Russian-Learn and Play

In this ongoing class I will balance academic components with movement, games, flash cards and songs. Kids at every age, especially younger ones need a routine, so I will keep the same structure each lesson. The familiar routine will add to children’s confidence and help them open up and actively participate in class.

There will be a variety of activities during the class, some easy and familiar, some tasks at their level, and some will be challenging (one step up in the development). I believe in differentiated approach, when the instruction is tailored to meet individual needs of each child. 

In this class children will learn Russian letters, focusing on sounds, develop phonemic awareness, pre-reading skills, and work on basic small motor skills. This will help children when they start writing in the future.

Play and hands-on activities are the most important for three and four year old kids. Thus, we will play games, listen to poems and rhymes, use flash cards, Play-doh and toys, sing and dance. Russian children’s songs and characters from famous fairy tales will be used in most classes. The teacher’s puppet helper is a sheep, who will try making connections even with the shyest kids. During each class we will have a different theme.

Before each lesson I will provide two pages of fun activities to use in class and complete at home, which will help in review of the material. I recommend keeping them in a binder. In addition, there will be a printout for a Cookie game. Homework tasks are not mandatory, but highly recommended, especially page 1 and the Cookie game. Consistency and practice will help with your child's progress. 

The class instruction is hundred percent in Russian by a native speaker, unless some clarification in English is needed. The class is recommended for children who do not live in Russian-speaking countries, but whose parents (one or both) speak Russian at home to them. 

Important! Dear parents, before the lesson please make sure to print handouts, print and cut cards, and get items I will put on a list (e.g. stuffed toy, truck, markers). This allows your child to be prepared for the lesson and enjoy all the activities.

Below is the breakdown of the course. However, it may be modified depending on students' pace and abilities. 
Please note we will focus mainly on the sound of the letter during the class. The order of the letters is based on research and alphabet books by famous Russian specialists. 

P.S. there might be minor changes due to holidays or my vacation (then there will be no meeting that week, you will not be charged and we will resume classes the next week). 
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Weekly themes. 
(Example)

Week of June 19: Буква и звук. Аа. Фрукты и овощи. / Letter and sound. Aa. Fruits and vegetables. 
Week of June 26: Буква и звук. Уу. Дикие и домашние животные. / Letter and sound. Уу. Wild and domestic animals.

Week of July 3: Буква и звук. Ии. Счёт 1-10. / Letter  and sound. Ии. Counting 1-10. 
Week of July 10:  Буква и звук. Оо. Погода. / Letter and sound. Oo. Weather.
Week of July 17: Буква и звук. Хх. Эмоции. / Letter and sound. Хх. Emotions.
Week of July24: Буква и звук. Сс. Транспорт. / Letter and sound. Сс. Transportation.
Week of July 31: Буква и звук. Мм. Противоположности. / Letter  and sound. Мм. Opposites.


 Week 8: Буква и звук. Нн. Части тела. / Letter and sound. Нн. Body parts.
Week 9: Буква  и звук. Жж. Цвета. / Letter and sound. Жж. Colors.
Week 10: Буква и звук. Шш. Чередования. / Letter and sound. Шш. Patterns.

Week 11:  Буква и звук. Кк. Геометрические фигуры. / Letter and sound. Кк. Shapes.
Week 12: Буква и звук. Тт. Счёт 1-20. / Letter and sound. Тт. Counting 1-20.
Week 13: Буква и звук.  Фф. Профессии. / Letter and sound. Фф. Professions.
Week 14: Буква и звук. Лл. Времена года. / Letter and sound. Лл. Seasons.
Week 15: Буква и звук. Пп. Дни недели. / Letter and sound. Пп. Days of week.

Week 16: Буква и звук. Ыы. Одежда (один-много). / Letter and sound. Ыы. Clothes.
Week 17: Буква и звук. Вв. Виды спорта. / Letter and sound. Вв. Sports.
Week 18: Буква и звук. Дд. Динозавры. / Letter and sound. Дд. Dinosaurs.
Week 19: Буква и звук. Ее. Еда. / Letter and sound. Ее. Food.
Week 20: Буква и звук. Бб. Музыкальные инструменты. / Letter and sound. Бб. Musical instruments.

Week 21: Буква и звук. Рр. Космос. / Letter and sound. Рр. Space.
Week 22: Буква и звук. Гг. Животные и их детёныши. / Letter and sound. Гг. Animals and their young.
Week 23: Буква и звук. Зз. Зоопарк. / Letter and sound. Зз.  Zoo.
Week 24: Буква и звук. Ёё. Деревья. / Letter and sound. Ёё.  Trees.
Week 25: Буква и звук. Яя. Целое и половина. / Letter and sound. Яя.  Whole and half.

Week 26:Буква и звук. Юю. Цвета и планеты. / Letter and sound.  Юю. Colors and planets.
Week 27: Буква и звук. Ээ. Строительная техника. / Letter  and sound. Ээ. Construction vehicles.
Week 28: Буква и звук. Йй. Что животные дают человеку. / Letter and sound. Йй. What animals provide to humans.
Week 29: Буква и звук. Цц. Цирк. / Letter and sound. Цц. Circus.
Week 30: Буква и звук. Чч. Часы. / Letter and sound. Чч. Time.

Week 31: Буква и звук. Щщ. Рыбы. / Letter and sound. Щщ. Fish.
Week 32: Буквы ъ и ь. / Letters  ъ и ь.

When we finish all the letters, 
we we will start reviewing letters from the beginning and I will add various activities.