English vocabulary put to use

Since the beginning of the second semester the grade one class has been participating once a week in Show and Tell. Show and Tell is an activity where a member of the class gets in front of their peers with a particular item and proceeds to show it to the rest of the class while telling information such as where they got it, what it is used for, and how it works. It is an early education activity commonly found in North American elementary school classrooms as a technique for improving public speaking abilities in young children. I introduced this activity to my students with hopes of not only improving their public speaking abilities, but ability to speak in complete sentences while improving on their vocabulary and confidence in the English Language.

Although the children were apprehensive at the beginning of the semester, nervous or shy to stand at the front of the class and speak in English, Show and Tell has become a favorite activity within our class. Students often ask me during the week about how many more days until we have show and tell again, or tell me their secret of what they will bring in next. I have been impressed with their tremendous progress over the past number of weeks, especially with the more reserved students who talk candidly during the show and tell, excited to share what they have brought. The children are encouraged to speak loudly in full sentences, and I have seen great effort and achievements in this aspect as well.

At the beginning of the project I encouraged the students to bring in an object that they found interesting and would like to talk about with the class. I have been pleasantly surprised at the unique and original objects children have decided to bring. Musical instruments from around the world, currencies from all different countries, pictures of their childhood, families, friends, and pets, handmade gifts, baby souvenirs, and a Japanese doll just to name a few.
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To be honest, in the beginning I wasn`t convinced this activity would be a success. I doubted I would
see the results I was hoping for as it seemed I spent almost the entire activity time asking​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ the class to sit quietly and listen while each student would stand silently​​​​​​​​​​​​ at the front of the room, holding out their object but looking down at the floor with nothing to say. However, I have been reminded yet again of the valuable lesson in patience and of a young child`s ability to surpass and exceed any expectations you may have when it comes to learning, growth and development.

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