James Said:

I am a teacher trainee and I need some advice on lesson planning and teaching in the classroom.?

We Answered:

I have never taught a lesson like this, but here are some ideas I thought of:

You could have the class brainstorm a list of polite words or expressions (please, may I, etc.).

You could give the kids scenarios and they would have to act them out with each other as a way to practice being polite. Or you could have them act out the impolite way, and then act out the polite way. Then the kids could discuss the differences and why the polite way is better.

They could draw a picture and use inventive spelling to tell about how they would ask a question politely.

You could ask the kids questions in both polite and impolite manners and they have to use an "all people response" to respond. This could be thumbs up/thumbs down, popsicle sticks with a green end and a red end, pictures of smiley faces/frowny faces.

They could make a book of various polite expressions they might use this year in school.

Sarah Said:

Any teachers out there? I need a web site or books to help me plan my lessons in my classroom. Any suggestions?

We Answered:

If you are teaching a foreign language the kids need to be talking! and listening to the language! Use dialogues, drama, finger plays, Round the World, flash cards, favorite movies with the dialogue in another language, games and activities which encourage the kids to talk, make mobiles, dioramas, songs etc. Find a multi intelligence site and use some of those ideas. Here are several to start with.