A few months ago, I introduced my Aurora class to the book, "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom." The book was one of my favorites as a child, and it gets kids interested in the alphabet in a fun and silly story. Since then, we have turned an entire wall in our classroom into a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom inspired tree, that incorporates art and phonics. We use it during lessons to reference letters and sounds, and we use it to play games.
The next addition we've made to the wall is to now include vocabulary. For the past two weeks we have brainstormed words that begin with each letter sound, and I made little picture flashcards based on the vocabulary the class provided me with. The students helped color the pictures and once they were laminated and cut, we started the next project with them.
I asked Aurora to all sit on the ground, facing the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom wall. I spread the picture cards out on the floor in front of them, and each kid was given two turns to pick up a card and match it to the letter on the wall.
As they matched the cards to the letters, they had to show the rest of the class what they picked up, and repeat the word and the first letter sound. For example, if they picked up, "Jellyfish," they would have the repeat the word and then say, "J-J-Jellyfish." The kids were all eager to have their turns to stand a speak before the class.
This project was incredibly challenging and advanced for ESL students, ages three to four, but Aurora impressed with with their ability to both follow directions and successfully participate.
As I watched each kid take turns I was so proud of how far they have come this year and how much they have learned in English. What I hadn't anticipated, which I think made me the happiest, was their eagerness to help one another. This project was very difficult for their age group, and while many of them understood what was being asked, a few needed a smallbit of assitance. They students were patient with one another and gave them guidance when it was required. Their ability to aide one another demonstrates that not only have they learned the material, but also that they are engaged and paying attention to the lesson.
On Friday we only made it through about half of the alphabet, so we still have a lot of work ahead of us.
As the school year continues, we will continue to add to the wall, as Aurora builds their vocabulary.
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