Language Arts (again)

Looking for opportunities to chat with the pupils

Language arts classes are a lot of fun for the pupils, and they should also be a lot of fun for the teachers (and mentors) as well. This week Teacher Rohaida got her Year 3 class at SK Jerantut Jaya to make animal masks after they had studied the 'safari' unit. The plan was for everyone to make an animal mask of their choice, and then to get into their animal group (pack? herd?) and make the appropriate animal noises.

It was lots of fun and everyone was relaxed and enjoying drawing, colouring and cutting. The teacher and mentor also joined in and made masks as well. There are lots of opportunities to speak to pupils during this kind of activity. There is the language of instruction, of course, but that is rather one-way (teacher output, pupil input) and although it's important, it's not much fun. Chatting is a lot more fun, and there are a lot more opportunities for pupil 'output'. Just by chatting, we are talking back and forth in a meaningful way. Whether we're talking about colours and animals or likes and dislikes, we are expressing ourselves and sharing real information, no matter how simple or basic.

Showing pupils my elephant mask and asking them to admire my frog mask is a sure way to get the conversation going. Another guaranteed way to get a response is to look at someone's tiger mask and admire their 'hamster picture'. It never gets old.