2020
    5 月 2020
    4 月 2020
    3 月 2020
    1 月 2020
    9 月 2019
    8 月 2019
    7 月 2019
    6 月 2019
    5 月 2019
    4 月 2019
    3 月 2019
    1 月 2019
    12 月 2018
    10 月 2018
    9 月 2018
    8 月 2018
    7 月 2018
    6 月 2018
    5 月 2018
    4 月 2018
    3 月 2018
    2 月 2018
    1 月 2018
    12 月 2017
    11 月 2017
    10 月 2017
    8 月 2017
    7 月 2017
    6 月 2017
    5 月 2017
    4 月 2017
    1 月 2017
    12 月 2016
    11 月 2016
    10 月 2016
    9 月 2016
    8 月 2016
    7 月 2016
    6 月 2016
    5 月 2016
    4 月 2016
    3 月 2016
    2 月 2016
    1 月 2016
    12 月 2015
    11 月 2015
    10 月 2015
    9 月 2015
    8 月 2015
    7 月 2015
    6 月 2015
    5 月 2015
    4 月 2015
    3 月 2015

パワーの元は、 カスタマイズ可能なテンプレートを使用してあなただけのウェブサイトを作成しましょう。
  • Home
  • Blog 今日の出来事
  • English 英語
  • Classes/Events 授業・行事
    • 園児
    • 1, 2 年生
    • 3年生
    • 4年生
    • 5年生
    • 6年生
    • Teens 中学生
    • Photos and Videos 写真や動画
    • Christmas クリスマス
    • Halloween ハロウィーン
    • Performance 発表会
  • Around the world 国際交流
    • 水5時Poland 2015〜Margit's Academy
    • 火4時Spain~ Margit's Academy 
    • 木5時 France〜Margit's Academy
    • 金4時Russia〜Japan
    • 木5時, Russia 〜 Margit's Academy, 
    • Exchange Project Poland ポーランドプロジェクト 2013
  • Parents & Kids・親子で楽しく
  • Contact 問い合わせ
  • Untitled