33. 4 icebreaker activities for a great start of the school year
Icebreaker activities can help you build rapport and a sense of community in your classroom. However, it is important to know that not all ice breakers are suitable for English Learners. In this episode, I share a few of my tried and true ice breaker activities and things you want to keep in mind before planning your own icebreaker activities. When planning icebreaker activities for English Learners, you want to make sure the activity does not require too much personal information that ...
16 Aug 202211min
32. From new student to future doctor - an English learner's perspective with Maja Pastuszka
As summer comes to an end, I thought it would be nice to hear an English learners' perspective on what it is like to be a new student in high school. In today's episode, I interview a former student of mine, Maja Pastuszka, about her experience coming to the United States from Poland and what it was like for her to be a new student and English learner simultaneously.She explains some of the challenges she had to overcome while learning English, the things her teachers did to support her, and ...
9 Aug 202241min
31. 3 mistakes I made when I was a newer EL teacher
In today’s episode, I share some of the mistakes I made when I was a newer EL teacher. We all make mistakes when we are first starting out, and honestly, I don’t think that is a bad thing. After all, every mistake is an opportunity for growth. Even now, I regularly reflect on how my lesson or unit went and make plans to do it better next time. This is one of my favorite parts of teaching, the fact that we are always learning and growing as educators. I want to share a few of the mistakes I ma...
2 Aug 202214min
30. The First and Most Important Step in Teaching English Learners
When you are teaching English Learners, making connections with students and families is one of the most important things you can do. When you are teaching English Learners, they need to know that they are seen and valued, that they are in the right place, and that there are people they can trust. In this episode, I share activities I use at the beginning and throughout the year to make sure my students know these things. I share beginning of the year activities I use to get to know students ...
26 Jul 202212min
29. How can having a newcomer curriculum guide save you time
I have gotten so many questions about curriculum guides and the resources included in them and I have decided to address those issues in this episode. The resources I found online when I searched for ESL Curriculum Guides lacked the specificity that I wanted. So, I created a newcomer curriculum guide myself. This is a done-for-you newcomer curriculum guide that you can purchase and download with the click of a button below. I also share the process I took to create it in case you would like t...
12 Jul 202219min
28. What to include in a scope and sequence for newcomers
In this episode we discuss the importance of creating a scope and sequence for your EL students and how to get it done over the summer. I have a ton of flexibility in being an ESL teacher. This is great, but it can also be difficult to know that you are on track throughout the year. I have found that a scope and sequence can really help in making sure you have a plan to anchor your instruction and scaffold your teaching toward your goals. It can be as general or specific as you would like. It...
6 Jul 202212min
27. 5 things every EL teacher needs to prepare for a successful school year
In this episode I share 5 things you need to do to get ready for a successful school year. Summer is a time to rest and not think about anything school related. In fact, one of today’s tips is all about rest and relaxation. It is important for a number of reasons! But, there are a few things EL teachers can do over the summer that will make their lives so much easier come fall. Listen to today’s episode to hear my tips for preparing yourself for the school year during the summer months, witho...
28 Jun 202212min
26. 5 professional development books for EL teachers
I love books, especially historical fiction, but in this episode I focus on a different type of book, professional development books for EL teachers. There are plenty of great books out there for EL teachers. I have read many of them and have several more on my list to read next. I am excited to share some of them with you in this episode. During the school year, it can be hard to find the time or headspace to read a good professional development book, which is why summer break is a great tim...
21 Jun 202212min
