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The action or an instance of making a judgment about something : the act of assessing something : appraisal. assessment of damages. an assessment of the president's achievements. : the amount assessed : an amount that a person is officially required to pay especially as a tax. the tax assessment on property.

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1. information about reactions to a product, a person's performance of a task, etc. which is used as a basis for improvement.

"throughout this process we have obtained valuable feedback"

2. Helpful information or criticism that is given to someone to say what can be done to improve a performance, product, etc.

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Why is motivation important for young learners?

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Why is motivation important for young learners?

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Motivating children in the early stages of their childhood, help young minds learn to take on more responsibility and indulge in more creative and varied learning throughout their life. On the other hand, without motivation, they tend to become more reclusive and often fall prey to behavioural and psychological issues.

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What is modern teaching? “The teaching method which focuses more on teaching the students for improving their intellect behavior by using various new and innovative ideas rather than making them recite the syllabus to clear the examination with the same old style is Modern Teaching Methods in simple words.”

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Can you remember the first time you truly felt motivated to do something? What were you motivated to do? What was it that motivated you?

The answers will vary greatly, from those who felt motivated to simply succeed because they were told they couldn't, to others who were motivated by financial gain. Some may have first experienced the feeling because they knew exactly what they wanted to do as a career for the rest of their life, and the thrill and enjoyment of knowing they were doing something they loved was supreme motivation.

Anyway, the specific answer doesn't really matter, but the point I'm getting to is, how do you spark that type of motivation in a child? How do you encourage someone who hasn't really reached a level of pride to develop an "I'll show you" mentality, or one who doesn't really care yet about earning anything financially, or what they want to do when they get older?

With kids, they know and are engrossed with what's in front of them, and don't really pay any mind to what might be waiting years or even weeks down the road.

So, how do you motivate such young learners? Both those who need a spark to get started, and those who need a kickstart to curb back to school burnout.

I'm speaking from the perspective of a parent because that's what I know and have experience with-how to motivate kids to work on their own without being told; how to motivate kids to continue learning from home the things they're learning at school; how to motivate kids to learn things they might not ever even learn in school.

All of that said, some of the general guiding points can be applied - to an extent - inside the classroom as well, with the overall goal, no matter who is reading this, to motivate children to keep moving themselves forward.

How to motivate young learners

1. Ask questions

Of course, we say a lot of things like kids "can't," "don't," or "won't," but sometimes we don't know, and are just guessing or assuming. In this case, it might be the thinking that "No, that wouldn't motivate my student," but do we really know that?

The best way to approach it, then, is to ask. Ask them what they enjoy, what they are learning about, and how they like learning about those things.

Of course, we can't let young learners dictate their days, but if we know there is so much in front of them that they should be learning, is there any harm in asking what they want to learn about today, and then asking again tomorrow in hopes that their answers change as they progress?

Now, if the answer is always the same, and kids aren't motivated to learn anything but the one thing they keep mentioning, then it's time to move on to another approach.

2. Connect learning with their interests

It's a basic idea but one we seem to overlook at times. For instance, if I want my son to read more at home, I can probably increase his motivation to do so by giving him books about Lightning McQueen and other Pixar characters.

There are countless examples and opportunities in this regard, and it doesn't mean you have to go out and "buy all the things." You might, however, have to use your imagination at times to think about how something like baseball can help kids learn arithmetic, or how to replace video games with different yet related hobbies, etc.

3. Play to their curiosities

What is one thing most kids are above anything else? Curious. "Why," "why," "why;" and "when;" "but what about XYZ.," etc.

Once a certain age is hit, the questions come fast and furious. And, no answer is good enough, and "just because" is more of an invitation for additional questions than it is the conversation-stopper you had hoped it would be.

So, use that to your advantage. Introduce something new and see what happens. Put something in front of young learners without context or conversation other than "here you go," and see what happens. You might get further by saying less, and allowing kids' curiosities fuel the questions, which in turn can fuel their motivation.

4. Introduce gamification

Gamification is powerful for all of us of at any age. For kids, it offers a built-in motivation system.

Meaning, many kids might not be motivated because they don't know what they don't know. A gamification system introduces structure, and dangles a carrot. Now they see what's in front of them; they see their progress, and make the connection between that progress and attainment, and are then motivated to engage.

5. Try different types of learning

Even just a few years ago, you hear "learning" and you might immediately think school, or even only think school. But today, education is much different, and comes in many different shapes and sizes.

So, if kids aren't motivated from their everyday schooling, give online tutoring a shot, or if during the summer and looking for inspiration, a virtual summer camp. There are also after school centers, self-paced online education portals, school clubs, and so much more.

6. Give them feedback, on the good and bad

Last, the ultimate piece, right? Encourage the good behaviors and extinguish the bad. The benefits of offering praise are obvious-it reinforces the behavior, makes kids feel good, and motivates them to achieve that feeling more and more.

And then, when you see them heading down the wrong path, letting them know starts to build accountability, and from that accountability comes the motivation to want to please and show us as parents that they are capable of doing what's being asked of them.

You're already on the right track

Meaning if you're here and researching how to motivate your child or student to learn more, or even better, to want to learn more, you're already on the right track. There are a ton of variables at play here, so some things will work, and some won't at all.

But, as parents or as educators, naturally, we will continue to try and do what's best for our young minds, so perhaps the final tip is to just simply give ourselves a break, and try to look at things not through the lens of "what am I doing wrong" and instead "it's only a matter of time."

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How to Motivate Young Learners | Examples & Ways to Inspire at Home & School

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Can you remember the first time you truly felt motivated to do something? What were you motivated to do? What was it that motivated you? The answers will vary greatly, from those who felt motivated to simply succeed because they were told they couldn't, to others who were motivated by financial gain.

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Good classroom management isn't simply about keeping everyone in their seats and quiet. It's about building strong relationships with your students, encouraging them to take part in their own learning, and sharing a little of yourself. A classroom culture that is good for kids is good for teachers, too.

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Educational toys will usually enhance a child's learning through developing their logic and problem solving skills, encouraging communication skills, refining motor skills and nurturing their creativity.

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Helping your little one with their speech development can be an exciting and nerve-wracking process. You're reading the milestone charts and know what to expect, but is there anything you can do to help your child with their speech and language skills at home?

The (exciting) truth is - yes! You can help your child with their speech and language development at home. In fact, there is likely a whole selection of toys that you have lying around the house (or in your toy bin) that you can use when playing with your child to help support their language and speech development.

Here are six much-loved toys and the different ways you can use them to support speech and language development.

First up we'd like to shine a spotlight on Building Blocks. Whether you've got a set of wooden blocks like the ones pictured at home or something more similar to Legos or large plastic building blocks, you've got a great foundational toy to support your child's speech and language development.

Blocks are great for sparking your child's creativity and imagination. They also can be used to build skills to support a variety of speech and language goals. From naming colours to learning concepts like 'high', 'tall', 'up', 'fall', there is so much that you can do with a simple set of Building Blocks. This is one of our go-to toys to help with Language Development at home.

Toy animals of all kinds can be a wonderful addition to any play session. At home you might have stuffed toys, small plastic toy animals, or even wooden toy animals. Whatever you have available, you can use It to practice naming animals and making animal noises with your little one. You could also create stories with the animals, giving them names, and getting creative. Let your child take the lead and see what they come up with.

Do you have a play tent or tunnel set at home? Whether it's in the house or in the garden, this active toy is a great tool for helping your child with language development - all while having heaps of fun! You can incorporate language learning into an active play session by focusing on concepts like 'in' 'out', 'bounce', 'jump', 'through', 'run'.

Puzzles are another toy that you likely already have that can be used to support your child's language development. Simple wooden puzzles with different animals and themes can help build your child's vocabulary and early language skills as you play together. If you have something like the one pictured, your puzzle may make noises or have other interactive features, although this isn't necessary to get good results from puzzle time with your little one.

Did someone say vroom vroom? That's right, cars and other motor vehicles can be great fun and valuable learning opportunities at home. You could even include trains or planes if they are what you have available!

With this group of toys, you can work on naming colours, using descriptive words, counting, and following directions to name a few.

A favourite toy of many kids, a doll house, can actually play an important role in speech and language development! It doesn't have to be a traditional doll house either - you could opt for a tree house like the one pictured, or even a large play farmhouse if that is more up your child's alley.

You can use a toy house to expand your child's vocabulary, practice telling stories and using correct grammar, and as a bonus it is a whole lot of fun. If you have more than one child, playing with a doll house can help build sharing and other social skills that will be useful as they move into kindy and prep.

Depending on the type of doll house you have at home you can find the right character toys or animals to go in the structure (categories) and can play with what items would be 'silly' to have in the doll house and which ones would be more 'real'.

We hope you've found at least a few new ideas to try out at home with your little one. If you'd like more ideas on how to incorporate Language-Rich Play at home, check out our free e-book for parents here.
Sources: https://speechtherapytalk.com/early-childhood-development/how-to-play-with-toddler/best-kids-toys-to-develop-language/

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6 Toys to Help with Speech Development You Probably Already Have

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Helping your little one with their speech development can be an exciting and nerve-wracking process. You're reading the milestone charts and know what to expect, but is there anything you can do to help your child with their speech and language skills at home? The (exciting) truth is - yes!

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Activity based teaching is a method adopted by a teacher to emphasize his or her technique of teaching through action in which the learners take interest comprehensively and realize effective learning practices. It is the procedure in which the child is effectively included in taking interest rationally and physically.

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If you are looking for new tools to diversify your daily classroom activities, register as a teacher on the website to start a free trial period (only this week)! Happy Numbers offers a curriculum in which students study mathematical procedures consistently. They increase and deepen knowledge using descriptive visual models, supplemented by manipulative mechanics and expressive animation.

Your Guide to the Top Teaching Methodologies in Primary School

In this article we have listed and made a review of the most popular approaches that might be useful for teachers.

The list of teaching methodologies you could use with elementary-aged students is a long one. An approach effective for one teacher may not necessarily be useful for another because every method uses different tools and techniques for achieving common educational goals. That's why many teachers try to extract some ideas from different approaches, mixing and incorporating them into one unique teaching approach depending on the students' and school's needs and other circumstances.

Besides that, keep in mind that no matter which of the methods listed below a teacher chooses, nowadays it seems quite difficult to implement any approach without relying on technology. That is one of the reasons why Happy Numbers was created: to help teachers incorporate their ideas into one digitally-guided learning experience and let students benefit from it, without losing their interest.

Are you ready to learn more about some of the best methods of teaching? Check out our list and analysis below to learn which methods have the research to back them up:

List Of Teaching Methods

1. Teacher-Centered Instruction

Recognized as the most conventional approach, the teacher-centered methodology is based on the idea that the teacher has the main responsibility in the learning environment. Teachers are in charge of the classroom and direct all activities. Typically, in this approach, students are seated at individual desks that face the teacher. While group work may take place, most classroom time is spent with the teacher explaining concepts and assigning individual work. In other words, students passively absorb the information while the teacher actively delivers it.

This and other comparativist theories developed and proven by many scientists are described and analyzed in "A Comparison of Teacher-Centered and Student-Centered Approaches in Educational Settings" article.

2. Small Group Instruction

Small group instruction (SGI) usually follows whole group instruction and provides students with a reduced student-teacher ratio, typically in groups of four to six students. SGI allows teachers to work more closely with each student on a specific learning objective, reinforce skills learned in whole group instruction, and check for student understanding. This teaching method is based on constant activities around workstations: groups working with the teacher and groups working independently on varied activities, such as using manipulatives or computer/online resources.

If you liked the article and want to find more effective small-group instruction strategies for your lessons, check out the activities and ideas provided by Happy Numbers and start a free trial (which is available only this week) right now!

Speaking of digital resources, they have been showing their huge potential lately, and Happy Numbers is no exception. The platform has been effectively used by many experienced teachers to improve their small group instructional techniques. The Happy Numbers curriculum perfectly integrates the main principles of the approach and helps teachers to plan their lessons accordingly.

Happy Numbers meets each student's individual needs, provides direct instruction, and always keeps them in their zone of proximal development, which allows them to independently close learning gaps. Moreover, its digital framework keeps students engaged throughout the whole course, letting them work independently and carefully monitoring their progress.

Advantages:
1. Lessons are adapted to each student's level. This allows teachers to provide targeted, differentiated instruction to small groups of students in a natural way. It helps the instructor to more closely evaluate what each student is capable of and construct strategic plans around the assessments.
2. It promotes students' social adaptation skills. Students who find it difficult to ask questions and participate in a large group setting may benefit from working in a small group setting, where they feel more at ease and less overwhelmed.

Disadvantages:
1. It takes more time and effort to prepare materials and organize workstations for each student group. Teachers need to think through each type of activity that will be provided at workstations: they should be equally engaging and effective.
2. Students might feel pressure to always be involved, always contributing to lessons, and always taking some kind of role in group work.

3. Student-Centered / Constructivist Approach

As we consider shifting the focus from teacher to students, the rest of the approaches from this list are considered to be student-centered or constructivist. With the development of the educational sphere and society in general, the idea of a student-centered approach has become more popular, and there are good reasons for that. Student-centered classrooms include students in planning, implementation, and assessments. Involving the learners in these decisions places more responsibility and ownership on them rather than on the teacher. Also, teachers must become comfortable with changing their leadership style from directive to consultative. Meanwhile, students may work in small groups, access centers, and move about the classroom freely.

We hope that the ideas shared in this article will help you and your students to succeed in this potentially challenging topic. If you do find these tips helpful, check out what Happy Numbers offers its users by setting up your class and starting a free trial which is available only this week!

Advantages:
1. Students play a more active role in their learning and develop a sense of responsibility.
2. Thanks to teachers avoiding transmission of knowledge directly, students have a chance to stimulate their analytical thinking, by "making sense of what they are learning by relating it to prior knowledge and by discussing it with others," according to American educational psychologist J. Brophy.

Disadvantages:
1. There is a risk of facing some behavioral problems by giving students independence, especially when it comes to young children. To avoid such problems, teachers must lay a groundwork by creating a model of correct behavior: having the freedom to do what you want means being ready to take responsibility for the process and the results.
2. This method works best when the instructor makes the lesson interesting. Without this, students may get bored, their minds may wander, and they may miss key information.

The student-centered approach can be difficult for teachers to master or perfect, and it doesn´t always guarantee a 100% outcome. However, the results can be very positive if teachers still employ the approach partially, blending these techniques with other types of lessons.

4. Project-Based Learning

A relatively new teaching method, project-based learning falls within the student-centered approach. As the name suggests, in project-based learning students complete projects. However, these are big, meaty projects in which students acquire knowledge, research, think critically, evaluate, analyze, make decisions, collaborate, and more.

Typically, projects are created in response to an open-ended question such as "How can our school be greener?" or "How was our city planned in the past and how could it be planned in the future?" Another important part of the projects is that they relate to real-world problems. The projects shouldn't just apply to the classroom but have an impact, too. For example, students might make a radio show for the whole school to hear. Or, they might write a letter to the town council and attend a meeting to express an opinion.

5. Montessori

This type of teaching is based on a methodology that's over 100 years old. Yet, it continues to offer a novel approach to creating a student-centered classroom.

Today, the Montessori method is most popular in preschools, kindergartens, and lower elementary grades. In this method, the teacher prepares an ideal classroom environment full of activities that children may pick from to work on. Moreover, the teacher guides the children to ensure that they choose an adequate number of lessons from all of the subject areas.

The Montessori method also encourages the use of "materials" or carefully curated objects designed for learning. For example, there are trays containing different types of triangles or cards with definitions explaining the parts of a bird. Furthermore, the Montessori method includes areas of the curriculum that teach social skills and practical life skills, such as cooking and cleaning.

Here's a good scientific review written by Chloë Marshal l, one of the researchers of University College London, in which she describes Montessori education's effectiveness and key elements of it that are shared with other educational methods for those who are interested and want to start implementing it into their teaching.

6. Inquiry-Based Learning

What if learning was question-driven? This is exactly what inquiry -based learning is about: it engages students by making real-world connections through exploration and high-level questioning.

Still looking for some useful ideas to incorporate into your lesson plans? Your own "digital assistant" will not only help you diversify usual classroom activities but also will help optimize instruction and provide individual student data. Click "I am a teacher" on Happy Numbers' website to get started right now. Free trial is available only this week!

Advantages:
1. Teachers guide students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. To learn these skills, the teacher helps students think through their processes, teaches them possible approaches, and encourages them to try various methods.
2. Students are encouraged to fail as a part of the process and then improve their performance in subsequent activities.
3. Instead of repeating answers students have been taught, students learn to seek their own answers to questions. So, students develop strong research skills.

Still, one may find some useful techniques and ideas of inquiry-based learning for carefully implementing them into the lesson and benefiting from them, as the approach gives a lot of opportunities to promote students' problem solving abilities

7. Flipped Classroom

The concept of delivering online lectures that students can view from home to substitute lecturing in the classroom is known as flipped learning. The letters FLIP represent the four pillars included in this type of learning: Flexible environment, Learning culture shift, Intentional content, and Professional educator. This technique, in theory, allows for more time in class to be devoted to active learning rather than instruction.

Disadvantages:
1. It is difficult to implement: unequal access to technological resources disadvantages certain populations.
2. Being based mostly on auditory perception of students, it leads to less effective comprehension.
3. It depends highly on students' compliance: the approach assumes that students will complete the out-of-class preparation and always be prepared for participation in class. There's a risk though that not all students will always be prepared for the lesson.

Multiple case studies prove that the positive effect of this method outweighs shortcomings that may be easily avoided through the use of a partially flipped classroom. We're sure that teachers are likely to find some useful techniques of flipped learning and incorporate them into their own lessons.

8. Cooperative Learning

As the name suggests, cooperative learning involves a lot of group work. However, it also requires a lot of structure and intervention on the part of the teacher to make learning as effective as possible. Some commonly used cooperative learning strategies include "think-pair-share." Discussions in small groups or pairs can also be effective, as can a "jigsaw" approach. In the jigsaw model, students are broken into small groups to read or learn from a certain perspective. Then, changing their groups, members spread the information and share it with others.

Advantages:
1. It improves social skills through cooperative work, recreating real-world work situations in which collaboration and cooperation are required. One of the most vivid results of cooperative learning is described in American psychologist and professor of the John Hopkins University Robert E. Slavin's essential work "Cooperative learning: Theory, Research, and Practice".
2. It improves critical thinking: during the group work process, students will express their opinions or ideas with the other students in the group providing feedback. This feedback to each student will include critique as well as the interpretation of the opinions or ideas expressed.

Disadvantages:
1. There may be difficulties with distributing social roles among group members and, as a result, the detachment of one student from the group. There are risks of possible conflicts between group members, which demands more attention from the teacher.
2. Students working in the same group may have different speeds of learning.

9. Personalized Education

Personalized education takes the student-centered approach to a new level by, as much as possible, responding to each individual learner's unique needs, strengths, and weaknesses. Each student gets a learning plan that's based on what he or she knows and how he or she learns best. Through individualized instruction, learning is tailored to the student. It provides numerous and yet-to-be-discovered advantages for both teachers and students.

Advantages:
1. Personal attention is given to ensure that every child develops his or her intellectual and creative talents.
2. Studying in a supportive and caring environment promotes respectful student-teacher relationships and even teacher partnership with parents.

Disadvantages:
1. It can be time- and organization-demanding: teachers have to modify their pace, do a lot of preparation, and learn to comprehend and attend to each student's needs.

What Is the Best Method of Teaching?

There is no "best" method of teaching. However, many researchers today agree that including more student-centered learning approaches in the classroom can improve learning. Using only a teacher-centered approach leaves out many skills and learning opportunities for students. Yet, there may still be space for teacher-centered learning for some specific topics and learning objectives. However, teacher-centered learning shouldn't be the only strategy in your teacher toolbox.

The bottom line is that each teacher needs to find a teaching style that fits his or her personality. An effective teacher is a passionate teacher who is confident in what they're doing! So, if any of the strategies on this list of teaching methods intrigues you, why not look into it a bit more? You might discover a new method that motivates your students and improves their learning and your teaching experience!

Are you looking for a new tool in your teacher toolbox for teaching maths in a fun, engaging way that builds a deep understanding of the subject? Try Happy Numbers (it's free to try!) and watch your students grow 1.5 grade levels in just one school year!

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teaching methods;
project-based learning
inquiry-based learning
montessori method
teacher-centered methodology
student-centered approach
cooperative learning
personalized education

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List Of Teaching Methodologies Primary School - Math Blog for Differentiation

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If you are looking for new tools to diversify your daily classroom activities, register as a teacher on the website to start a free trial period (only this week)! Happy Numbers offers a curriculum in which students study mathematical procedures consistently. They increase and deepen knowledge using descriptive visual models, supplemented by manipulative mechanics and expressive animation.

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Little Memorial Library: Quality Course Design: Teaching/Learning Activities

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Little Memorial Library: Quality Course Design: Teaching/Learning Activities

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The design of teaching materials requires the student teachers to take a set of decisions, make choices and explain the reasons for them. This practice will grant them some autonomy (in terms of taking responsibility for decision- making), and create opportunities (and the necessity) for reflection.

When designing materials, teachers need to consider a number of factors. By taking time to consider educational goals—and ways to create and deliver materials appropriate to the specific body of students being taught—teachers will be more successful in creating quality teaching material that promotes learning.

Take into consideration individual needs and learning styles: Choose materials that present information in a variety of ways. Using mixed media (text, video, images, real world examples, graphs, etc.) make information more interesting and address learners' different learning styles.

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1.     Materials should help learners to develop confidence (Tomlinson, 2011)

2.     Materials should expose the learners to language in authentic use (Tomlinson, 2011)

3.     Materials should be culturally relevance

4.     Materials should stretch/challenge the learners

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Vocabulary plays an essential role in expressing ideas and thoughts. The well-known British linguist, Wilkins (1976) says people could describe few things without grammar, but they could express nothing without vocabulary. Widows (1987) thinks that native English speakers can understand language material with correct vocabulary but not so proper in grammar rules rather than those with correct grammar rules but not so proper in vocabulary use. Lord mentions that ‘vocabulary is by far the most sizable and unmanageable component in the learning of any language, whether for a foreign or one’s mother tongue because of thousands of different meanings’ (Lord, 1993:83).

Lewis (1992) holds the idea that vocabulary acquisition is the main task of second language acquisition and the language skills as listening, speaking, reading, writing and translating all can not go without vocabulary.

There are several ways to show the meanings of an English word, through such aids as: 1) objects that can easily be brought to class(umbrellas, scissors, tools, buttons of many colors and sizes, etc); 2) drawings by the teacher and drawings by the students; 3) demonstrations to show actions(Allen, 1983:41).

There are varieties of activities in a classroom to help students learn target language effectively, such as games, music, dramatic stories, amusing anecdotes etc. Role-play is one of them. Role-play helps students learn effectively and use target language as freely and communicatively as they can. Role-play aims at fostering the ability of students and is characterized as mutual teaching and learning. It can realize the teaching model of “students play a principle role and the teacher plays a leading role” (Littlewood, 1981:56).

According to De Neve and Heppner (1997), the main steps of designing role-play are summarized as follows:

· Firstly, teachers should choose a situation for a role play, keeping in mind students’ needs and interests. Teachers should select role-plays that will give the students an opportunity to practice what they have learned.

· The next step is to come up with ideas on how this situation may develop. Students’ level of language proficiency should be taken into consideration.

· After finishing selecting a suitable role play, teachers should predict the language needed for it. It is recommended to introduce any new vocabulary before the role play.

· This step implies providing students with concrete information and clear role descriptions so that they could play their roles with confidence. Teachers should describe each role in a manner that will let the students identify with the characters.

· Teachers ask for some volunteers to act out role-play in front of the class in this step. It is recommended that teachers avoid intervening in a role play with error corrections not to discourage the students.

· Once the role play is finished, teachers should give feedback to students. This means pointing out students’ advantages and disadvantages.

Here is the one sample of role-play on using in EFL classes according to my experience: the teacher designs a communicative activity for the pupils in order to learn two adjectives—impulsive, bad-tempered, to consolidate what they have learned, pair-work, and develop their communicative abilities. She offers the pupils appropriate explanations of these two words, which are used to describe people’s personality. Before assigning the task, she tells the pupils the instructions that the situation is to predict the partner’s fate: one acts as a fortune teller, the other a customer; the pupils choose their own partners freely; the fortune teller predicts future events for the customer; some words in the role-play should concern the words what they have learned in the lesson. Then most pupils participate in the role-play actively. After they have finished performing the role-play, many pairs volunteer to demonstrate their performance before the whole class. The teacher access their advantages and disadvantages roughly. After the role-play, the pupils’ anxiety and tension are relieved greatly from their facial expressions and behaviors. The teacher and the pupils are familiar with each other now. Nevertheless, classroom discipline will be a bit mess. Sometimes a few boys even chat with their desk mates. It takes twenty minutes.

Additionally, through the observation of the English lesson in EFL classes, we can think that role-play makes great demands upon the professional skills and competence of teachers. While using role-play activity teachers need to have other abilities as well as the proficiency of target language, such as organizing ability, insight into learners. Therefore, it is recommended that foreign language teachers should enhance their standard in order to improve the effects in practical teaching.

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1. The teacher will introduce the topic by using flashcards which were given below

2. Then the group will be divided into 3-4 groups according to number of students. The teacher will give matching activities with flashcards

3. Also at the lesson questions about each holiday and their associations will be discussed

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There is stood a small wooden house (teremok) in the open field. 
A mouse ran by: - Little house, little house! Who lives in the little house? 
Nobody answered. 
The mouse went into the house and began to live there. 
A frog hopped by: - Little house, little house! Who lives in the little house? - 
I am a mouse. And who are you? - 
I am a frog. Let's live together. 
So the mouse and the frog began living together. 
A hare ran by. He saw the house and asked: - Little house, little house! Who lives in the little house? - 
I am a mouse. - 
I am a frog. And who are you? - 
And I am a hare. The hare jumped into the house and all of them began living together. 
Then there came a fox. She knocked on the window: - Little house, little house! Who lives in the little house? - 
I am a mouse. - I am a frog. - And I am a hare. And who are you? - 
And I am a fox. The fox climbed into the house too. 
A wolf ran by: - Little house, little house! Who lives in the little house? -
 I am a mouse. - I am a frog. - And I am a hare. - And I am a fox. And who are you? - 
I am a wolf. The wolf climbed into the house too, and they all started living together. 
A bear walked by. He saw the house and roared: - Little house, little house! Who lives in the little house? - 
I am a mouse. - I am a frog. - And I am a hare. - And I am a fox. - And I am a wolf. Who are you?

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Мишка бродит по лесу, ищет пропитание

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Мишка бродит по лесу, ищет пропитание

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Волчьи голоса

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Заячья мелодия

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Заячья мелодия

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Звук, как мышь ест

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Звук, как мышь ест

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1. Teacher should present flashcards with explanation

2. Teacher will explain the game which call "at the shop"

3. Small groups will be organized, some of them will be sellers and others - costumers

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The most benefit of songs are that they are fun and can keep the students excited and spirit to learning. However, the most important feature of songs is repetition. They contain pronuntiation, language pattern, rhytim, vocabulary, but also develop listening skills and provide a fun athmospere.

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The Singing Walrus - English Songs For Kids

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Action Songs for kids | The Singing Walrus

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1. Fruits  and vegetables

2. How much is it cost?

3. I would like to buy....

4. Would you like...

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There are four types of constructive feedback:

Negative feedback – corrective comments about past behaviour.

Positive feedback – affirming comments about past behaviour.

Negative feed-forward – corrective comments about future performance.

Positive feed-forward – affirming comments about future behaviour.

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WHY SHOULD CHILDREN LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE?

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WHY SHOULD CHILDREN LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE?

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You can speak to more people

At the end of the day, isn’t this why most people learn a second language? When you can speak to people in their own language you deepen connections and understanding. Learn a foreign language as a child and you have a lifetime to benefit from cross-cultural friendships, broader career opportunities, exciting travel adventures and deeper insights into how others see the world.

It grows kids’ brains

Studies have shown that people who are bilingual are better at tasks that require multi-tasking and attention focusing than monolinguals. Brain scans show they have more gray matter in the regions of their brain that are involved in executive function. The hypothesis is that the effort to constantly choose the right language at the right time provides a “mental gymnastics” for bilinguals which gives them extra practice in focusing their attention.

It boosts test scores in core subjects

Studies of tens of thousands of high school students have found that students who have studied foreign languages perform better on the American College Test (ACT) for English and Mathematics. Additional studies have found that SAT-verbal scores improve with the length of time students have studied the foreign language. So if you want your child to ace those tests, encourage her to learn a foreign language.

It boosts kids’ abilities in their native language

Years ago people believed that learning a second language would confuse a child. Now, research shows that children who study a foreign language perform better in their native language than non-bilingual students, as measured on standardized tests. Other research has shown that children learning a second language start reading earlier, and the advantage increases the earlier they are exposed to the second language. In addition, bilingual children were better at identifying grammatically incorrect sentences than monolinguals. As Goethe said, “Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own.”

It’s easier to acquire foreign languages as a child

It boosts empathy

Dr. Katherine Kinzler, at Cornell University, tested monolingual and bilingual children on a task which required them to consider someone else’s perspective to understand her meaning. Children in bilingual environments performed better than monolingual children. As Dr. Kinzler explains, “children in multilingual environments have social experiences that provide routine practice in considering the perspectives of others: they have to think about who speaks which language to whom, who understands which content, and the times and places in which different languages are spoken.”

It helps prevent age-related cognitive decline

Some studies have shown that people who regularly speak a second language may be able to delay Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia by 4.5 years. The hypothesis is that by improving the executive function of the brain, bilinguals develop a “cognitive reserve” which helps delay symptoms of dementia.

It boosts cross-cultural understanding

It helps train a child’s ear for music

Studies have shown that speakers of tonal languages, like Mandarin and Cantonese, were better at identifying musical pitches than speakers of non-tonal languages like English and French.

In tonal languages a word can have different meanings depending on the pitch and inflection of the voice. What happens if you don’t pay attention to the tone in Chinese? Say “ma” with a high level tone, and you’ve said "mother". Say it with a falling then rising tone, and you’ve said "horse". Best not to get the two words mixed up.

It boosts career opportunities

It can increase out of the box thinking

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What's Your Favorite Color? | Kids Songs | Super Simple Songs

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Детские песенки на английском языке: Song Sing It's my Job! English for Children Nursery Rhymes

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Finding the right modern teaching method for your classroom can be tricky.

Every student, teacher and classroom is different - and that's one of the wonderful things about the learning process! As you continue in your teaching practice, you'll try new teaching methods and find out what works best for your students.

We've uncovered some of the best modern teaching methods that are actually driving results in the classroom. Keep reading to find out how to use them to help students reach their full potential and build happy, effective classrooms.

Why teaching methods continue to evolve

Countless edtech innovations, a better understanding of student learning and new approaches to teaching strategies means your toolkit is so much bigger than a blackboard and chalk.

Today's teachers face lots of challenges and have lots of opportunities:

1. The shift to remote learning exposed inequality in classrooms, but also offered new ways for students to engage with interactive learning experiences.

2. New edtech innovations connect classroom learning with real-world digital skills.

3. Changing ideas about education and pedagogy have added new learning objectives like social-emotional learning, differentiation and personalized learning.

Don't be afraid to try new ways for students to learn and stay engaged. Keep reading to find out which teaching style works best for your classroom!

18 Modern teaching methods to explore

1. Direct Instruction

Best for: All ages, when combined with other teaching methods

Direct instruction is when you explicitly convey concepts and skills to students, rather than letting them learn on their own.

While it might seem odd to start off a list of modern teaching methods with a technique that's been the foundation of traditional classroom instruction for hundreds of years, direct instruction allows you to layer on more recent teaching strategies.

When combined with other teaching strategies, direct instruction is a useful tool for boosting student comprehension! Today, it can include anything from lectures and educational videos to tutorials and workshops.
Example: Students attend a classroom lecture about ecological diversity, then watch a video from a local conservation group about efforts to preserve local habitats. This direct instruction helps you explain the requirements of a service learning project they're doing to clean up the park near their school. More on service learning in a bit!
2. Flipped classrooms

Best for: Late elementary and up, or any students who can work independently

Homework at home, lectures at school - that's how it's usually done. But in flipped classrooms, students absorb information on their own time, and use in-class time for hands-on learning and problem solving.

Also known as blended learning, flipped classrooms embrace new edtech innovations and prioritize face-to-face learning activities in order to boost student engagement.

It helps students move at their own pace and gives you more time to provide one-on-one support where needed. When combined with techniques like experiential learning or inquiry-based learning, flipped classrooms can give students valuable hands-on experience.
Example: Students read an article about a specific scientific procedure at home, then come to class and do a hands-on experiment. They write up their findings and give a presentation about their results. While they work, you observe student work to spot learning gaps you can address in future lessons.
Learn more in our blended learning models guide.

3. Kinesthetic learning

Best for: All ages

Kinesthetic learning is a specific learning style also known as tactile learning. Kinesthetic learners absorb information best when it's presented through hands-on demonstrations, active learning and manipulatives.

Kinesthetic learning is a great modern teaching method for all learners because it gives students more ways to explore concepts and get hands-on, real-life experiences in their learning environment that translate to better learning outcomes.
Example: Students learning how to do multiplication participate in a variety of station rotation activities, including:

Answering multiplication questions in Prodigy Math Game

Working with base ten blocks and other math manipulatives

Working in small groups with the teacher to address learning gaps

4. Game-based learning

Best for: All ages, depending on the game

Game-based learning (GBL) is a modern teaching method that uses the power of games to define and support learning outcomes. Game-based learning actually uses games to teach, as opposed to gamification, which uses game elements like leaderboards and points to motivate learning.

Educational games promote engagement, provide immediate rewards and feedback, and harness the power of healthy competition to keep kids excited to learn.

Today's students understand games, especially digital games, intimately. Edtech tools can help turn their love for video games into a love of learning, whether they're at school or at home.
Example:
Prodigy Math Game is a game-based learning platform designed to help students love practicing math skills.

Plus, free teacher tools mean you can align Prodigy to whatever you're teaching in the classroom in just a few easy steps. Set up a Plan for curriculum-aligned math practice on a new concept, or send students an Assigment to differentiate and assess learning progress.

Students won't know they're being assessed or doing homework - it's all part of the adventure! Sign up for your free teacher account today to get started.

Learn more about GBL in our guide to game-based learning.

5. Student-centered learning

Best for: All ages

Above all, student-centered learning involves students in decisions about their learning. It connects student interest to the classroom and builds an assessment framework to help them understand why the material is important and how it fits into everyday life.

For better or worse, the internet has opened up new ways for students to receive information and engage with the world. Student-centered learning helps:

Give them the tools they need to engage with new topics

Make connections between topics and boost problem-solving skills

Directly relate classroom lessons with what they're experiencing outside of school

Example: Interdisciplinary learning is a great way to tie student interests to your curriculum. Students can read a novel about a specific scientific discovery and submit a book report, or create a budget for marketing a made-up product in math class. Work with students to find out what they like, how they learn best and how the project will be assessed.
6. Teacher-centered learning

Best for: Elementary and up - younger students may need more hands-on interaction to stay focused

Teacher-centered learning is most similar to traditional classroom learning. Students learn mostly independently through lectures and receive clear instructions and rubrics from a central authority figure.

Much like direct instruction, teacher-centered learning is useful to provide a foundation for other work. Most modern classrooms prioritize collaboration, group work and student exploration, for good reasons. But independent learning can reach different learning styles and give students a sense of personal accomplishment and accountability!
Example: Teacher-centered learning can still be engaging and motivating for students. If you're starting a new novel study or ELA unit, why not have students journal independently about what they think will happen in the story or what questions they have about the concept? They'll practice their writing skills, and you can all come back at the end of the unit to see whose predictions were the most accurate.
7. Inquiry-based learning

Best for: Middle school and up

Inquiry-based learning is a teaching method that prioritizes student curiosity and independent analysis. Students work to find the answer to an open-ended question or problem, using evidence-based reasoning and problem-solving skills to reach a defendable conclusion.

As a teacher, your role is to move students beyond mere curiosity and into critical thinking and understanding, encouraging them to ask questions and supporting them as they investigate.
Example: To help students develop analytical and critical thinking skills, have them write up a case study about a question they have. Students could:

Analyze the demographics of their school or city

Research the effectiveness of clean energy in their community

Look at the factors that contributed to a notable historical event

Learn more about the different types of inquiry-based learning and what it could look like in your classroom.

8. Personalized learning

Best for: Elementary and up

Personalized learning is an educational approach that tailors learning around individual students' needs, interests and abilities. It helps you differentiate instruction for each student and help them achieve mastery.

Motivation, relatability, self-reflection and self-advocacy skills are all things that will help students succeed in the modern workforce, no matter their career. Personalized learning reaches students of all levels, helps them build these critical skills and focus their time with small group instruction.
Example: Short, regular formative assessments give students opportunities to show their knowledge and help you spot learning needs early. If you're starting a new unit, pre-teach foundational concepts and use a quick journal entry to gauge understanding, then assess students throughout the unit with quick quizzes, presentations and assignments before a final test to ensure every student achieves mastery.
Check out seven more personalized learning strategies to use in your classroom.

9. Project-based learning

Best for: Elementary and up

Project-based learning is a student-centered teaching method to encourage learning through real-world questions or challenges.

The questions should:

Be open-ended

Encourage students to apply relevant skills or knowledge

Allow students to take their own approaches to answering and building a product

You give students the issue, method of investigation and any supplementary materials, and they go off and work - with your support as needed. It looks a little different every time, but project-based learning helps students develop critical thinking and interdisciplinary skills with real-world experience they'll use for the rest of their life.
Example: Project-based learning options are many and varied, but can include:

Planning a school event

Researching the history of a simple machine

Designing a playground for their school using geometry skills

Get our ten best project-based learning ideas for boosting student outcomes.

10. Problem-based learning

Best for: Elementary and up

Problem-based learning is like project-based learning, with one major difference: it gives students the problem at the start of a topic, before they've been taught some of the relevant concepts.

Students receive an open-ended question and find their own information and resources. Your role as a teacher is to provide materials and guidance when needed, and explain the evaluation process.

Problem-based learning helps build self-directed learners and is easy to personalize to the needs and learning styles of individual students.

Example:
For an environmentally friendly problem-based learning project, start with a topic like classroom waste or ecology. Students can research and find solutions, and you can implement them together!
11. Collaborative learning

Best for: Elementary and up

Collaborative learning is kind of like a bouquet of roses - while they might all have the same colours and shape on their own, together a bouquet is more than the sum of its parts.

In collaborative learning, students are working on a common task and doing the same actions, but they're working together to boost group performance and amplify learning. It's a coordinated effort to find answers, research or create a final product every group member contributes to equally.

Students are going to need to know how to work with peers at any age, and collaborative learning can help them start building valuable team-building skills.
Example: Use brainwriting as a collaborative learning activity that involves everyone. Introduce a discussion topic ahead of class. Have students brainstorm ahead of time and submit ideas anonymously or in-person. Everyone reads the submissions before class and uses them as a jumping-off point for class discussion. Even the shyest student may feel empowered to speak their mind!
12. Cooperative learning

Best for: Elementary and up

If collaborative learning is a bouquet of roses, cooperative learning is a bunch of wildflowers - each one unique, but contributing to something beautiful.

In cooperative learning projects, each student plays a different role in a structured group activity and makes unique contributions to the success of the group. Your role as teacher is to facilitate the groups and guide their research.

Like collaborative learning, cooperative learning teaches students that every group member's efforts are important to both individual and group success. This also encourages students to empower each other and be accountable for their work.
Example: Enhance learning with a jigsaw activity! Each student belongs to two groups: a home group and an expert group. Present students with a topic to research. Students will work with their expert group to learn about a specific sub-topic, then return to their home group and present their findings.
Learn more in our guide to cooperative learning.

13. Thinking-based learning

Best for: Elementary and up

In thinking-based learning, you explicitly teach students how to use critical and creative thinking skills in the context of everyday lessons.

For thinking-based learning to be effective, educators should build it directly into the curriculum and all subjects - whether that's understanding the why behind important math concepts or the biases in ELA study materials.

Critical and creative thinking skills help students boost media literacy and understand all the information at their fingertips on a daily basis. A changing workforce means they'll encounter new and unique challenges, and thinking-based learning can help them be successful.
Example: Challenge students to put their geometry and physics knowledge to the test and build solid structures with a variety of different materials. Afterwards, ask students to reflect on why some of their creations worked and why they didn't, and what they would do differently next time.
14. Competency-based learning

Best for: All ages

No matter what teaching method you're using, competency-based education makes sure every student masters given skills before moving on to the next topic, unit, or even grade.

It moves the focus off memorization and onto deep understanding demonstrated through hands-on application. It goes hand-in-hand with personalized learning to promote equity in the classroom and help students become better learners throughout their whole lives.
Example: Formative assessments like pre-quizzes and small projects can help you keep track of student learning and mastery. In an ELA class, have students build a portfolio of writing they contribute to regularly. You'll be able to see their progress and they'll feel a sense of accomplishment as they grow their writing and comprehension skills!
Find out more about what competency-based education is and how your school can use it.

15. Discussion-based learning

Best for: Middle school and up

In discussion-based learning, you facilitate the discussion while students talk through problems in small groups.

Discussion-based learning helps promote critical thinking and independent learning, two essential skills for existing in the modern world. Students will learn to:

It's a great way for you to model open-minded and respectful listening, and promotes engagement without relying on classroom technology. It can be tricky to get every student on board the first time, but persevere and you'll start to see the benefits!
Example: Have a discussion about a current news event or other lesson-related topic. Make materials and guide students through if they get stuck, but don't dominate the conversation. Model respectful discussion skills and let students work through new ideas on their own.
16. Play-based learning

Best for: Pre-K, Kindergarten

Play-based learning is exactly what it sounds like: student learning through child-led and open-ended play. It's a great way to help little learners become curious about the world around them and develop critical social skills!

Play-based learning isn't just gamified classwork - it should be self-chosen and relatively unstructured to help build:

Imagination

Abstract thinking skills

Language skills for group play

Awareness of the natural world

Example: For play-based learning time, break up the classroom into stations with different activities and materials, and allow students to move between stations freely. Stations can include: Designate a certain amount of time into your lesson plans and let students' imaginations run wild!
17. Service Learning

Best for: Middle school and up

For a lesson as informative as it is impactful, try service learning. It combines academic goals with community service projects. Students get hands-on experience, a chance to make positive change and real-world examples of their curriculum come to life.

While it's more student-centered than traditional community service, service learning is still a valuable way for students to contribute positively to their communities and learn about the importance of being good citizens.
Example: There are lots of ways to do service learning, but one of our favorites is holding a book drive for a low-income school or younger grades. Students will get hands-on practice at organizing events, and they'll learn about the importance of literacy.
Get more service learning ideas in The Teacher's Guide to Service Learning.

18. Social emotional learning

Best for: All ages

Social emotional learning is the process by which people, children and adults develop the knowledge, self-awareness and personal well-being to build emotional competencies in both academics and life. In particular, SEL can help your students:

Develop a growth mindset

Form positive relationships

Deal with challenging situations

School is a major source of social connection, and researchers agree students with well-developed social emotional skills see improved academic and social outcomes. Recent COVID-related school closures mean students lost out on a lot of social interaction, so placing an added focus on SEL skills is more important than ever!
Example: There are lots of ways to meaningfully incorporate SEL in your classroom, including activities like:
For more SEL activities and resources, check out these 25 social emotional learning activities.

Teaching methods for students with special needs

In the last few decades, education has begun to make more space for diverse learners - students with special needs, learning disabilities or even different learning styles.

There's still a long way to go when it comes to making our classrooms open and equitable, but many modern teaching methods are highly adaptable and address some of the issues diverse learners have in a traditional classroom.

Ultimately, there's no "best way" to teach, regardless of what kind of students you have in your class. There are, however, some general guidelines you can follow to make sure your instruction is as effective as possible:

1. Explain things using multiple methods. Before you start a service learning project, for example, be sure to pre-teach important information with multiple methods of instruction, including media, role-playing situations, hands-on demonstrations and more.

2. Expect students to do their best, and don't accept less. When you believe all your students are capable of great things, they will too. Don't ignore or make a big deal of incorrect answers, but address them and work together to find the right solution.

3. Get to know your students. At the beginning of the year or unit, send around a Google form and ask questions about their learning styles or what they're excited to work on. Parent teacher conferences are also a great time to discuss specific learning needs and what is or isn't working.

4. Use modern teaching methodology designed to engage students. Gone are the days of memorization and silent classrooms. Don't be afraid to try new things to find out what works best for you! Then ask for student feedback to learn more about which learning styles resonate best in your classroom.

5. Use individual, paired and group activities equally. When students learn together, they understand different learning needs and build respect. Intentional strategies like cooperative and collaborative learning give each student responsibility and more ways to process content, while individual learning lets students set their own pace and goals.

When you try new teaching methods and flex your approach, every student benefits! It keeps them engaged, shows them you care about their learning and gives them an appreciation for different learning strategies.

Above all, keep trying new things, getting feedback from students and communicating wtih parents.

Teaching students in the modern age of learning

Education has come a long way in the past decades, whether it's more effective teaching methods or new ways to harness students' use of technology.

When you constantly innovate and try new strategies, you give your students real-life experiences and help them develop a love of learning. So cheers to you, and keep going!

Prodigy Education is committed to being an industry leader in game-based learning.

Our adaptive math platform gives teachers free, flexible and easy-to-use tools that align student play with the classroom in just a few clicks. As students explore the Prodigy world, their success depends on correctly answering curriculum-aligned questions - and you get all the data on their learning progress.

Sign up for your free teacher account today to get started!

Finding the right modern teaching method for your classroom can be tricky.

Every student, teacher and classroom is different - and that's one of the wonderful things about the learning process! As you continue in your teaching practice, you'll try new teaching methods and find out what works best for your students.

We've uncovered some of the best modern teaching methods that are actually driving results in the classroom. Keep reading to find out how to use them to help students reach their full potential and build happy, effective classrooms.

Why teaching methods continue to evolve

Countless edtech innovations, a better understanding of student learning and new approaches to teaching strategies means your toolkit is so much bigger than a blackboard and chalk.

Today's teachers face lots of challenges and have lots of opportunities:

1. The shift to remote learning exposed inequality in classrooms, but also offered new ways for students to engage with interactive learning experiences.

2. New edtech innovations connect classroom learning with real-world digital skills.

3. Changing ideas about education and pedagogy have added new learning objectives like social-emotional learning, differentiation and personalized learning.

Don't be afraid to try new ways for students to learn and stay engaged. Keep reading to find out which teaching style works best for your classroom!

18 Modern teaching methods to explore

1. Direct Instruction

Best for: All ages, when combined with other teaching methods

Direct instruction is when you explicitly convey concepts and skills to students, rather than letting them learn on their own.

While it might seem odd to start off a list of modern teaching methods with a technique that's been the foundation of traditional classroom instruction for hundreds of years, direct instruction allows you to layer on more recent teaching strategies.

When combined with other teaching strategies, direct instruction is a useful tool for boosting student comprehension! Today, it can include anything from lectures and educational videos to tutorials and workshops.
Example: Students attend a classroom lecture about ecological diversity, then watch a video from a local conservation group about efforts to preserve local habitats. This direct instruction helps you explain the requirements of a service learning project they're doing to clean up the park near their school. More on service learning in a bit!
2. Flipped classrooms

Best for: Late elementary and up, or any students who can work independently

Homework at home, lectures at school - that's how it's usually done. But in flipped classrooms, students absorb information on their own time, and use in-class time for hands-on learning and problem solving.

Also known as blended learning, flipped classrooms embrace new edtech innovations and prioritize face-to-face learning activities in order to boost student engagement.

It helps students move at their own pace and gives you more time to provide one-on-one support where needed. When combined with techniques like experiential learning or inquiry-based learning, flipped classrooms can give students valuable hands-on experience.
Example: Students read an article about a specific scientific procedure at home, then come to class and do a hands-on experiment. They write up their findings and give a presentation about their results. While they work, you observe student work to spot learning gaps you can address in future lessons.
Learn more in our blended learning models guide.

3. Kinesthetic learning

Best for: All ages

Kinesthetic learning is a specific learning style also known as tactile learning. Kinesthetic learners absorb information best when it's presented through hands-on demonstrations, active learning and manipulatives.

Kinesthetic learning is a great modern teaching method for all learners because it gives students more ways to explore concepts and get hands-on, real-life experiences in their learning environment that translate to better learning outcomes.
Example: Students learning how to do multiplication participate in a variety of station rotation activities, including:

Answering multiplication questions in Prodigy Math Game

Working with base ten blocks and other math manipulatives

Working in small groups with the teacher to address learning gaps

4. Game-based learning

Best for: All ages, depending on the game

Game-based learning (GBL) is a modern teaching method that uses the power of games to define and support learning outcomes. Game-based learning actually uses games to teach, as opposed to gamification, which uses game elements like leaderboards and points to motivate learning.

Educational games promote engagement, provide immediate rewards and feedback, and harness the power of healthy competition to keep kids excited to learn.

Today's students understand games, especially digital games, intimately. Edtech tools can help turn their love for video games into a love of learning, whether they're at school or at home.
Example:
Prodigy Math Game is a game-based learning platform designed to help students love practicing math skills.

Plus, free teacher tools mean you can align Prodigy to whatever you're teaching in the classroom in just a few easy steps. Set up a Plan for curriculum-aligned math practice on a new concept, or send students an Assigment to differentiate and assess learning progress.

Students won't know they're being assessed or doing homework - it's all part of the adventure! Sign up for your free teacher account today to get started.

Learn more about GBL in our guide to game-based learning.

5. Student-centered learning

Best for: All ages

Above all, student-centered learning involves students in decisions about their learning. It connects student interest to the classroom and builds an assessment framework to help them understand why the material is important and how it fits into everyday life.

For better or worse, the internet has opened up new ways for students to receive information and engage with the world. Student-centered learning helps:

Give them the tools they need to engage with new topics

Make connections between topics and boost problem-solving skills

Directly relate classroom lessons with what they're experiencing outside of school

Example: Interdisciplinary learning is a great way to tie student interests to your curriculum. Students can read a novel about a specific scientific discovery and submit a book report, or create a budget for marketing a made-up product in math class. Work with students to find out what they like, how they learn best and how the project will be assessed.
6. Teacher-centered learning

Best for: Elementary and up - younger students may need more hands-on interaction to stay focused

Teacher-centered learning is most similar to traditional classroom learning. Students learn mostly independently through lectures and receive clear instructions and rubrics from a central authority figure.

Much like direct instruction, teacher-centered learning is useful to provide a foundation for other work. Most modern classrooms prioritize collaboration, group work and student exploration, for good reasons. But independent learning can reach different learning styles and give students a sense of personal accomplishment and accountability!
Example: Teacher-centered learning can still be engaging and motivating for students. If you're starting a new novel study or ELA unit, why not have students journal independently about what they think will happen in the story or what questions they have about the concept? They'll practice their writing skills, and you can all come back at the end of the unit to see whose predictions were the most accurate.
7. Inquiry-based learning

Best for: Middle school and up

Inquiry-based learning is a teaching method that prioritizes student curiosity and independent analysis. Students work to find the answer to an open-ended question or problem, using evidence-based reasoning and problem-solving skills to reach a defendable conclusion.

As a teacher, your role is to move students beyond mere curiosity and into critical thinking and understanding, encouraging them to ask questions and supporting them as they investigate.
Example: To help students develop analytical and critical thinking skills, have them write up a case study about a question they have. Students could:

Analyze the demographics of their school or city

Research the effectiveness of clean energy in their community

Look at the factors that contributed to a notable historical event

Learn more about the different types of inquiry-based learning and what it could look like in your classroom.

8. Personalized learning

Best for: Elementary and up

Personalized learning is an educational approach that tailors learning around individual students' needs, interests and abilities. It helps you differentiate instruction for each student and help them achieve mastery.

Motivation, relatability, self-reflection and self-advocacy skills are all things that will help students succeed in the modern workforce, no matter their career. Personalized learning reaches students of all levels, helps them build these critical skills and focus their time with small group instruction.
Example: Short, regular formative assessments give students opportunities to show their knowledge and help you spot learning needs early. If you're starting a new unit, pre-teach foundational concepts and use a quick journal entry to gauge understanding, then assess students throughout the unit with quick quizzes, presentations and assignments before a final test to ensure every student achieves mastery.
Check out seven more personalized learning strategies to use in your classroom.

9. Project-based learning

Best for: Elementary and up

Project-based learning is a student-centered teaching method to encourage learning through real-world questions or challenges.

The questions should:

Be open-ended

Encourage students to apply relevant skills or knowledge

Allow students to take their own approaches to answering and building a product

You give students the issue, method of investigation and any supplementary materials, and they go off and work - with your support as needed. It looks a little different every time, but project-based learning helps students develop critical thinking and interdisciplinary skills with real-world experience they'll use for the rest of their life.
Example: Project-based learning options are many and varied, but can include:

Planning a school event

Researching the history of a simple machine

Designing a playground for their school using geometry skills

Get our ten best project-based learning ideas for boosting student outcomes.

10. Problem-based learning

Best for: Elementary and up

Problem-based learning is like project-based learning, with one major difference: it gives students the problem at the start of a topic, before they've been taught some of the relevant concepts.

Students receive an open-ended question and find their own information and resources. Your role as a teacher is to provide materials and guidance when needed, and explain the evaluation process.

Problem-based learning helps build self-directed learners and is easy to personalize to the needs and learning styles of individual students.

Example:
For an environmentally friendly problem-based learning project, start with a topic like classroom waste or ecology. Students can research and find solutions, and you can implement them together!
11. Collaborative learning

Best for: Elementary and up

Collaborative learning is kind of like a bouquet of roses - while they might all have the same colours and shape on their own, together a bouquet is more than the sum of its parts.

In collaborative learning, students are working on a common task and doing the same actions, but they're working together to boost group performance and amplify learning. It's a coordinated effort to find answers, research or create a final product every group member contributes to equally.

Students are going to need to know how to work with peers at any age, and collaborative learning can help them start building valuable team-building skills.
Example: Use brainwriting as a collaborative learning activity that involves everyone. Introduce a discussion topic ahead of class. Have students brainstorm ahead of time and submit ideas anonymously or in-person. Everyone reads the submissions before class and uses them as a jumping-off point for class discussion. Even the shyest student may feel empowered to speak their mind!
12. Cooperative learning

Best for: Elementary and up

If collaborative learning is a bouquet of roses, cooperative learning is a bunch of wildflowers - each one unique, but contributing to something beautiful.

In cooperative learning projects, each student plays a different role in a structured group activity and makes unique contributions to the success of the group. Your role as teacher is to facilitate the groups and guide their research.

Like collaborative learning, cooperative learning teaches students that every group member's efforts are important to both individual and group success. This also encourages students to empower each other and be accountable for their work.
Example: Enhance learning with a jigsaw activity! Each student belongs to two groups: a home group and an expert group. Present students with a topic to research. Students will work with their expert group to learn about a specific sub-topic, then return to their home group and present their findings.
Learn more in our guide to cooperative learning.

13. Thinking-based learning

Best for: Elementary and up

In thinking-based learning, you explicitly teach students how to use critical and creative thinking skills in the context of everyday lessons.

For thinking-based learning to be effective, educators should build it directly into the curriculum and all subjects - whether that's understanding the why behind important math concepts or the biases in ELA study materials.

Critical and creative thinking skills help students boost media literacy and understand all the information at their fingertips on a daily basis. A changing workforce means they'll encounter new and unique challenges, and thinking-based learning can help them be successful.
Example: Challenge students to put their geometry and physics knowledge to the test and build solid structures with a variety of different materials. Afterwards, ask students to reflect on why some of their creations worked and why they didn't, and what they would do differently next time.
14. Competency-based learning

Best for: All ages

No matter what teaching method you're using, competency-based education makes sure every student masters given skills before moving on to the next topic, unit, or even grade.

It moves the focus off memorization and onto deep understanding demonstrated through hands-on application. It goes hand-in-hand with personalized learning to promote equity in the classroom and help students become better learners throughout their whole lives.
Example: Formative assessments like pre-quizzes and small projects can help you keep track of student learning and mastery. In an ELA class, have students build a portfolio of writing they contribute to regularly. You'll be able to see their progress and they'll feel a sense of accomplishment as they grow their writing and comprehension skills!
Find out more about what competency-based education is and how your school can use it.

15. Discussion-based learning

Best for: Middle school and up

In discussion-based learning, you facilitate the discussion while students talk through problems in small groups.

Discussion-based learning helps promote critical thinking and independent learning, two essential skills for existing in the modern world. Students will learn to:

It's a great way for you to model open-minded and respectful listening, and promotes engagement without relying on classroom technology. It can be tricky to get every student on board the first time, but persevere and you'll start to see the benefits!
Example: Have a discussion about a current news event or other lesson-related topic. Make materials and guide students through if they get stuck, but don't dominate the conversation. Model respectful discussion skills and let students work through new ideas on their own.
16. Play-based learning

Best for: Pre-K, Kindergarten

Play-based learning is exactly what it sounds like: student learning through child-led and open-ended play. It's a great way to help little learners become curious about the world around them and develop critical social skills!

Play-based learning isn't just gamified classwork - it should be self-chosen and relatively unstructured to help build:

Imagination

Abstract thinking skills

Language skills for group play

Awareness of the natural world

Example: For play-based learning time, break up the classroom into stations with different activities and materials, and allow students to move between stations freely. Stations can include: Designate a certain amount of time into your lesson plans and let students' imaginations run wild!
17. Service Learning

Best for: Middle school and up

For a lesson as informative as it is impactful, try service learning. It combines academic goals with community service projects. Students get hands-on experience, a chance to make positive change and real-world examples of their curriculum come to life.

While it's more student-centered than traditional community service, service learning is still a valuable way for students to contribute positively to their communities and learn about the importance of being good citizens.
Example: There are lots of ways to do service learning, but one of our favorites is holding a book drive for a low-income school or younger grades. Students will get hands-on practice at organizing events, and they'll learn about the importance of literacy.
Get more service learning ideas in The Teacher's Guide to Service Learning.

18. Social emotional learning

Best for: All ages

Social emotional learning is the process by which people, children and adults develop the knowledge, self-awareness and personal well-being to build emotional competencies in both academics and life. In particular, SEL can help your students:

Develop a growth mindset

Form positive relationships

Deal with challenging situations

School is a major source of social connection, and researchers agree students with well-developed social emotional skills see improved academic and social outcomes. Recent COVID-related school closures mean students lost out on a lot of social interaction, so placing an added focus on SEL skills is more important than ever!
Example: There are lots of ways to meaningfully incorporate SEL in your classroom, including activities like:
For more SEL activities and resources, check out these 25 social emotional learning activities.

Teaching methods for students with special needs

In the last few decades, education has begun to make more space for diverse learners - students with special needs, learning disabilities or even different learning styles.

There's still a long way to go when it comes to making our classrooms open and equitable, but many modern teaching methods are highly adaptable and address some of the issues diverse learners have in a traditional classroom.

Ultimately, there's no "best way" to teach, regardless of what kind of students you have in your class. There are, however, some general guidelines you can follow to make sure your instruction is as effective as possible:

1. Explain things using multiple methods. Before you start a service learning project, for example, be sure to pre-teach important information with multiple methods of instruction, including media, role-playing situations, hands-on demonstrations and more.

2. Expect students to do their best, and don't accept less. When you believe all your students are capable of great things, they will too. Don't ignore or make a big deal of incorrect answers, but address them and work together to find the right solution.

3. Get to know your students. At the beginning of the year or unit, send around a Google form and ask questions about their learning styles or what they're excited to work on. Parent teacher conferences are also a great time to discuss specific learning needs and what is or isn't working.

4. Use modern teaching methodology designed to engage students. Gone are the days of memorization and silent classrooms. Don't be afraid to try new things to find out what works best for you! Then ask for student feedback to learn more about which learning styles resonate best in your classroom.

5. Use individual, paired and group activities equally. When students learn together, they understand different learning needs and build respect. Intentional strategies like cooperative and collaborative learning give each student responsibility and more ways to process content, while individual learning lets students set their own pace and goals.

When you try new teaching methods and flex your approach, every student benefits! It keeps them engaged, shows them you care about their learning and gives them an appreciation for different learning strategies.

Above all, keep trying new things, getting feedback from students and communicating wtih parents.

Teaching students in the modern age of learning

Education has come a long way in the past decades, whether it's more effective teaching methods or new ways to harness students' use of technology.

When you constantly innovate and try new strategies, you give your students real-life experiences and help them develop a love of learning. So cheers to you, and keep going!

Prodigy Education is committed to being an industry leader in game-based learning.

Our adaptive math platform gives teachers free, flexible and easy-to-use tools that align student play with the classroom in just a few clicks. As students explore the Prodigy world, their success depends on correctly answering curriculum-aligned questions - and you get all the data on their learning progress.

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Guide to Teaching Methods for Modern-Day Teachers

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Follow our guide to modern-day teaching methods for effective teaching and increased student engagement.

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·        According to Piaget

Children learn though making sense of the world.

·        According to Vygotsky

Adults mediate the world for children though playing, stories, questions, ideas, experiences.

Piaget in the English class

·        Children learn from actively interacting with the physical environment in developmental stages.

·        They learn through their own individual actions and exploration

·        The children gradually develop their formal, logical thinking,

·        Children are encouraged to solve problems.

·        Knowledge derives from action.

Vygotsky in the English class

·        Teacher models questions for children

·        "Do you like swimming?" and encourages similar questions

·        Through doing things in a social context, the children internalize language

Bruner's scaffolding and routines

·        Teachers have to get children interested in the tasks

·        Teachers have to simplify difficult tasks breaking them into smaller steps.

·        Teachers have to keep the children on track always reminding of the goal set.

·        Teachers have to assist the children's effort demonstrating other ways of doing the task

·        Teachers have to show the idealized version of the

·        task.

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Use them for sorting, we did this a lot at preschool, and we didn’t use anything special, we just dumped the basket of animal figurines and groupings would slowly emerge. Sometimes we’d count things, arrange them by size or color.

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Activity  My Favorite Cartoon Character #cartoon #TheOxfordSchool

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SIX TOP TIPS FOR NEW YOUNGER LEARNER TEACHERS

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SIX TOP TIPS FOR NEW YOUNGER LEARNER TEACHERS

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1) Establishing Routines

Establishing routines is the number one tool in the YL teacher’s tool kit. Establishing routines and sticking to them can help with almost every area in the classroom, most importantly classroom management. Many of the students in YL classrooms aren’t at the level where they can understand everything that happens or why, and they definitely don’t understand everything the teacher says. Having routines established early on gives the students a concrete framework in which to work and behave. They can understand and rely on routines to make them feel safe in what may be an unfamiliar situation. Routines help students become aware of teacher expectations and they also provide them with a way of following the lesson without having to understand the concept of time. Three routines I use are:

Start of the lesson: the students put anything that can cause a distraction (coats, bags, phones, etc.) on pegs or at the back of the classroom and their books and pens stay under their chairs out of sight but close by. Keeping everything out of their hands keeps them focused on the teacher and the lesson.

Giving instructions: the students sit back on their chairs and put their hands on their head. Getting the students to go back to a “neutral” space away from the excitement of an activity allows the teacher to ensure that all the students are paying attention. Asking them to put their hands on their heads stops them from distracting each other and touching any materials that may be out.

End of the lesson: the students collect their bags and coats and sit back on their chairs. Ensure that the classroom is tidy and the students are calm before letting them leave.

2) Letting students make decisions

Children who are able to make their own decisions become more invested in the result of that decision and are more likely to follow through with a task due to their emotional and personal investment in it. This mentality can also be applied in the YL classroom. Giving students options and allowing them to make decisions which affect their learning leads to the students becoming more engaged in the lesson and in the activity.

Naming activities can also be useful. When it comes to the drilling and repetition sections of the lesson, for example, the students can decide which activity they want to play, e.g. the ‘ball game,’ the ‘fly swat’ game or ‘flashcard circle.’ This gives them the impression that even though it is the teacher who decides what they learn, it is the students as a unit who decide how.

3) Repetition

This might sound obvious but repeat, repeat, repeat. Practise makes perfect and repeating structures and language is incredibly important for language retention. New teachers may think that YLs become very bored very quickly and it’s true. Children do have a short attention span and often don’t like sitting in one place or concentrating on one thing for too long.

There are ways of getting the students to repeat language without losing them to a life of boredom. For example, keeping the target language or target structures the same but changing the drilling activity will make the students think that they are doing something completely different. Even small changes such as position in the classroom, from sitting to standing or changing partners, can revitalise their enthusiasm in an activity. Other ways, such as changing interaction patterns to pair work, small group or mingle activities, can also create a new dynamic.

4) Be fair

Being fair means being consistent. Consistency is a word which always comes up when teaching YLs and teaching in general and being consistent can mean different things. Consistency, as far as behaviour management is concerned, means treating each student the same and applying the same rules to every student. However, it also means being a trusted judge.

5) Don’t be afraid to lose control

Running/shouting dictation: These activities are basically the same but with a small difference. Vocabulary or sentences are displayed around the room and students are in pairs or groups. One student writes while the other either shouts the phrase across the room (shouting dictation) or runs backwards and forwards between the sentences and their partner (running dictation).

Teacher-student swap: Students love taking on the role of the teacher and love feeling in control. Asking students to set up activities (once the rules of the activities have already been properly established) gives them a sense of control and allows them to use more English. Asking students to give instructions, e.g. touch the card / run to (vocabulary), is another way of releasing control.

6) Keep the pace up

You have a beginner class of 8-to-10 year olds who are learning farm animals. You’ve sat them in a circle and you’ve drilled from flashcards; you’ve said a word and they’ve touched the correct card. You’ve noticed that the students are getting restless and are starting to mess around but you still haven’t finished drilling all the vocabulary. What should you do? First of all, there’s no point labouring an activity. The students clearly need a change of pace so give them one: keeping pace up within a classroom is very important to keep distractions and behavioural problems to a minimum.

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Can You Spell Your Name?

This is one of my students’ absolute favourite name activities! They love using the diggers and dump trucks to find and transport the alphabet rocks they need to make their names.
It’s a super fun and engaging activity that encourages students to recognise and find the letters in their name and then assemble the alphabet rocks in the correct order.