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Speak UP is an innovative program designed to promote the speaking of English at the Elementary and Pre-foundation levels. It is simple and fun to implement. In its fourth year of implementation, English teachers nationwide are now using WhatsApp to send spoken texts to parents and students, based upon curriculum relevant topics, everyday situations, relevant expressions, and assorted school events.
Teachers in the field are reporting with enthusiasm that they are finally hearing the voices of shy and weaker students who have never spoken in class! The great news is that teachers don't have to "invent the wheel". The Speak UP Website provides a bank of recordings that can be sent directly to parents, as well as a variety of additional useful resources for teachers.
Sister program U-Star, initiated and coordinated by Ilana Samberg, has been integrated into the site with a scaffolded video project program for 3rd – 6th grades.
This is especially relevant as we enter a blended learning school environment in which we will be incorporating more distance teaching and learning.
U-Star🌟 is a unique program that aims to build students’ speaking skills, at the pre-foundation and foundation levels, through take-home video projects. Comprised of 5 projects per grade level (3rd thru 6th), the program incorporates a variety of engaging topics which are recycled and spiraled throughout the students' learning experience in elementary school.
Written in correlation with the new curriculum, U-Star🌟 texts are carefully scaffolded, facilitating review and reinforcement of contextualized language chunks and Band 1 vocabulary. Students gradually gain confidence as they master the recitation of monologues, dialogues and short conversations, strengthening their speaking skills regardless of their starting point.
U-Star🌟 video projects are designed to accommodate each student’s individual level and academic needs with differentiated opportunities for spoken production. Each U-Star🌟 video project includes: an English text (for readers), translation of the text and audio recordings. Students can choose to complete the basic format of the project, while high flyers can choose alternative texts or "challenge tasks". The simple framework encourages students to enhance their work using their own imagination and creativity. Students can work by themselves or in pairs with friends or family members.
Throughout U-Star🌟 video projects, students are urged to speak about themselves and their surroundings, with the understanding that relevant subjects resonate better. Some of the entertaining topics include: My Family (3rd grade), My Monster (4th grade), My Room or Dream Room (5th Grade), A Cooking Show (6th Grade).
No matter where or when they begin, each student can succeed and become a star.
For further information and sample videos modeling speaking activities in the classroom, please visit the SpeakUp website. View students’ work on the Gallery.
Here is what kids have to say about their time at home coping with the Covid 19 Pandemic:
For more details please contact: Lori Roth , National Project Coordinator lori_a@netvision.net.il
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