ENGLISH BULLETIN BOARD – Writing Activity. Exploring Engaging Writing Activities Across ESL Levels
ENGLISH BULLETIN BOARD – Communication Activity
Exploring Engaging Writing Activities Across ESL Levels
As we navigate the intricate landscape of language instruction, finding activities that resonate with students across different proficiency levels can be a rewarding challenge. In this blog post, we delve into a curated collection of writing exercises tailored for elementary, junior high, and senior high ESL classrooms. These activities are not only designed to enhance language skills but also to ignite a passion for self-expression through the written word.
From unleashing creativity in elementary learners to tackling more complex linguistic concepts in junior and senior high students, we’re here to guide you through an array of interactive strategies. Our goal is to make writing sessions more than just educational; we want them to be dynamic and enjoyable experiences that cultivate a genuine appreciation for language.
Embark on this exploration with us as we uncover activities that address the unique needs and interests of students at different educational stages. Let’s transform ESL classrooms into dynamic spaces where creativity thrives, and writing becomes a captivating journey of self-discovery and expression.
Get ready to infuse new life into your language instruction with these innovative writing activities!
ENGLISH BULLETIN BOARD
DESCRIPTION
It is extremely simple to set up an English bulletin board as long as you have a few resources and a bit of time on your hands. With the list of resources given below, you should be able to be on your way in minutes.
First, ask one of your teachers to let you use a space in the school for your bulletin board. It should be somewhere that all students can access and that they are likely to walk past. I was lucky enough to be given one of the doors to the teachers’ room – prime real estate!
Then, plan your attack. You can include various sections in your bulletin board.
ENGLISH BULLETIN BOARD – Sections
- News – cut out short articles or interesting pictures from an English newspaper or magazine.
If you can get your hands on a copy of kids’ magazine from the U.S., your life will be made a lot easier. - Sports – cut out pictures of athletes (NBA players are a big hit in my school) and articles from English newspapers or magazines.
- Stars – use newspapers and magazines to make displays about current stars.
- Fashion – use fashion magazines to show different fashions
- Discover a New World – make up interesting units on different (perhaps English-speaking) countries around the world (see the section on home country organisations later in this book).
- Comics – display comic strips or comic book excerpts from your home country.
- Special Guest – make a display about one of your fellow teacher. If possible, arrange for that teacher to visit your school at some point.
- What’s Cooking – post easy recipes from your home country or elsewhere.
- Student’s Corner – display students’ work.
ENGLISH BULLETIN BOARD – Activities
Use some of the resources listed below or later in this book to help you create new and interesting activities once a week (or whenever you visit a particular school), once a month, or once a year. The activities can be based on a theme (e.g. holidays), or a grammar point, or they can be completely random (my choice). I use large envelopes cut in half and taped to the wall to hold the activity sheets. Give the students stamps or seals or something to motivate them to do the activities.
Here are some ideas for activities you can include.
Crossword Puzzles True or False Quizzes
Word Search Puzzles Holiday Activities
Correction Exercises Follow the Numbers Pictures
Analogies Games Scrambled Words
English Test Preparation Activities Hidden Pictures Games
Fill in the Blank Quizzes (correct form of word) Categories Game
Multiple Choice Quizzes (definitions) Break-the-Code Games
Creative Writing Exercises (using comics, for example)
Matching Games (opposites, translations)
- Understanding Each Other – put all of those culture books that you bought before you came over to good use. Write or photocopy a short passage each week that will help explain the differences between cultures.
- Translation – give the students a word, sentence, paragraph, story, etc. to translate.
- My Country – use pictures and tourist books from home to explain about your home country.
ENGLISH BULLETIN BOARD – Resources
Before you even suggest that you want the space, you should make sure that you have enough stuff to stick up there. Here is a list of resources:
- Newspapers – (for News section)
- Magazines – (for the News, Sports, Stars, or Fashion sections) Try to find a magazine with lots of pop stars and movie stars that the students will know.
- Picture Books – (for decoration) Ask any teacher if one of the teachers in the school has a book that just contains pictures. Someone will have one. This book will aid in making both your bulletin board display and your activities look fun.
Also check out these communication activities
Did you find this article useful? If you have additional ideas, share them in the comments section below
