Usually I have them practice writing their letters, and colouring (as colouring helps them to learn to control the pencil.) at the table. We also go through the letter sounds as a group, diagraphs and triagraphs. Shouting them out together with everyone in their chairs. The same goes for vocabulary.

Every ten to fifteen minutes or so, switch to an activity they have to move around for.

Magic chairs is a fun game. Set up three chairs side by side, then place three students in the chairs. The first chair is first sound, middle chair is middle sound, and last chair is last sound. Show them a picture and have them jump up saying their sounds. P-I-G (Remember that first sounds are the easiest for kids to hear, then last sounds... and middle sounds are the hardest.) Then the rest of the class yells out the word. Put the stronger students in the last and middle chairs, and the weaker ones in chair one.

Another thing you can do is place pictures on the walls at the kids level. Make a game of shouting out a word, and a child will run to point it out.

I give stickers, but only if they behave. We have daily "bookmarks" with the school �s logo on it. At the beginning of class I write each students name on a separate bookmark. I give a "chop" (a rubber stamp with a star, smiley face or something on it) to everyone sitting properly in their chair. For raising their hands to ask a question. Etc. If at the end of the class a student has 6 "�hops", they get a sticker... if they have 8 I give them two stickers. If a child is being very naughty, I will warn them that they could lose a chop. If they continue I cross one out. I then give them a chance to re-earn the chop by behaving. I try very hard to reward good behaviour verses punishing for bad, but sometimes it �s necessary. This method is surprisingly effective in getting them to behave.

I keep story time for the last 15 minutes of class. If everyone works very hard to learn, then we all get to read at the end of class. It �s another type of reward and something to look forward to... for them as well as me. I bring the bookmarks to the reading corner and we all sit together and I read them a book. I reward them with a chop for listening, , getting along, not jumping up... ect.