'Top 5' seem to be very popular.  So, today let me share my TOP 5 PLAYS.  In general theses are stories (or picture books) arranged to ESL plays.
​1.  The Gingerbread Man
In the version below the kids chose to use the topic and characters from FROZEN, and did a great job remembering the song in the final.

Reason:
It has a very simple repetitive pattern.

It is easily arranged into an original story, the students can create themselves.

It includes useful language.

And, the variations of this story are hilarious (of course with kids), but also with adult classes.

2.  Pete the Cat

Reason:
The books of Pete the Cat have a wonderful positive energizing philosophy.

They have rhythm.
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Easy to understand and play even for little kids.  
Just FUN!

​3.  The very hungry caterpillar

Reason:
Every kid knows and understands the story.

You can use many approaches, crafts, activities, songs to practice the story.

You can add all the language kids have learned so far.  Greetings, Emotions, Likes, Dislikes, Movements, Fruits and Foods, Weekdays, Time
but you don't have to/  You can also limit it all to just what the kids have learned so far.
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It is colorful and cute 

4.  Little Red Riding Hood

Everyone knows the story.
Something for boys and girls.
Lots of every day language.
Challenges acting skills.  

And number 5:
This is my new favorite, and the video won't be up till my show this year is over:
Little Blue and Little Yellow

Reason:
You can use it for the youngest and go into depth with older kids.
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You can add many activities, songs and games.

During the input you will find yourself teaching science without even realizing.  

Hope you enjoyed it and let me know if there are any other TOP 5s you would like to read about in the comments.

Early Bird registration finishing soon.
Looking forward to 4 more teachers.  Who will it be?
Please take advantage of the 2 for 1 if you are a VIP of my teacher courses.

Exact dates for the workshop:  July, 22, 23.

Contact me via mail or phone.
See you there!
​

In my Online Teaching Training, one question asked regularly is:
What are your top 5 games.

Here you go (click on the links for detailed description)
​1.  LEAP FROG  GAME

Reason:
You can play it from 1 student to endless number of students.  (My biggest class for this game was 40 kids)
You can use it as a vocabulary drill
or 
as a practice for whole sentences
It is super easy to set up and can be played with any level student, even complete beginners.
It goes with any topic.

​2.  Timerace
​(Just figured out that it seems I changed the name of this game.  Sorry for the confusion~)Video will follow soon.

Reason:
Nothing needed but a stop watch (or your i phone)
Kids become fluent just by doing and talking. 
Students have to  support each other, there is no single winner or looser, it is the class beating their own time. 
Thus:  amazing class development /management game.
Great fun, super energizing.

3. Lines Quiz~in any variation

No materials needed, 
fast, 
easy to arrange and to adjust to whatever you want to practice.

Reason
Needs no preparation
Kids will beg me to play it again and again because it is so much  fun.
Lots of running to get every one tired and forgetting they are speaking English
Great game for class management
Variable for all kinds of topics.

Not really sure wether this comes in 5th place, but pretty high up.  And I want to add one more game you can play with ANY age.  (2 and 4 are a bit tough for Kindergarteners)
So, this one is great because, again:
No prep!  (see, I am a no prep person...)
Kids LOVE it.
You can practice grammar with it and marvelous,
in summer there is nothing better than THIS!
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After the great feed back of last year's teacher training here in Shiga, I promised to offer another one this year.
And~here you go:
2 Days Master Training Seminar in Shiga

Time:  July  22, 23
Location:  Shiga Prefecture, Otsu city, Katata
(For those who don't commute I will reserve a beautiful lodge on a quiet beach of Lake Biwa, where you can even get a morning (or night) swim and beautiful sunrise.
Day 1:  Full Day Teacher Training:
You will experience (I'm sure, not for the first time) what 'learning a language' means, and how your students feel in the classroom.  I will use German to show you techniques  and methods that work (and also why others don't).  All 100% practical, so you learn 'as a student' and 'as a teacher' at once.
Lots of activities, games, brainbreaks you can take as they are and use in your classroom.
Second half I plan  to go a bit into more 'advanced' activities and methods including reading and writing , again all practical.
The number of participants is limited so we will be able to figure out everyones' needs and work on these.

Day 2:  Margit's Academy Show:
Performance of my students , age 4-12.  
Two Shows of same content, performed by different classes. 
You will experience not only the kids, but also the parents and how I get them involved.

Price: 　　　　　
Regular:         29800円
Early Bird:     24800円　　　（till May 25th)
And finally a super offer for Members of Margit's Teacher Training:
2 for 1:  If you bring one new teacher,  2 of you join for
1 price.

I am looking forward to seeing you all,  please apply via contact form ,
leave a comment or call.
If you have further questions don't hesitate to contact.

Finally I am working on my 'Parents & Kids' site and this week there will be one video per day, showing one of my 6 year olds doing her homework.  It shows each step in detail.
Sum it up to a homework of 10 minutes.  This girl is doing the topic for the first time. I know you will enjoy listening to her great pronunciation and the improvement while doing it.
Here!