άλφα, άλφα......α α α

Watch a great

alphabet review song here

I can't stop singing it!! Neither can my students!!

Letter matching activity

I created these alphabet matching cards last summer for my kindergarten class. They have become very popular during centers. It is great listening to little 5 year olds talk in Greek about the pictures. It is even better watching them identify the lower case letter that matches the capital letter on the card.

To make them last, I printed them out on card stock paper and laminated them. The clothespins were purchased at the local discount store. If you use these at home or in your class, I would love your feedback!

ένα γράμμα μια ιστορία....

A huge thank you to Gogo for e-mailing me the link to these fun videos. Each letter of the Greek alphabet is made into a short 5 minute cartoon filled with images and words that start with that letter.

These come from the educational broadcasting website of the Ministry of Education in Greece that you can find here.

Twister anyone?

Not too long ago, I attended an early childhood educator conference where I took part in a session called "make and take". For those of you who are not familiar with this, basically, there were a couple of presenters who showed us how they take everyday items and make them into effective teaching tools. At that time, I was struggling with how to teach my Greek school class in such a way that the children would learn and have fun at the same time. I searched the internet for items to bring into my class, but really could not find any. My point in all this is to tell you something that the presenter said that really changed things for me. She said, there are teachers who buy things to use in their class, and then there are teachers who use the things around them and create things to help their children learn. Wow! That was so liberating. Yes, I could create things out of nothing and make them effective learning tools.

So, as I was cleaning out my children's game cabinet, I came upon a "Twister" mat with no spinner (my children have an abnormal fascination with game spinners). As I was about to put it into the recycling bin, I counted the circles...hhmmm...24 circles and then it hit me, I could repurpose this into a Greek alphabet game. So I drew out the letters of the alphabet on each circle, and the rest is history. My students enjoy this so much, my kids ask me to bring it home so they can play with it, and the best part is, they are learning their letters in the process. Not only that, but it teaches them left from right and body parts!

It is easy to make... find a "Twister" mat and with permanent markers draw a letter in each circle. If you do not have a mat, simply go to the dollar store and purchase a plain shower curtain. Lay it out on the floor, use a dish or bowl to make 24 circles and then draw the letters in the circles. Voila.. a useful game that cost you a buck!

To play, simply call out the letter sound, or a word that begins with a certain letter sound, tell the kids to place either their left or right foot on the letter circle you called out and have fun!

I have also used this as a matching game for upper case and lower case letters. If you put capital letters on your mat, print out or write out the lower case letters on index cards, and have the children take turns matching the letters.

Alphabet Work in class

We use many kinds of manipulatives in class to help us learn the alphabet and letter sounds. Here are some of my favorites....

Alphabet Wall: This is one of my best teaching tools! Children take turns using the alphabet wall to point out letters and for reference when doing their work.

Stamping: I have found so many uses for these Greek stamps! One of my favorite activities is having the children use this alphabet chart to match lower case and upper case letters!

Alphabet Bingo: Children take turns pulling a piece of the Greek alphabet puzzle out of a bag and call out the sound the letter makes.

Alphabet magnets with a magnetic board: These help children learn letters, spell words and match upper and lower case letters.

Free On-line Greek Games

From Red Fish Soup at Passionrouge.com

Alphabet recognition and word associations

http://www.poissonrouge.com/greekalphabet/index.html

Vocabulary Builder Game

http://www.poissonrouge.com/schoolofgreek/index.html

Η Αλφαβήτα Ταξιδεύει

I am always on the lookout for fun and colorful materials I can use in my classroom, and with my kids at home. Last year at the Metropolis teacher's meeting each school was given a folder with a little train carrying the Greek alphabet that included a matching game. My kids loved it! My students loved it! I hope you like it too.

http://ediamme.edc.uoc.gr/diaspora2/index.php?id=102,284,0,0,1,0


I would suggest these be printed out on card stock and laminated if possible.

Alphabet Matching

Prasini Priza is a great website from Cyprus with many resources, games and lesson ideas. Click on the links below to print out the Greek alphabet (upper and lower cases), cut out and have fun playing a Greek alphabet matching game.

http://www.prasinipriza.com/PAGES/E02/E02-005/ALFKEF.html

http://www.prasinipriza.com/PAGES/E02/E02-005/ALFMIK.html