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A Creative Way to Teach English

© Janet Kay Blaylock

Hey teachers, tutors, and parents. Are you looking for an interesting way to teach English? If you are, then this article is for you. I came up with a great idea when I was tutoring online. Your students and children will enjoy the exercises.

First you draw a circle in the middle. Then, you draw lines out in different directions from the center circle to smaller circles.

There are different ways you can use this exercise. I came across this diagram when I was a substitute teacher in elementary school. I was fascinated with the way teachers used this diagram to teach reading.

Reading

This diagram is used in schools for reading. Teachers put a main idea in the center and the ideas that relate to it in the outer circles. For example, teachers may place the main character in the center circle. Then they may ask students to think of characteristics of the main character. Those characteristics are placed in the outer circles.

Besides using it for reading, I came up with the idea of using it for compound words, prefixes, suffixes, and other parts of speech.

Compound Words

My ideas are to use the diagram that I described to you to teach compound words. Here is what you would do: First you write the main word such as the word some in the center circle. Then you would have the students choose a word that makes a compound word such as: Some and how = somehow. The object is to fill up all the circles.

This diagram can be used for any compound word.

Prefixes and Suffixes

You can also use this diagram with prefixes and suffixes. For example, you can use the prefix, pre. Then, you can have the students choose a word that goes with that prefix.

You can do the same thing with suffixes. For example, the word tion can be placed in the middle. The words that are used before that suffix can be placed in the outer circles.

Nouns, Pronouns, etc.

You can also use the diagram with nouns, pronouns, etc. For example, you can place the words Common Noun in the center. Then, you can have the students come up with different common nouns Besides the common nouns, you can use personal pronouns, etc.

Benefits

By using this pattern, you will be creating a different and exciting way to teach grammar and to increase learning. Students will find these exercises fascinating. I have used the exercise for the compound words with my students whom I tutor online. They enjoy learning words this way.