A tip to get you going. If teaching by Skype is new to you, start by using objects in your home to teach words and phrases. As you get more experience, move gently into using internet links, games and images, as well as things like Skype “share screen”. I. USE WHAT YOU HAVE / DO WHAT YOU KNOW BEST
Idea 1. Get seven spools of thread (red, yellow, pink, green, purple, orange and blue). Slip them on a thin dowel for easy use. (Or you can use buttons, colored pencils, or whatever you have.) Hold up the spools of thread on the dowel and say each color. Have the children repeat the colors. Then, type each color name on Skype messenger and send it to your child. OR, hold up a piece of paper and a pen; write the color name and point to your child to show your child s/he should write the name too.
Then learn the words eyes, ears, nose, mouth by pointing to yourself or to a puppet. Finally, when the colors and these face words are learned, use the video below to teach the rainbow song. This lesson can take 2-3 weeks, including learning the song.
During your lesson, either send your student the song link on Skype messenger and have your student play the song while you both listen and sing OR play the song on your computer using Skype screen share and send the link for the student to listen to during the week.
Idea 2. Use a large colorful calendar to teach the days of the week. You can then teach the words: yesterday, today, tomorrow. Type the days of the week and the simple phrases below on Skype messenger, so that your student can learn them during the week.
• Today is Tuesday.
• Yesterday was Monday.
• Tomorrow is Wednesday.
Use the song below for practice. During your lesson, either send your student the song
link on Skype messenger and have your student play the song while you
both listen and sing OR play the song on your computer using Skype
screen share and send the link for the student to listen to during the
week.
II. REPEAT LESSONS USING THE SAME WORDS BUT NEW OBJECTS
Idea 3. Teaching counting is fun and easy during your first lessons. Each week come up with 10 different objects. Hold up different amounts of things so students are not just memorizing the order, but are remembering individual numbers. You can use 10 colored pencils, 10 buttons, ten paper stars, 10 pine cones, 10 keys, 10 candles, 10 Christmas tree ornaments, your ten fingers! ... the possibilities are endless. In this way you can be teaching not only counting, but colors, new nouns, shape words, etc.
Idea 4. Use your own puppet(s) or print out the puppet from the link below to teach body parts. [The puppet image is owned by The School Inside.] Then sing the “head, shoulders” song.
Idea 5. Look all around you! What objects can you find? What fun ideas do you have?!
NOW RETURN TO THE “FIRST LESSONS” PAGE