Toss the Markers!Toss the Markers!By Carolyn FloresBy Carolyn Flores

Okay…well it’s just an idea!Okay…well it’s just an idea!

How it all began….How it all began…. One day, about two years ago, I was enjoying my One day, about two years ago, I was enjoying my

class and writing some interesting words on the class and writing some interesting words on the board. All of a sudden, I felt queasy board. All of a sudden, I felt queasy AGAIN AGAIN andand began to notice the familiar lightheadedness I began to notice the familiar lightheadedness I would always seem to get just before lunch. would always seem to get just before lunch.

I tried to shake it off and as I turned around, I I tried to shake it off and as I turned around, I dropped my marker which happened to roll down dropped my marker which happened to roll down my new white summer pants. my new white summer pants.

I suddenly realized it I suddenly realized it was was that very marker that very marker making me feel sick! making me feel sick!

And…..from that day on……..I never looked back.And…..from that day on……..I never looked back.…….…….

I tossed the markers out!I tossed the markers out!

Okay…..well, it wasn’t THAT Okay…..well, it wasn’t THAT dramatic. But I was determined dramatic. But I was determined

to find another way to teach!to find another way to teach!

And then…….I had an idea! And then…….I had an idea!

Why not use the computer?!Why not use the computer?!

And lo and behold…And lo and behold… it was the it was the

best idea I have ever had in all my best idea I have ever had in all my years of teaching. years of teaching.

And to share with you, here are a few And to share with you, here are a few things that I’ve discovered about things that I’ve discovered about teaching with the teaching with the computercomputer, , the the keyboard, and the mousekeyboard, and the mouse…………

The AdvantagesThe Advantages Effective and efficient use of timeEffective and efficient use of time

Caters to all levels Caters to all levels (great for multi-level!)(great for multi-level!)

Students just need to listen and get a copy laterStudents just need to listen and get a copy later

Has spell check and synonym words on the spotHas spell check and synonym words on the spot

Is Is VISUALLYVISUALLY attractive! attractive!

You can You can COPYCOPY, , SAVESAVE, and , and REUSEREUSE your lessons your lessons

Allows for file management – Allows for file management – it’s SO easy!it’s SO easy!

Allows for picture vocabulary Allows for picture vocabulary (clipart and on-line)(clipart and on-line)

More Advantages…..More Advantages….. Students can do more grammar and writing activities. Students can do more grammar and writing activities.

They can focus on what they need.They can focus on what they need.

Allows for editing sentences and paragraphs as a class. Allows for editing sentences and paragraphs as a class.

Allows for lower level students to be part of any lesson Allows for lower level students to be part of any lesson designed for intermediate and advanced. designed for intermediate and advanced.

Environmentally friendly – Environmentally friendly – fewer photocopies!fewer photocopies!

Resourceful – Resourceful – little digging for material in books.little digging for material in books.

Allows for reinforcement – Allows for reinforcement – just pull up, copy, and review, just pull up, copy, and review, review, and review!review, and review!

Interactive –Interactive – On-line quizzes, games, and exercises. You On-line quizzes, games, and exercises. You can buy your own programs and use them, too!can buy your own programs and use them, too!

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Ummmm…..maybe these ones……Ummmm…..maybe these ones……

The projector does get warm if it is being The projector does get warm if it is being used for 5 hours a day. The bulbs are used for 5 hours a day. The bulbs are expensive expensive – however 1 bulb = 2000 hours.– however 1 bulb = 2000 hours.

Electricity = $Electricity = $

If you are not comfortable using a computer If you are not comfortable using a computer ….….this style may not be for youthis style may not be for you

Available classroom technology may not Available classroom technology may not support this methodsupport this method

Great for…..Great for….. Tuning into listening websites, news releases on Yahoo, CNN…Tuning into listening websites, news releases on Yahoo, CNN…

etcetc

Reading Reading CURRENTCURRENT online stories together and analyzing online stories together and analyzing sentence structuresentence structure

Working on grammar quizzes togetherWorking on grammar quizzes together

Typing out and editing sentences to highlight key points Typing out and editing sentences to highlight key points

Practicing pronunciation lists and separating words into Practicing pronunciation lists and separating words into syllablessyllables

Finding and printing off instant lessons from the internet & Finding and printing off instant lessons from the internet & using your file management systemsusing your file management systems

Any questions so far?Any questions so far?

Let’s try some websites!Let’s try some websites!www.dailyesl.com

www.usingenglish.com/quizzeswww.rong-chang.comwww.rong-chang.com

www.esl-galaxy.com/grammarsheets.htmlwww.esl-galaxy.com/grammarsheets.htmlwww.esltower.com/vocabulary.htmlwww.esltower.com/vocabulary.html

www.breakingnewsenglish.comwww.breakingnewsenglish.comhttp://a4esl.org/q/f/http://a4esl.org/q/f/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9N1ia1RgUwww.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9N1ia1RgUwww.yahoo.comwww.yahoo.com