The first Small Talk lesson was a success.  Lots of new kids, as well as some of my small talkers from last year. We spent the first lesson just getting to know each other by asking ‘What is your name?’ and answering ‘My name is ______’.  We played a name game with puppets and raced to see how long it would take the puppets to find out everyone’s name.

We also practiced counting to 20 and learned (reviewed) the colors.

Of course we had a snack and the children got to choose a cookie or raisins and red or yellow juice, which they had to ask for out loud and say ‘thank you’ once they received it.

In the second group there was a spider in the sink so we decided to sing to him and learned the song “the eensy weensy spider.

I’ll post some of the songs we do in class next week.

In the mean time kids can practice telling their name in English:

My name is …….

What’s your name?…..

How old are you?

Counting from 1-20

colors: red, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, brown, black, white, gray

 Last week it was nice and snowy outside, so we talked about how to keep warm in cold weather. What do you wear when it’s cold outside?

These are the words we learned: coat, gloves, mittens, hat, scarf, and socks. We unpacked a bag of Ms. Kris’ winter things to sort them and count them to make sure I was nice and prepared for winter.

There were a couple of things that were ‘not for winter’ in the bag, like a bathing suit, flip flops, shorts, and a sundress. Woops!

The kids tried on some of the stuff in the bag but it didn’t all fit. Some things were too big :

This coat is too big!

           These gloves are also too big!

This scarf is too big and too long.

These warm socks are too big too!

 Some things were too small!

This coat is too small!

This mitten is too small too.

 Nearly as important as dressing warm in the snow is aim and accuracy with snowballs. We practiced that with group 3/4 by drawing a snow man and everything he has such as a face, body, hat, scarf, buttons, arms, eyes, nose, mouth, hands and broom and trying to hit him with snowballs (wet paper towels) on those targets. Each bodypart or clothing item had a point value and we tallied up and counted how many points we had in the end. We practiced saying ‘ready, set, throw!’, asking ‘where is it?’ and talking about ‘how many points’. Our total was 37 points! 

Ooh, almost hit the button for ten points but landed on the body for one!

Wow! On the arm for 3 points! Our score keeper is paying close attention.

Three points for hitting the hat. Great throw!

Five points for hitting the arm. What aim!

 Another fun Friday at Small Talk!

 Here are some songs to get you ready for the sing-along. I’ll post more tomorrow!

14 Jingle Bells

16 I Like Christmas (Medley)

20 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

06 The Eensey Weensey Spider (Learn

This week we used all of the things we’ve been learning and used them to play games and have fun!

With the first group we practiced our colors and listening skills by doing activities with a colorful parachute, different colored balls and balloons. Photos to come!

In group 3/4 we learned about actions running, walking, swimming, sleeping, jumping, etc. and practiced doing each thing a certain number of times. We were very active! Next we had a relay race of blowing paper across the floor using gigantic straws. We cheered on our friends and talked about who came in first, second, third and fourth place. Unfortunately I was too into the competition to remember to take photos or videos, but we may have to do it again as some kids may want to challenge the reigning champion’s Megastraw blowing title!

Some songs we did in class:

20 See You Later Alligator (Goodbye

10 I See Something Blue

05 Walking Walking

01 01-Get Moving

04 One Little Finger

 Happy listening!

Grand opening!  Very eager customers!

Carefully counting how much ‘money’ to pay his friend

 This week we had lots of fun shopping! I set up a shop to prepare for the trip to the candy store and we practiced phrases such as : ‘Can I have _____, please?’, ‘Where’s the _____?’, ‘How much is this?’, ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘you’re welcome’, ‘here you go!’ and ‘Have a nice day!

In group 1/2 we used AH minis to pretend to go grocery shopping. The children took turns helping me read from my grocery list and telling the grocer how much of each thing we needed.

After that we opened a new store and they could go shopping with pepernoten money.

In group 3/4 we did the same thing, but their money was gold (chocolate) coins worth one or two euro. They had to roll a dice to get paid, ask the banker for the amount of money and make sure the tricky banker (a mom) gave them the right amount, which she often didn’t! Once they were paid they could buy something from the store. They had to ask ‘How much is it?’ and count to see if they had enough to buy it.

We’re all prepared now to go to the candy store -EXCEPT, IT GOT POSTPONED! The owner of the store had something come up and can’t be there on the day we planned to come, so we have to reschedule. I’ll let you know as soon as I have a new date!

                       Getting paid!

Paying for his groceries

We decided to practice our English outside today on this beautiful fall day. We collected leaves from the ground, counting them as we picked them up. In group 1/2 we gathered 10 leaves each and in group 3/4 twenty leaves each. Then we counted to 10 (or 20) and threw them in the air and let them fall down on us.

We practices emotions for the camera:

We’re happy!

We’re sleepy!

Taking turns counting to twenty…

eighteen, nineteen, twenty…throw!!!

Back inside we practiced more with greetings, feelings, colors and counting in the first group.

In the second group we practiced more with greetings, colors, describing things and asking “Can I have ______?”

Next week we are going to practice for our trip to the candy store by setting up a shop at Small Talk and buying things!

This week at Small Talk was lots of fun again! So much fun that I forgot to take pictures or videos. I’ll make sure to capture our fun on film next week.

In both groups we reviewed and practiced what we learned last week and added some more English to our repertoire. 

In group 1/2 we introduced feelings and talked about how were feeling. We acted out our feelings with facial expressions and took turns guessing which feeling was being acted out. We sang the song “If you’re Happy, Happy, Happy”, a version of “If you’re happy and you know it”. Here it is:

04 If You’re Happy

In group 3/4 we reviewed feelings and numbers and learned to describe things using colors. We named all the colors in English and practiced them by playing a game. We identified lots of objects by naming the color and what it’s for. I gave a description such as ‘I see something blue for on your head’ and a child had to listen and find the object I described. Some children were even able to give the description themselves! We played a game called ‘Mystery box’ and had kids asking one another about what was in the box.

Of course we had snack and before eating played “Who took the cookie from the cookie jar”. Here’s a version of it that the kids can practice along to.08 Who Took The Cookie_

We have a couple of exciting events coming up at Small Talk!

November 23: Trip to de Gaard- We’re going to the candy store there. The owner is American and the idea is that the children purchase something and that the transaction takes place in English. We’ll be practicing for this! *Can you send your child with a euro to Small Talk that day? ** I’d also like 3 parents to come with each group, so please tell me if you’re available and would like to join us.

December 7: Sing along day with David de Geus- A little mini-concert of favorite English songs…we take requests! Parents are welcome.

December 14: kijkles for parents.

See you all Friday!

Hello and welcome to the Small Talk Blog!

This is where you can find out what we done each week, and see pictures, videos and links to songs we’ve learned. Any new updates or events about Small Talk can be found here as well.

This is also where you can leave comments or share funny or brilliant things your child has said in English or about English lessons. I’d love to hear from you so please comment!

I’d like to apologize in advance to those of you parents who use English as your ‘geheime taal’ when you need to say something in front of your child that you don’t want him or her to hear. You’re going to have to find a new secret language soon!

Greetings and looking forward to Friday, October 26th!

Kristin