This document summarizes Nives Torresi's experience running an after school project for elementary students. It describes both the positives and negatives encountered. On the positive side, Torresi noted developing a bond with the children, understanding cultural differences, and having open communication with parents. Challenges included being unprepared for the children's needs, trying to please parents' expectations without pedagogical training, and having too much material to cover in too little time. Torresi concluded they learned that children need control, interaction, play, and active roles to grow.

1. Play, learn and
grow together
An After School Project for Elementary school
by Nives Torresi

2. Live Class Programme
 Introductions
 Video on YouTube
 Summary of Experience
 Question time
 Feedback form link

3. Summary of
Experience
What did I learn?

4. Positive and Negatives encountered
 Positives
 Personal learning
 Lots of Reading
 Confidence with Technology
 Creating a bond with children
 Understanding the cultural
differences between L1 and L2
 Quick to react and change
 Ability to adapt to new ideas
 Communication with Parents was
always positive and open
 Negatives
 Venturing into the unknown
 Unaware of children’s needs
 Trying to please Parent’s
expectations
 No idea of relevant Pedagogical
theory or practice
 Head on collision course with class
Teachers
 Two teachers instead of one
 Too much material not enough time

5. What did I learn ?
 Going from thinking children are just small adults – but they aren’t they are
children with a thinking and reasoning all their own
 Children like to take control of their environment especially if it is their
‘environment’ – not yours!
 Children want to interact and want to learn something new especially using a
computer and showing off what they know
 The less I spoke the more they spoke and participated actively
 Giving them ‘responsible roles’ each week kept the class focused
 Allowing time for play is just as important as teaching them new words, etc.
 Give children the active role and they will grow
 Keeping a stress free environment is important

6. What will I do different next time ?
 Choose and design a syllabus with even less ‘real class work’ and more
interactive tasks or activities
 More music and dance with easy repetitive phrases
 Keep it even simpler and more fun activities
 Take many more photo’s and video clips with children speaking in English for
them to listen to themselves
 Do more craft oriented activities – such as cut and paste, hats, cubes…
 Find other interactive websites for children (I’m open to suggestions!)
 Keep a weekly blog of all activities and outcomes of the class progress

7. Thank you
A very warm thank you to
Dr Nellie Deutsch
for giving me the opportunity to participate actively in
her online courses like the MOOCs and Learn to
Blend and Flip with Technology. Courses that
equipped me to understand how to better use
available technology to enhance engagement and
create motivation. Also to WizIQ for providing a great
platform for Teaching online live.
Please help me to grow in my Teacher development
by going to the Google Form link for peer feedback.
http://goo.gl/forms/m6gxrx5Xx9 thank you. Nives Torresi
An Australian in Italy!