Unit 15 Using your textbook as a resource Twelve tips for creative lessons Simon Greenall

Unit 15

Using your textbook as a resource

Twelve tips for creative lessons

Simon GreenallCo-editor in chief, NSE

Aims of the presentation

Using the textbook as a resource for materials as a prompt for easy-to prepare activitiesto empower the teacher to take control, to evaluate the class, and to create unique lessons to encourage teacher and learner creativity

Teacher

MOTIVATION

Textbook Student

Damaged text (1)


1 Try to integrate the skills

2 Use easy-to-prepare activities

April comeApril come she willWhen dreams are ripe and swelled with grainMay, he will payResting in my charms againSoon he’ll change her spoon,In restless walks she’s fly her kite,July, she will fryAnd give no awning to her frightAugust, die she mustThe autumn winds blow really oldSeptember, I’ll DecemberA love once true has now grown cold

Can I help you madam?Yes, I’m looking for something to carry in the summer.Yes, old horse. These are our lightweight rackets. What pies do you make?Er, size ten,I think. Oh, this bun’s lovely. Can I try it on?Yes, of course. You’re carrying father and a thick sweater. Do you want to leave it on?Er, I’m not sure.Well, it is bent to be a summer racket. Why don’t you take it off?Yes, perhaps you’re tight.Here we are. Let me belt you! Put it on!

Thank you.

Yes, it does suit Hugh. It goes with your trousers.

But it’s much too light. It really doesn’t fit me.

Oh, don’t worry. It’ll be perfect once you’ve torn it a few times.

How can I tear it a few times if I can’t even get it off? Have you got it in a larger size?

I don’t think so.

Well, this bun’s so good. It’s far too small. Oh, it’s just my luck.

Never whine, batman. How about this one?

The listening process: decoding the message

Sound recognition

Word recognition

Comprehension(… if you’re lucky)

Productive checksWrite words, notes, sentences, complete a chart etc

Non-productive checksTick, cross, number, letter, underline, circle, put in order, get up, sit down, put your hand up

Listening comprehension checks


3 Make sure the comprehension check is not more difficult than the passage

4 Focus on sounds and not always on meaning

Dictogloss

Dictogloss


5 Challenge the learner

6 Create artificial or pedagogical motivation

Predicting from check questions

Predicting from check questions1 Where is Cambridge?

It’s in ________.2 What’s its population?

It’s population is ________.

3 What’s it famous for?It’s famous for ________.

4 What’s the capital of the UK?The capital of the UK is ________.

5 Where is it?It’s in the ________.

6 How old is it?It’s ________ years old.

7 What’s in the north of England?In the north of England there’s/are ________

8 What’s in the west of England?In the west of England there’s/are ________

9 What’s the weather like?The weather is ________.

Predicting from check questions1 Where is Cambridge?

It’s in the east of England.2 What’s its population?

It’s population is about 100,000 people.

3 What’s it famous for?It’s famous for Cambridge University.

4 What’s the capital of the UK?The capital of the UK is London.

5 Where is it?It’s in the south of England.

6 How old is it?It’s about 2000 years old.

7 What’s in the north of England?In the north of England there are some lakes and low mountains.

8 What’s in the west of England?In the west of England there are lots of small villages on the coast.

9 What’s the weather like?The weather is never very hot or cold.

Senior High Book 5 Module 4







7 Don’t always do the same lesson

8 Try to look at your textbook from a different angle

Inserting words

Read the passage and decide where these words can go

head star however first nationwide gentle Chinese more every great

Jeff Van Grundy, the coach of the Houston Rockets, has a dream. He wants Yao Ming to be like other players. Players, says Grundy, are selfish and want the ball all the time. ‘Let’s put it this way,’ he said. ‘When they ask for the ball, they don’t say please!’

Yao is a selfless and kind person. He has been brought up and trained in this way. It is not in his nature to be selfish and rude.

When he first arrived in the US, Yao was an instant hit among basketball fans nationwide. They all loved this kind, gentle but powerful giant. Van Gundy wanted to build his team around the talented Chinese player. To do this, he told Yao to be more aggressive and, if necessary, to be rude to his team mates.

Inserting words


Jeff Van Gundy, the head coach of the Houston Rockets, has a dream. He wants Yao Ming to be like other players. Star players, says Grundy, are selfish and want the ball all the time. ‘Let’s put it this way,’ he said. ‘When they ask for the ball, they don’t say please!’

Yao, however, is a selfless and kind person. He has been brought up and trained in this way. It is not in his nature to be selfish and rude.

"He’s a wonderful guy, he has every physical basketball skill and he puts the team first," Van Gundy said. "But I want him to be a star, not just a great team player. He’s got to think that he’s the best player out there. That way, he can dominate the game.”

Inserting words

In Europe, in the second half of the eighteenth century, there was an important change in society. This change was called the ‘Industrial Revolution.’ Until then, Europe had been a farming society. With the Industrial Revolution, factories appeared and mass production became possible for the first time. The factories were built in towns and as a result, the population of towns and cities greatly increased.

These changes became possible because of inventions such as the steam engine. This was invented in 1769 by James Watt and was the main energy source during the Industrial Revolution. At first the steam engine was used in mines, but it was soon used in factories and on the railways.

Decide where these words go.

Western extremely First only very small fundamental technological machine coal


In Western Europe, in the second half of the eighteenth century, there was an extremely important change in society. This change was called the ‘First Industrial Revolution.’ Until then, Europe had only been a farming society. With the Industrial Revolution, factories appeared and mass production became possible for the very first time. The factories were built in small towns and as a result, the population of towns and cities greatly increased.

These fundamental changes became possible because of technological inventions such as the steam engine. This machine was invented in 1769 by James Watt and was the main energy source during the Industrial Revolution. At first the steam engine was used in coal mines, but it was soon used in factories and on the railways.

Decide where these words go.

Western extremely First only very small fundamental technological machine coal


Deleting words


Postcards to myself In 50 years of travelling Colin McCorquodale has

visited every country in the world, except three. And everywhere he goes, he sends himself a postcard. He (always) chooses a postcard with a (beautiful) view, and sticks on an interesting stamp. Usually he writes (just) a short message to himself. His latest (one), from the Malvinas islands, reads Good fishing. On a wall in his home in London there is a (large)

map of the world. There are hundreds of (little) red pins stuck in it. 'It's good to get a pin in the map' says Mr McCorquodale, 'but I follow the rules. I'm allowed to stick one in only if I've been in a place for more than 24 hours.'

Deleting words

(Naturally), Mr McCorquodale has his favourite places. New Zealand he describes as 'wonderful'. In Europe, Italy is a favourite (place). 'There's a saying in the (travel) trade that (all) tourists are ripped off. Well, at least the Italians rip you off with a smile.' Of China he says 'This is one country in the world which is (completely) different. There's no European influence. It’s been around for 6,000 years, yet it’s a country of the future.'

Wherever he goes, Mr McCorquodale takes with him a photo of his wife, a candle, a torch, a shirt with a (secret) pocket, and a pen for (writing) his postcards.

So why does he do it? For the postcards or the travel? Mr McCorquodale laughs. 'I do it for the journey' he says. 'I get a kick out of travelling. And (all) the planning.'

9 Be creative with words and texts


Don’t go changing to try and please me, you never let me down before. I don’t imagine you’re too familiar, and I don’t see you any more. I would not leave you in times of trouble; we never could have come this far. I took the good times, I’ll take the bad times, I’ll take you just the way you are. I need to know that you will always be the same old someone that I knew. What will it take till you believe in me the way that I believe in you? I said I love you, that’s forever, and this I promise from my heart: I couldn’t love you any better, I love you just the way you are. I don’t want clever conversation; I never want to work that hard. I just want someone that I can talk to, I want you just the way you are.

Mark the pauses

Don’t go changing / to try and please me,/ you never let me down before./ I don’t imagine/ you’re too familiar,/ and I don’t see you any more./ I would not leave you/ in times of trouble;/ we never could have come this far./ I took the good times,/ I’ll take the bad times,/ I’ll take you just the way you are./ I need to know that you will always be / the same old someone that I knew./ What will it take till you believe in me/ the way that I believe in you?/ I said I love you, /that’s forever,/ and this I promise from my heart: / I couldn’t love you / any better,/ I love you just the way you are./ I don’t want clever conversation;/ I never want to work that hard./ I just want someone /that I can talk to,/ I want you just the way you are.

Mark the pauses

Mark the line breaks, like this /.

For whom the bell tollsNo man is an island, entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manner of thine own or of thine friend’s were. Each man’s death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. John Donne 1572 - 1631


10 Think about word order, paragraphs and the appearance of texts

fashion neon lights air smile

meet wander unbelievable

pass fantastic dazzled yesterday hello fireworks street

moonlit night tomorrow showers


11 Use movement to show comprehension

Conclusions1 Try to integrate the skills2 Use easy-to-prepare activities3 Make sure the comprehension check is not more difficult

than the passage4 Focus on sounds and not always on meaning5 Challenge the learner6 Create artificial or pedagogical motivation 7 Don’t always do the same lesson8 Try to look at your textbook from a different angle9 Be creative with words and texts10 Think about word order, paragraphs and the appearance

of texts11 Use movement to show comprehension12 Have fun!

Remember!

Only you, the teacher, know your students

Change activity types, pace and variety

Proverbs and quotations

America and England are two countries divided by a common language. George Bernard Shaw You are what you eat. German proverbAn apple a day keeps the doctor away. English proverbWar does not tell us who is right – only who is left. Bertrand Russell

To be or not to be? That is the question.

To teach or not to be? That is the question.

To teach or not? To learn? That is the question.

To teach or not? To learn! That is the answer.

To teach or not? To learn what is the answer!

You teach or not? To learn what is the answer.

You teach or not? We learn what is the answer.

You teach or learn. We learn what is the answer.

You teach. I learn. We learn. What is the answer?

You teach. I learn. We learn. What is the question?

To be or not to be. That is the question.

Sentence ladders


12 Have fun!

Documents

Unit 15 Using your textbook as a resource Twelve tips for creative lessons Simon Greenall