לומדים אנגלית / קוראים ספרי ילדים

We have already dealt with the basic elements concerning Teaching Modals. We will now sum up and review the general teaching tips.

The classic lesson plan includes the following steps:

1. Oral Activity – class conversation using as many modals as possible. 

Start the conversation by describing a certain situation:
It is raining now.  

What can you do?
What must you do?
What should you do?

2. Introduce a suitable text.

e.g.,

Although it may seem hard to believe, 32 percent of adults in the western world suffer from some degrees of insomnia.

What can you do if you have sleeping problems and spend hours looking at the ceiling while so many others enjoy a good night's sleep? You may count sheep, watch a movie, read an English book or do some grammar exercises… In any case, you must not take sleeping pills unless medically prescribed. Pills may seem the solution in the short run, but they may prove harmful in the long run. 

Many new devices have been developed to help people with sleeping problems, like vibrating beds which rock you to sleep, special pillows, etc. These devices may only be psychologically helpful, but since they are harmless, I think you should try them.

3. Class practice

Start with simple exercises and move to more creative ones like rewrite exercises (still one of the most creative and effective exercises to practice grammatical structures, though no longer part of the Bagrut exam), completing paragraphs, etc.

4. Homework:

Creative Writing:
Situations inspiring guided writing:

You have witnessed an accident.

What can you do?

What should you do?

What mustn't you do?

And that is all for today.

For more ideas, please see:

The Lively World of English, Book 1 – p 63 – 83.