Bingel

I would like to tell you about a web based platform created by Sanoma utbildning, based on their teaching materials. Basically it is an interactive island made up by different subdivisions linked to different textbooks from Sanoma. You can use it as a complement to the books and your students can practice tasks you have experienced earlier together, but in a new way.

To get access to Bingel your school needs to be a registered costumer with Sanoma but you don´t need to have or use all of their books. To try a demo version of Bingel you can get a temporary login here. I haven´t tried this myself since my school has an account, so I don´t know how much you are able to do with it. The program is quite extensive and it takes some figuring out, but once you´ve gotten to know it, it is fairly easy to use. One tricky bit is that your school needs an administrator who controls who has access to what, both students and teachers, but once everything is in place this isn´t an issue.

I have used Bingel mainly in school year 5, in mathematics, as a complement to the book MatteBorgen, but you can also use it with their other mathematics books or with Zick Zack (Swedish), Champ (English) and What´s up (English). Bingel is assembled in the same way as the books, with exercises following the books´ chapters.

There are three things I like especially with Bingel. First; the possibility for me to create tasks for specific students and/or the entire class with an easy overview of who has completed the task and how they did.

Second; the fact that I can use the material based on a textbook designed for school year 4 or 6 (or any other for that matter) with my year 5. This gives me better opportunity to challenge each student individually within the platform.

Third; there is a built-in reward system which awards the students points for each task they complete, more if they get it right. These points can then be used to buy outfits and accessories for their avatar, which I have found is a great motivator for the students!

Another plus is that you can easily access your students’ results, give them new tasks and reward them for a good job well done with stickers, medals or- most appreciated; additional points. The design and layout is very nice looking, which I think is rather important.

Bingel is still under construction and not all parts of it are in place yet, so be ready for that if you give it a go. In using Bingel my students have discovered some faults and mishaps in the program, but I talked with them about it before we started using Bingel and they think it´s fun to discover these mistakes and even more fun to notify Sanoma that they have found them.

I hope some of you will try out Bingel because I think it´s a great resource!

A restaurant menu, and much more

I would like to inform you about an online resource from the British Council at http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/. This web-page is filled with different materials to use to practice pupils’ language-proficiency in reading, listening, speaking and writing, as well as grammar and vocabulary.

To give you an example about how to use this in a lesson I will tell you about a lesson-plan of mine. Under the menu "skills" and then "reading practice" you can find a restaurant menu and exercises associated to it (http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading-skills-practice/restaurant-menu). I used this as one part in a recent lesson plan in seventh grade, ongoing for several weeks.

To start with, I divided my pupils in groups of three. After that I handed out native English speaking counties for them to find information about. One county to each group. We gathered most of this information from Språklänksportalen´s site about English speaking countries. You can find it at (http://www.spraklankportalen.se/SITE/HOME---Spraaklaenkportalen/Tematiskt-arbete/Temaomraaden/Engelsktalande-laender.aspx). If you haven´t come in contact with Språklänksportalen before I can tell you that this also is a very useful website.

They should find information about size, citizens, short history, government, currency, important landmarks and points of interest and etcetera. Next, they made a power-point to present their county to the rest of the class.

After that they had presented their country, I presented and talked about the restaurant menu which is presented above. I think the questions on the website, belonging to the menu, suits to be done either individually or together as a group. I let my pupils do them in the groups they already were divided in.

Following assignment became to write their own menu, similar to the example, according to native food which may be found in their countries. We searched on google to find menus from native restaurants to see what specialties they might serve. Later they designed their own menus in Microsoft word.

In the textbook that we use there is a dialogue about two people who want to order at a restaurant. We read this and after, also in groups, they wrote their own dialogues based on their menus. To end this set of lessons the groups read their dialogues as plays in front of the rest of the class.

This is one example on how to use this very useful website.

Good lunch to you all, :-).

Jonas Schenström

News in levels

                                             

The website I want to share with you is called: News in levels (www.newsinlevels.com). 

It is for everyone that wants to learn English as a second language. I have just started teaching the subject English, my major subject is textile craft. When I was presented with this task I asked my sister, who has been teaching for many years, if she had a website to recommend. She suggested this one and I understand why. She explained to me that her experiences of using it was that it catches the interest of almost every student, on all levels.

The website is full of interesting News stories and film clips but also other topics from all around the world. You can choose from topics such as: News, Sport, Nature, History, Interesting, Funny, Information and Exercises. New film clips and stories are displayed on the website every day.It is truly something for everyone!

This is how it works. The website is organized so you can read and listen to different news stories and other topics from all around the world in 3 different levels of difficulty. Level 1 is basic English, level 2 intermediate English and level 3 is advanced English spoken with a native tongue. The original story is always displayed at the level 3 page.

This is the home page where you select your level.

  This page shows level 1written and recorded text,(you press the play button).

   This page is level 3 and shows the written text, recorded text and full News story.

 To be able to use the website for teaching you will need a computer or an Ipad and access to the internet. If you want to use it as a class activity you will need a projector or an interactive whiteboard as well, to display the site in large scale.

 If the pupils work in smaller groups with learning, 1-3 students is appropriate with each computer or Ipad, so everyone can be involved with the task. Something to think about is the volume, the student need to be seated in different study rooms or wear headsets so they don´t disturb each other when listening.

As a class activity you might start with a News program in level 1, where you can read the text, listen to it and go through new words together. After that you move on to level 2 reading the same story on a more advanced level, looking at the differences and going through new words. You do the same at level 3 and then you look at the original film clip together.

This could be a good exercise to get familiar with differences in text according to knowledge requirements of the syllabus in LGR11.

The texts within each level use the same words that is repeated in different ways, that way you will get a deep understanding of the words. With each level the pupils will learn approximately 3000 new words. To be successful in learning English this way the you need to use the material regularly, if possible everyday according to the founders of the website, Lidor Skodik and Michal Hudecek.

There are lots of different ways that the students can work with this website as a base for learning English. By looking at the core content for English in LGR 11 you will find that by working with this website in an appropriate way it is possible to implement quite a few of the requirements and aims of the syllabus. By using the site it is possible to have fun and reach the aim for the course in English at the same time. I think  that is a very good way to learn and comprehend a new language!

// Charlotte Strandberg

Bring your classroom to life

Bring your classroom to life

I want to recommend a program I am using in my classroom with my kindergarten students.I have used the program for several years and my students love it and they can’t wait until it is their turn at the computer. You can use this program as a group activity and as a single activity. I have three computers in my classroom and I normally have six students working in pairs, to get the most out of the activity. You can use this program as homework for your students to play before each lesson to learn all the words. There are different themes and levels for all ages and interests.

Fact

The name of the program is Genki English and the founder’s name is Richard Graham. I am a big fan of his as he puts a lot of importance to students’ interests through games.

The program I use in class teaches students with energy, passion and gives them confidence to use what they have learned. As the key to learn a new language is to have fun as you are learning, it is very important to me that students like the activity I am proposing.

How to use it

Learn and play: It is important that the students have a basic grip on the target English before playing the games.

Songs instead of drilling: The game includes songs with actions instead of drilling words. 

Set the level: Make sure you teach the students at their level to avoid too difficult or to easy witch won’t be very effective.

Motivation: As students learn through playing it gives them extra motivation as they win the game if they learn new language.

It’s the kids: as the students play together in groups it becomes less teacher orientated.

Most of the games are for free, all you need is a computer with internet access.

click on the link to get to the games:

http://www.genkienglish.net/onlinegames.htm

Easy level: What time is it 

                                          




Higher level: Have you  ever…?

As a teacher I recommend you to start by reading the curriculum page first, to get at hint of what you can teach by using this program. There are also many lesson plans you can get access to for free.

http://genkienglish.net/teaching/where-to-start-with-genki-english-easy-as-123/

Enjoy !

Scribble press

 I´m going to write about an app for iPad that one of my friends, who is a teacher, recommended. I have not had the opportunity to test it myself in the classroom so this is information that she told me and information that I found on the Internet.

In Scribble press students can create books and practice their English. Inside the app students can both create books from scratch or create a book by filling in words. 

It is also possible to buy extra material, which gives students the tools to create own pictures to their stories. There are for example, 500 drawing tools (including markers, stamps, different colours and pencils).

When students work with the filling parts they can work together and help each other to understand what the text is about and how to fill in the words. This gives students the chance to develop their vocabulary and their social skills. They learn from each other or by using a dictionary. There are 50 different templates that students can choose from. For example, they can choose to write about themselves, their family or holiday.

Stories made in the app can be edit and students can also choose to write in English on one page and then have the translation on the other page. It is possible to create pictures, download own pictures, take pictures with the iPad or use photos that come with the app.

One part of this app is also a very good part! Teachers can create a certain account only for students in the class and this allows students to open up their stories at home and share them with their families and friends. This gives students the opportunity to practice English at home and to involve others in their education. Stories that are created can be uploaded in iBooks library but students can also choose to upload them to Facebook, Twitter or email them to others. It is also possible to print out the stories if you connect the iPad to a printer.

Scribble press can be used from an early stage and continue when students grows older. I also believe, that by using this app teachers can make students aware of their own develop in English. By saving students stories, they can go back and see how their English have been improved and make them feel proud of what they have done and accomplished. Scribble press can be used both by students that are very good at writing and reading and by students that have difficulties with writing and reading. The app can be used as a tool to develop fantasy and creativity. 

Scribble press is not only for English learning. Teachers can use it for teaching other different languages, create lessons in the app or make portfolios for the students. Students can use the app to create books about different facts, instructions or words. They can also for instance ,create reports or use it as a journal. Think outside the box and you will find many different ways to work with the app J

You can buy the app on Appstore for your iPad and it cost 40 Swedish crowns. It is also possible to use Scribble pass on the Internet where students can do some things for free and others are not for free: http://www.scribblepress.com

Here you can watch a information video about Scribble pass:

Hopefully you got inspired to try Scribble press in your classroom, I know I will ;) 

GoNoodle.com - a fun Place to be in...


I've been thinking quite a lot about what to share in this blogpost but ended up with telling you about the website GoNoodle. GoNoodle.com is an American website dedicated to get kids moving regularly and in a fun way. Short videos with exciting and interesting songs, dances, kinesthetic moves and more. The site is made up as a simple videogame where the class has got an avatar that changes/develops due to the pupils activities. One can make a free account and use very much of the content but there is a premium too called GoNoodle plus. I don't use that yet. So I'm not sure about how big a difference there really is.

Even though the basic thought of this website is exercise in different ways, there is quite a few more approaches to learning. GoNoodle is constantly developing by the help of its users. One can write and ask for new exercises for instance. There is also a blog to read and get new ideas from.

My reasons, for using GoNoodle.com, are basically two: To get my pupils moving now and then in a fun way but also to let them get to know the English language in an informal way and to listen to it and learn some. Through the semester with my 1:st graders, I've heard the children develop their language and pronunciation through having fun. I sometimes help them along with translations and pictures as a support. /Mickaela

Digital pedagogik

I am a big fan of  the ICT resource "Digital pedagogik" which is the new name of Mediapoolen's digital resource page for teachers and students. I have the fourtune to work in a municipality where all the schools are connected to several services provided by Mediapoolen. Your school need to have an agreement with Mediapoolen if you want to use "Digital pedagogik".

First you will need to register at their site with your workplace connected e-mailaddress and verify that you belong to a workplace with an agreement. When you have registered you can login from any computer and surf around the site. You can find streamable movies, shorter films and audio recordings for any subject. Make sure you have a good internet connection if you want to stream anything. You can search by resource type, age group, language and by theme. Say you are going to have a theme based teaching method in class for a week or two about Sweden. Then you can enter "Sverige" in the search field and click the theme named "Sverige", now you'll see this view:

 
At the left hand side of the screen you will see all the site's resources connected to the theme. Many resources come with a teacher's guide with examples on how you can use it in class. I use this ICT resource on a weekly basis mostly in the subjects general science and English. In my second grade English class the students love "Kids English Zone" and "Muzzy in Gondoland", both in very simple English. And they learn a lot bu them especially since we always do something practical to use the new knowledge connected to the English class. I really like the fact that I can look around for a suitable resource during my planning hours and attach the resource to my personal pinboard.

Students can also register to the site even if its regulated by the same rules as for teachers. If the students are connected and know how to use the site many new possibilities opens up. I think that I would use this choice mainly with older students. Since I really like the idea of flipped classrooms I could give homework to watch a short film or listen to an audio file which we then could discuss later in class.

As if this wasn't enough you can also create music and use the softwares Creaza and Vocalex right there on the site. Creaza lets the students create digital mind maps and their own comic strips. It is also possible to edit both video and audio clips within this software. Vocalex is an easy to use word translation / glossary software which is great to use for extra pracitce. It is also siutable with students from foreign countries. One thing that I like in particular is the fact that you can switch between different languages quite easily. You can also switch between different kinds of exercises like reading or listening comprehension.

To sum it all up. Digital pedagogik is a site with a lot of content. Try it and you will like it!

//Therese Ahl Lennartsson