When I was a classroom teacher, the Pre-K age group was my absolute FAVORITE! I love the idea of learning through play. I love setting up pretend play. I love that they are little sponges for new vocabulary. It is so fun to see them learn a new word and then figure out how to apply it to their lives. One of my very favorite skills to teach is alphabet skills. Learning to identify letters and matching the sounds... so fun!
In the online ESL classroom, those alphabet skills are just as important. It is the foundation for learning to read! But trying to teach those skills online can be tricky. We don't have the same manipulatives or activities that a brick & mortar classroom would use. But there is a tool that we DO have that can be just as functional for teaching those fun alphabet skills... the whiteboard.
Stick with me here. I know that can sound a little tedious, but I have some activities for you today that go beyond just "call & reply." In the online classroom, these whiteboard games can serve a few different purposes. Primarily, yes, they are intended to teach the skill. That in and of itself is a reason to prioritize playing these games. But the benefits go beyond just skill building!
*They help you with your pacing. Have you ever had a student blow through the material and you end up with several minutes left at the end of class? Do you ever feel nervous about skipping those blank "extra" slides? Play a whiteboard game!
*They show parents that you are invested in helping their child master the content. Choose letters that you know the student has not mastered. Give them an extra chance to practice with you in class. Play a whiteboard game!
*They present information in a new way. We all know that those lessons can get a little repetitive. Switch it up a little. Play a whiteboard game!
*They give the students different exposure to a familiar letter. Sometimes a letter can look one way on a screen when it is typed. Students may even associate a letter with a certain color or matching picture. Give them a chance to see those same letters written by hand or in a different color. Play a whiteboard game!
*They demonstrate mastery. When information is only presented in a handful of ways, it becomes easy to rely on the method and not truly the content. See if your student can apply their alphabet knowledge in a variety of ways. Play a whiteboard game!
5 Whiteboard Games You Can Play Today!
1. Erase the letters
The kiddos that tend to scribble on the screen will love this one! This is probably the simplest and quickest game to play. You can even use the whiteboard screen within the lesson. Pick a few letters that were included in the lesson (or additional letters for review). Write them around the board. Call out a letter, and have the student either erase or cross out the letter. Let those little scribblers have their fun!
2.ABC Tic-Tac-Toe
Pretty simple. Draw a quick tic-tac-toe board on your screen (or handheld whiteboard). Pick two letters and play until your heart's content (or until you run out of time). Be sure to have the student say the letter name or sound each time it's written! Play a few games with new letters each time! If you're playing on a handheld whiteboard, you can write a number in each box to help the student explain where they want their letter to go.
3. Create a graph
This one requires a dry erase die or cube. Write a letter on each side of the cube. Roll it on your desk, and then have the student name the letter. Create a graph on your whiteboard! Be sure to count the letters in each column before ending the game.
4. Complete a pattern
I actually saw this idea from a teacher on Instagram (looking at you Teacher Karli!) and I loved it! I've used it in my own classroom many times. It works especially well if a pattern was learned in class, such as the Level 1 VIPKid lessons. Use the same AB or AAB (or ABC, AABB, etc) pattern, but use the letters from the lesson. Double skill building!
5. What's Missing?
This one is a favorite of many of my regulars. If you're a VIPKid teacher, this game is also played in the Level 1 Peru unit. This one is best on a handheld whiteboard. Write a few letters that you want to review. Have the student close their eyes while you cover one letter with a sticky note. They'll open their eyes and guess which letter is missing! So fun!
A few notes on games:
*Be sure to use both upper and lowercase. Many students tend to learn the uppercase letters first. In all reality, they will see lowercase letters more often in their reading. Be sure to utilize this time to reinforce both sets of letters!
*Verbal output on every slide! Make sure your student says the letter names (or sounds) with each turn. Get those kiddos talking!
*If your lesson included alphabet skills, be sure to include those letters as reinforcement. If you have experience with your student, you may already have an idea about which letters they need to review. Include both letters from the lesson AND letters from previous lessons!
*These games can be played at any point during the lesson. In the Level 1 VIPKid lessons, I like to play one on the ABC song slide and one at the end on the blank slide if I have time. During an assessment, a quick game could even be a reward.
*If your student already has a good understanding of the letter names, you can extend their thinking to include letter sounds. Instead of naming the letter, they will say both the letter name and sound. For more advanced students, take it a step further and use high-frequency words!
So tell me. Do you play games in your online classroom? Do you have any ideas for variations of these games? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments! Let's chat!
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