Christmas Spirit!

   It's been sooo long since my last post... I see other teachers posting at their blogs all the time, tweeting, searching for innovative teaching techniques and I keep wondering: "where do they find the time to do all these"? Probably I'm doing something wrong... However,Christmas is here and the festive atmosphere always cheers me up!

via http://jokesprank.com/blog/funny-jokes/50-christmas-jokes.html

   The preparations began on the very first day of December with each student picking a decoration and putting it up the Christmas tree. Routine gave its place to songs, lights and crafts. I love Christmas time!
    Below is a list with links for some activities to use in your festive lessons. Enjoy!

Sites with collections of activities:
http://busyteacher.org/3966-christmas-materials-package-2010-tons-of.html

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/christmas_printables.htm
http://en.islcollective.com/worksheets/search_result?Vocabulary_Focus=Christmas
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-themes-christmas.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/christmas/

Stories:
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/stories/gingerbread.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/misc/stories/misc-thegingerbreadman/
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/short-stories/my-favourite-day-christmas
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/short-stories/the-snowman

Christmas Songs:
http://mmdelrosario.hubpages.com/hub/christmas-carols-for-children (lyrics in an excellent layout)
http://www.anglomaniacy.pl/printableSongs3.htm

Crafts:
http://vbsblog.guildcraftinc.com/index.php/christmas-winter-freebies/
http://www.squidoo.com/free-christmas-card-templates
http://www.hp.com/hho/hp_create/cards-greeting_cards-holidays-themes_holidays_christmas.html
http://www.craftsonthenet.com/p3197/cards-crafts-for-christmas-4-templates/
http://www.designaninvitation.info/2011/12/christmas-templates/?d=1051/snowman-ampamp-gingerbread-man-patterns-printable-holiday-templates-christmas-templates
http://www.designaninvitation.info/2011/12/christmas-templates/?d=1048/christmas-tree-ampamp-ornament-patterns-printable-templates-for-kids-christmas-templates
http://www.designaninvitation.info/tag/website/
http://www.cardcarousel.co.uk/store/index.php?main_page=document_product_info&products_id=215
http://crafts.kaboose.com/paper-plate-snowman.html
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/craft-download/make-snowman

Writing Worksheets and Papers:
http://specialed.about.com/od/readingliteracy/ss/xmaswrite.htm
http://specialed.about.com/od/holidaysthemes/ss/Christmas-Writing-Themes.htm
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/christmas/printable/43262.html
http://www.cool-coloring-pages.com/holidays_christmas_letter_to_santa_claus_2.php

Bingo Cards and (Board) Games:
http://bogglesworldesl.com/christmasbingo.htm
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/christmas_bingo.htm
http://en.islcollective.com/worksheets/worksheet_page?id=8053  Taboo Game Cards
http://www.theholidayzone.com/christmas/printables/Christmas_Taboo.pdf
http://www.theholidayzone.com/christmas/christmas-games.html
http://www.optimalprint.co.uk/s/xmas_advent_calendar/ChristmasTaboo.pdf
http://en.islcollective.com/worksheets/worksheet_page?id=675
http://en.islcollective.com/worksheets/worksheet_page?id=14386
http://en.islcollective.com/worksheets/worksheet_page?id=14390

Short Plays:

http://en.islcollective.com/worksheets/worksheet_page?id=2394 
http://en.islcollective.com/worksheets/worksheet_page?id=2395
http://en.islcollective.com/worksheets/worksheet_page?id=2405


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU & A HAPPY NEW YEAR! 
And let us not forget to give love to people who need it...

via http://www.christmaswow.com/merry-christmas/

  

Thanksgiving

History and Traditions
Have a look here: http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa110800a.htm

Thanksgiving by numbers
A really nice graph from Credit Donkey: http://www.creditdonkey.com/thanksgiving.html

Some Worksheets and Colouring pages: http://abcteach.com/directory/seasonalholidays/thanksgiving/

Educational Pages That Make Our Lives Easier

Since I have decided to join in the blogging community, I thought it's time I started posting anything I find interesting and you might want to have a look at. Let the posting begin!

Easy Notecards is a place where students and teachers can create, study, print and share their own cards.

snapps4kids is an excellent site, aiming to introduce us to ways of using the iPad, iPod, iPhone and other Android devices with children who have special needs.

Invitation to ECCE exam-prep presentation

16/11/2011

The Hellenic American Union invites you to attend a presentation on how ECCE-prep teachers can increase their students’ chances for success in all sections of the test.
Language School Owners and EFL teachers will learn how to help their students develop effective test-taking strategies in the final days before the examination. The presentation will look at different types of test-taking strategies and their application to different tasks in each section of the ECCE.
The presentation will be offered in Athens and Thessaloniki on a variety of dates from 11:00 to 13:00.
Presentation schedule
For more information or reservations:

• 2103680000, 2103680900 (Athens)
• 2310557600 (Thessaloniki)
• http://www.hau.gr/?i=examinations.en.news.2093

This Year's Halloween

Another Halloween period went by this year and I tried my best to familiarise my students with the traditions around it. Students wore their masks, sang the trick-or-treat song, watched some clips on youtube and of course coloured their halloween pictures listening to creepy sounds!

 This year's Jack-o-lantern! Oh, well, he's missing a tooth, but that's ok!

 Jack lit up

 Next, getting ready for Thanksgiving (maybe?) and Christmas! Woohoo!

Some useful addresses:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/halloween/string/
http://homepages.tesco.net/~derek.berger/holidays/halloween.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/halloween/jolmask/
http://h30393.www3.hp.com/printing/app/us/en/in_halloween_pumpkin_4x6-landing.aspx
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/halloween/ghostcard/
http://familyfitness.about.com/od/seasonalsportsandfun/tp/halloween_games.htm
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/fun-with-english/haunted-house
http://www.frightcatalog.com/i/creative/history_of_halloween_large.jpg
http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/halloween/a/History-Of-Halloween.htm
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/10/09/paper-ghost-garland/
http://esolebooks.com/ghoststories/signalman.html