富沢小学校 Tomilishブログ

This week 5th grade students started using their `Hi, friends!1` textbook for the first time.

First we did `Let's Listen 1`.
Students had to listen to the characters and write down their names.
"What was the girl in the blue sweater's name?"
"I know! I know! Suzuki Sakura!"

The students also had to think about what was different with the characters' greetings.
"Some of them say `Hi` but some say `Hello`"
"Yes, that's right! We use `Hi` with our friends but `Hello` with teachers and people we don't know."

Next, it was time for an activity. First the teachers gave a demonstration.
"Let's watch!"

The homeroom teacher tried really hard to talk to Ms. Keiko (in Japanese) but she didn't look at them.
She didn't make eye contact and didn't smile. She just gave short answers.

"Let's ask `How are you?`"
"I'm sad."

Then the students tried it themselves.
It was difficult to try to ignore our classmates! Everyone realised how it felt to be ignored.

After that, the teachers did another demonstration.
They are making eye contact and talking happily!

Next, it was the students turn!
Everyone is smiling and looks so happy!

We all realised how important eye contact and smiling is to communication.

Next we did a greeting game. We had prepared name cards during Tomilish Time earlier this week. First the teachers demonstrated.
"Nice to meet you!"

Then everyone exchanged name cards.
"Here you are!"

This was a great class for realising the importance of good communication!

5th and 6th grade students had their first English classes for the year. For the upper level students we don't start the textbook straight away. Instead, we have orientation.

First the teachers introduced themselves. "Are you ready? Let's..."
"Watch!"

The teachers talked about things they liked.
"I like suzume odori. I don't like natto!"

"What's this?"
"Yes, it's tennis! I like tennis!"

The teachers tried to use English the students would know as well as pictures and gestures.

Everyone tried hard to listen!

Next we had a greeting game.

We use the greeting game to review some English we studied last year. Both grades studied "Do you like~?" last year so we used this question.

"Hello! How are you? Do you like tennis?"

After the greeting game, the homeroom teachers gave an orientation presentation.

First we asked the students "What do we study in 外国語活動?"

Many students say "English!".

But that is not our main goal!

We use English for...

communication!

But what is communication?


The students discussed in pairs about what communication is.


Now we know about communication.
We can communicate in Japanese, too.

Why do we need to use English?
The students discussed this too!

Of course! We need to communicate with many different people.

The last part of the presentation was talking about class rules.

Our school mascot, Anejiro, explained the rules.

Finally the students practiced writing their names and made their English folders.
5th grade students used only capital letters and 6th grade students used small letters, too. The students traced their names four times.

After practicing their names, they could make their folders.
On the outside, they wrote their class and name.

On the inside they stuck some other materials.
They stuck a romaji guide and an envelope to keep small cards. They also stuck their English name sheet.

We will use the folder to keep feedback cards and worksheets.

Orientation was very useful for us and we could start the year with a fun and happy atmosphere.

Today many elementary school teachers came to Tomizawa Elementary School for an important meeting about English. After the meeting there was a seminar taught by Ms. Emily, our ALT.

Ms. Emily demonstrated some warm-ups and many different activities using flashcards.
Ms. Emily acted as a class teacher and the teachers all acted as students.

By becoming students, the teachers could all understand how their students feel during activities. It was interesting to see the other side of some activities.

There were a lot of different activities.
We got to try many different versions which should help students to enjoy English class more.

The last activity was the Pacman game. It's an adaptation of the game 'Criss-Cross'.
If you answer the question you can pick a card.

"Number 5, please!"
Oh no! It's the reverse card! All people who are sitting have to stand up!

Hopefully everyone enjoyed the seminar and learned some new activities to use in their English classes.

Today we had our first morning English time (Tomilish Time) for the year. First we had a broadcast and then each class did a game in their classrooms.

It has been a while since we have had Tomilish Time but everyone was looking forward to it.

Let's enjoy Tomilish Time!

Last year we always used the greeting, 'Hello', but this year we are learning other greetings too. 6th grade students helped Ms. Emily and Ms. Keiko to introduce 'Good morning' and 'Good afternoon'.
"Good morning!"


"Good afternoon!"

Then the 6th grade students greeted each other using the new phrases.
It's 8.30am so we say "Good Morning!" and then 'Hi five!!'

Next we sang the Hello Song. Ms. Emily and Ms. Kato sang this to the 1st grade students during the Entrance Ceremony and everyone did gestures so this was not new.
"Hello! Hello! Hello, how are you?"

After the Hello Song, we had a demonstration of the greeting game. We played this last year so we watched the demonstration to refresh our memories (2nd-6th grade) and to learn how to do the game (1st grade).
"What's your name?" "How are you?"

After the broadcast all the students played the greeting game in their classrooms. Here are some pictures from the 2nd grade classrooms.
Great eye contact!

Everyone is having fun!

We had a great time!
Let's enjoy Tomilish Time this year, too!

Today we had our first Tomilish Time of the year. This year we will have Tomilish Time twice a week. Tuesday Tomilish Time is only for 5th and 6th grade students. Wednesday Tomilish Time is for everyone (1st-6th grade).

Today 6th grade students had some tests so only 5th grade students had Tomilish Time. It's been a while since everyone spoke English so we decided to do something simple and fun. We played the character greeting game. Each student had a card with a character (Mickey, Ponyo, Nobita, etc.) on one side and a feeling (happy, sleepy, etc.) on the other.

First the teachers demonstrated the activity.

"What's your name?" "How are you?" "Nice to meet you!"
Then they swapped cards.

When they handed out the cards the teachers were sure to use English.

"Here you are."
"Thank you!"
"You are welcome!"

Then it was time to play the game.

Let's speak to many people!

Half-way through the game the teachers picked some students who did well to give a demonstration.

"What was good about their demonstration?"
"Boys and girls asked each other."
"Yes! Let's ask everyone!"

Then all the students tried again while thinking about the demonstration.

Well done everyone!

It was a fun way to start the year. Nice job!

Many people are sleepy on Monday mornings but at Tomizawa Elementary school we have the perfect way to warm-up our brains: Reading Time!
It's a nice way to start the week. It's even more exciting when Ms. Emily or Ms. Keiko come to class to read English books!

Today, classes 2-1 and 2-2 had English read-aloud time! We read the book 'Ketchup On Your Cornflakes?' by Nick Sharratt. We introduced the book on our blog last year: here. It was the first time for these students to see this book.

The students listened carefully and tried to answer the questions with "Yes!" or "No!".
The questions can be really silly so the students laughed a lot.

"Do you like toothpaste on your head?"
"Hahahaha! No! No! No!"

As well as reading 'Ketchup On Your Cornflakes", we also read some other books that the children had read last year. It was nice to review the English they already knew.

"Let's check the colors!"

"What color is this?"
"It's pink."

After checking the color names they read the book 'Color Surprise'.

There are different animals behind colored flaps so it was great to review animals, too!

This was a great start to Monday Morning Reading for this year. We're all looking forward to reading many new English books!

We are all ready to start learning after our reading warm-up!

Hello and welcome to a new school year at Tomizawa Elementary School!
This year we are continuing to focus on improving our English skills. We hope you will enjoy reading about our progress!

Yesterday, we had our first Display Committee meeting (掲示委員会） of the year. The meeting was very busy because we had to decide our officers and goals for the year but the students still managed to find the time to make a lovely display. The Display Committee are amazing!

Our topic this month is Easter.

The students made posters explaining about different traditions and games played in Scotland (Ms. Emily's country).

One ofthe most interested games was called "Egg tapping".

Two people hit two boiled eggs together and the person whose egg breaks first loses! Everyone wanted to try the game.

The students also explained about Easter cards and parades.

Rabbits and chicks are symbols of new life in spring. They are very cute!

The students also explained about Easter Eggs.

People paint eggs and play games trying to find hidden eggs. There is even an Easter Bunny (rabbit) who brings candy for children.

It's a fun holiday!
The students made a great first display. We are looking forward to seeing what they make in the future!