It’s very interesting. There is a theme for each show and all the activities are focused around this theme. Each show may be only thirty minutes. However, in this time they manage to get about 11 to 13 powerful activities into this short time frame!

If you feel you can’t teach kids, don’t worry. On my first day teaching kids I came home after work and told my wife that I would never do that again! But I learned and got so that I really enjoy it now.

Let’s take a walk through one of my kid’s classes together. My class has 6 kids aged three to five years of age. The class is forty minutes, once a week. Each child has a nametag.

Before the class starts I play kids music in the background (Ever been to Disneyland? The music you hear sets the tone). The kids always come a little early, so before the class starts the music is playing and I toss a balloon around with them. Their name tags are on the floor or on a table. Help them put them on at first, and soon they will be able to recognize their own name in English.

(You must remember all their names and use them throughout the class at least five times per student.)

1. When it is time to start, I put away the ball, put on my hello song and start singing and waving my hand high in the air. They will follow because of the rapport I have built up before the class started.

2. I sit on the floor and pull out a card with the letter 'I' on it. I point to myself and say, "I am Michael" and pass the card. Each student does the same, and if one child doesn’t, then I just move on to the next child. (I do this with YOU cards, YOUR cards, HE, SHE and so on.)

3. I pull out a bag and ask what’s in it? They have no idea. I put my hands in the air and say "I don’t know," with a confused look on my face. They all repeat and they have just learned the expression, "I don’t know." I pass the bag to all the students, they feel it and try to guess what’s inside. If a child keeps it too long I say 3, 2, 1 pass!

4. Next,I ask them to go sit down and we play bingo.

Each bingo I do has a total of six pictures with the English word for the picture under it.

For example I have vowel bingo that has only "A" words with pictures of things like a ball, apple, ant and so on.

5. After Bingo comes story time. I read a story book to them which has an easy sentence structure and the kids can repeat after the second time of reading this book to them

One book I use is called "I like," -- I like to eat, I like to play ball, I like to read and so on.

I recommend using over-sized books because they keep student's attention. These books are by far the best investment I have made in my teacher’s toolbox!

5.Next I show them fish cards with many cool colors. We flip them trying to make a set.

(Always team the students up in pairs. If there are not enough students you will need to jump in and play.) Before you do this game you may want to make sure students know the colors and drill them for a few minutes. Now is a good time to teach them to raise their hand saying at the same time say "I know!" If they get it right give them the card but get it back quickly so you can play the real game.

(While doing activities make sure you are working the room. Letting your students know that they’re doing well, lots of 'give me fives' and smiling! Encourage and support them and they will just love you and your class!!)

Craig Desorcy