game for grammar

• children are delighted to play games in the classroom, especially when they are taught grammar Rinvolucri, 1984... • Intrinsic Motivation – why teaching grammar through games actuall

Game For Grammar!

Mrs Jessi Siva

Mr David Lim

Huamin Primary School

School Vision

Curious Mind

Adventurous Spirit

Passionate Heart

A Happy Learning Place

Where we Learn to Love and Love to Learn

• games have an advantage of allowing the

pupils to practice & internalise grammar & structures extensively

• children are delighted to play games in the

classroom, especially when they are taught grammar (Rinvolucri, 1984)

• offer a meaningful context for language use

(Chen, 2005) because learners pay attention

to the message & acquire language

unconsciously (Sacricoban & Metin, 2002)

the language, especially encouraging the shy & passive students

• Intrinsic Motivation

– why teaching grammar through games actually

work – young learners will not internally decide that they

want to learn grammar – intrinsic motivation can

encourage them to play games & learning takes place when they are playing

I am very motivated!

What’s next?!

Learning Outcomes

• Teaching & learning of grammar is more active

• Alternative assessment mode

• Instant feedback

• Self-directed learning

Serious Stuff

ICT Outcomes

• Integration of ICT into curriculum

• Achieve a better BY(i)TES score

– In sub-domains of collaboration and HOT activities

• Develop ICT teaching resources

Fun Stuff

• Reinforce understanding of Grammar

• Provide pupils with in depth understanding of the novel

• Stimulate Logical Analysis

• Develop Critical Thinking Skills

• Train in ICT Skill

– Game Development

• Develop Intra and

Interpersonal Skills

• P6A1 pupils

– group of pupils who used the literature text ‘Sing to the Dawn’ as their EL text This text was used as the basis to create the Grammar Game.

Progression and Evolution

Progression and Evolution

2009 : Game for Grammar (2D)

2010 : Game for Grammar (3D)

• Pupils go through literature lessons during EL – Sing to the Dawn

• Teacher focusses on

specific topics to provide

pupils a better scope –

Grammar items & syntax

• Pupils undergo lessons on the creation of the game using the Game Maker - freeware

• Laying of ground rules to work within groups

– Use of rubrics to guide pupils

– Rubrics leverages on the School’s Value of

Teamwork is Our Culture

• Assigning of ROLES within the group

• Development of Game

– Research on games

– Sketch out character on paper

– Draw sprites digitally

– Program the game

• Both Formative & Summative

• Chart to track progress of pupils’ work

Potential for Improvement

• Use it as a formal assessment

• Integration of other subjects

• To cascade it to the rest of the classes

• Teachers to be more involved

• Cyber wellness issues

• Collaboration with other schools

• Pupils engaged in their learning

• Teaching more purposeful driven

• Pupils improved in their grammar skills

• Values driven

• Pupils acquired ICT skills in game development

Future Plans

• Cascade to P5 level in 2011 as IPW

• Create games which are targeted at the lower primary levels

• Use of games to support teaching of grammar items

• 3D game

• Start small

• Buying-in of middle management

• Get support from fellow teachers

• Integrate into curriculum

“new generation of learners

within a new information environment

for unpredictable future”

- Mr David Warlick

Acknowledgement

& References

• Pictures from google.com (images) & digitalblasphemy.com

• Pupils of 6 Gandhi 2009

• Chen, I-Yung Sing Games to “Using Games to promote Communicative Skills in Language

Teaching.” Found at http://itesl.org on 17.02.2010.

• Rinvolucri, M 1984 Grammar Games Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Sacricoban, A and E Metin “Songs, Verse, Games for Teaching Grammar.” Found at http://

itesl.org on 17.02.2010.

• Toth, M 1998 Children’s Games Oxford: Macmillan Heinemann English Language Teaching.

• Ur, P 1996 A Course in Language Teaching Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelley_Vernon

Thank You

Q & A