The ESL Teaching Podcast

Today’s episode is sharing thoughts and tips on how to grade English learners. You will hear the difference between grading and assessing, what makes teaching English learners equitable, and the differences between equality and fairness.

Grading an English learner can be an adjustment. It should be flexible and not a rigid formula. It is also essential your assessments match the learning to help provide more accurate measurement of the student’s learning. 

Some key points are: content must be made accessible to English learners before assessments , and students can’t be penalized due to the fact they are learning English and not making the same progress as their peers.

What you will hear about in this episode:

• Accommodations to use with English learners
• Ways to assess your EL students
• Ways to grade your EL students

Related Episodes:

• Episode 61 - Three tips for classroom teachers with ESL newcomers
• Episode 62 - 4 Strategies for teaching math to ESL students
• Episode 35 - What are ILPs and what to include in them 

Resources:

• The ESL Teaching Roadmap – membership community for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers. As a thank you for listening, use code ESLPODCAST for 10% off when you join. 
• Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Numbers and number words worksheet for ESL students
• Classroom teacher’s ESL survival checklist 

Connect with Me:

• Follow me on Instagram - @simplyievaesl
• Visit my website - www.simplyieva.com/
• Join the  - Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

Support the show

Math teachers often express that they teach math…not language or how to read. Or even that math is universal. If this sounds familiar, then this episode is going to be for you. Students learn each subject through language.

This episode will cover teaching math to ESL students. I will be sharing 4 math specific tips that can be easily implemented and will allow you to understand how to help your English learners. Your newcomer could be a math wiz, but without the basic language skills, you might never know.

No matter what subject area you teach, having an EL newcomer in your class can be one of the most rewarding experiences.

What you will hear about in this episode:

• The first step to take to help English learners feel empowered in math
• What vocabulary to focus on
• How to present the information for best results
• Tips for eliciting responses 

Resources Mentioned:

• The ESL Teaching Roadmap – membership community for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers. As a thank you for listening, use code ESLPODCAST for 10% off when you join. 
• Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Numbers and number words worksheet for ESL students
• Classroom teacher’s ESL survival checklist 

Related Episodes:

• Episode 61 - Three tips for classroom teachers with ESL newcomers
• Episode 35 - What are ILPs and what to include in them 

Connect with Me:

• Follow me on Instagram - @simplyievaesl
• Visit my website - www.simplyieva.com/
• Join the  - Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

Support the show

We all know that new students start school not only in August or September, but anytime of year. 

Often I get asked by general education teachers how to help a new English learner, so I have decided to record a series of episodes specifically for general education teachers. They will help you make meaningful connections with your multilingual students, as well as give you some simple steps to help them be successful, even when it seems like they don’t understand.

I’ll help you feel prepared to welcome your new student, confident you’ll help them succeed, and excited to help them take on this new adventure.

Having an English learner newcomer in your class can be one of the most rewarding experiences in education.

What you will hear about in this episode:

• Who exactly is an English language newcomer?
• How general education teachers can help welcome a new English language learner
• Overcoming the language barrier
• Steps to welcome a newcomer
• Developing relationships with your district’s ESL teacher to gather the information needed to help your new student and past history
• Getting a newcomer will mean that you are now a content and language teacher
• The information that an ILP will give you for your new student.
• The ways a newcomer will take state tests the first year in the U.S.  

Related Episodes:
Episode 35 - What are ILPs and what to include in them 

Resources Mentioned:

• Classroom teacher’s ESL survival checklist 
• The ESL Teaching Roadmap – membership community for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers. As a thank you for listening, use code ESLPODCAST for 10% off when you join. 
• Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Episode 16 - A new EL teacher’s perspective with Kennedy Merriam

Connect with Me:

• Follow me on Instagram - @simplyievaesl
• Visit my website - www.simplyieva.com/
• Join the  - Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

Support the show

This month we have been talking about how Spring can be a difficult season for teachers energy wise, and changes that teachers either need or want to implement. Today’s guest, Jamie Sears, will help inspire and reinvigorate your love for teaching.

Jamie and I have a heart-to-heart conversation about building relationships, having fun, setting boundaries, lesson planning and really simple, practical and actionable tips of how to work less, be happier, and make an impact you were born to make. 

What you will hear about in this episode:

• How Not So Wimpy Teacher helps teachers in the classroom provide hands-on resources to students to help them love learning
• Helping teachers be the teachers they want to be without leaving their personal life behind
• Going from a government lobbyist position into education and now creating the resources teachers need
• Why Jamie decided to write her book, and an inside look into the strategies her book, How to Love Teaching Again, will do for teachers to enjoy going to work each day
• The ways she is fighting to improve education for teachers
• Tips for lesson planning, having a brain dump, and balancing your time
• How to work LESS and still be a great teacher

Previous Episodes:

Episode 57 - How to nail your ESL Teacher interview (resume and cover letter tips) part 1

Episode 58 - 3 teacher interview tips to help you get the job Part 2

Episode 59 - How tutoring can be the secret sauce you need with Molly Wheatley

Resources Mentioned:

• The ESL Teaching Roadmap – membership community for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers. As a thank you for listening, use code ESLPODCAST for 10% off when you join. 
• Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Episode 16 - A new EL teacher’s perspective with Kennedy Merriam

Connect with Jamie Sears: 

• Jamie’s website - https://notsowimpyteacher.com/
• Jamie’s instagram - @notsowimpyteacher      
• Pre-order your book here - https://notsowimpyteacher.com/pre-order 

Connect with Ieva:

• Follow me on Instagram - @simplyievaesl
• Visit my website - www.simplyieva.com
• Join the  - Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

Support the show

In this episode I was able to talk to Molly Wheatly about starting a tutoring business, and how she went from being a teacher to now coaching teachers on how to grow their own tutoring business.

Sometimes when we need a drastic change, we can benefit from taking a step back and look at the parts of our current situation that are missing. Just asking ourselves a few questions such as: what we love about our job, what we wish we could change, what would make me feel like I’m making a difference, or even how we could make more money, are all pretty good indicators of where we need to go next.

A lot of teachers have different side interests that help us make a more positive impact (and of course more money). Some of these are: photography, Etsy shops, copywriting, blogging, selling teacher resources, but one of the most natural side jobs could be tutoring.

Starting a tutoring business allowed Molly to love teaching again where she currently teaches 5th grade. Having her full-time tutoring business led her to then help teach other teachers how to do the same.

What you will hear about in this episode:

• How Molly began her tutoring business and branched off to help more teachers do the same.
• The ways in which Molly was able to systematize her tutoring business and teach other teachers her method.
• The steps in getting your own tutoring business started and finding a rate worth your time.
• Finding ways to balance teaching full-time and have a full-time tutoring business
• Finding what you are passionate about leads you to finding more clients and in return more money.
• How hiring out was able to provide her the most growth.

Related Episodes:

Episode 57 - How to nail your ESL Teacher interview (resume and cover letter tips) part 1

Episode 58 - 3 teacher interview tips to help you get the job Part 2

Resources Mentioned:

• The ESL Teaching Roadmap – membership community for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers. As a thank you for listening, use code ESLPODCAST for 10% off when you join. 
• Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Episode 16 - A new EL teacher’s perspective with Kennedy Merriam

Connect with Molly Wheatley:

• Follow on Instagram @mollyawheatley 
• YouTube  - https://www.youtube.com/@mollyawheatley
• Free masterclass on how to make $1000 a month with your tutoring side hustle 

Connect with Ieva:

• Follow me on Instagram
• Visit my website
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

Support the show

Sometimes we find ourselves desperate for a teacher contract in a new district, but facing unknown territory as an ESL teacher, you must navigate the stressful interview process and bet on yourself to achieve your goal of finding the perfect job.

After many attempts at trying to find a new position for myself, years ago, I picked up some tips along the way. I learned about preparing for an ESL teacher interview. 

This is part two of an interview series. If you missed part one on the resume and cover letter, visit the link for episode 57 of The ESL Teaching Podcast. 

There are three main tips for nailing the interview, which are: being prepared, being yourself, and asking questions. 

In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. What tips can help you nail your ESL Teacher interview?

2. How can you use connections and 'bet on yourself' to get an interview?

3. What questions can you ask in an ESL Teacher interview to gain insight into the program?

Related Episodes:
Episode 57 - How to nail your ESL Teacher Interview part 1

Resources Mentioned:
The ESL Teaching Roadmap – membership community for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers. As a thank you for listening, use code ESLPODCAST for 10% off when you join.
Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
Episode 16 - A new EL teacher’s perspective with Kennedy Merriam

Connect with Ieva:
Follow me on Instagram
Visit my website
Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

Support the show

It seems like every year there are only two speeds within a school year: rushing to get everything covered up to the ACCESS testing, and trying to catch up and make it to the end of the school year. Sometimes it feels like we have no control over what is going on.

To change the pace, I want to do a series of episodes that will allow you to take a look at how you can invigorate your life and career. That might mean taking up a hobby, starting a side passion, and other times you might be ready for a more radical change such as moving to another district or getting another job to preserve your sanity.

This is the time of year to make those decisions for next year. Looking for another position brings you to updating your resume and cover letter, looking through job postings, and wondering what questions you may get asked during an interview if you get one. 

I want to share the practical tips to get you noticed during the interview process and where to look for job postings (and it’s not just the district website).

For this episode, I will cover the first part of your new job search: the resume and cover letter.  

What you will hear about in this episode:

• Tips about the first steps to apply for a new ESL teaching position.
• The proper way to format your resume and what to include.
• How to make your cover letter effective and get noticed.
• Places to look for job posting other than the district website.

Resources:

• The ESL Teaching Roadmap – membership community for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers. As a thank you for listening, use code ESLPODCAST for 10% off when you join. 
• Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Episode 16 - A new EL teacher’s perspective with Kennedy Merriam

Connect with Me:

• Follow me on Instagram
• Visit my website
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

Support the show

Valentina Gonzalez is a former teacher who has served 20 plus years in her own classroom, a district facilitator for English Learners, a professional development leader, and an educational consultant. Her work has been focused on literacy, culture, and language. She still delivers professional development for EL education and is an accomplished author.

She explains how many schools send the wrong message to  EL students when they put their classrooms in outdoor portables, storage closets, and other less than desirable spaces. Students feel when they are consistently getting the short end of the stick. It is important that teachers speak up to their administration to make sure ESL classes and students are not overlooked. 

 It is crucial to make sure we are getting to know students and how they read. One great way to do this is to listen to them read in their native language. This helps students feel seen and heard. I can gather a lot of information about how comfortably they are reading even if I don’t  understand the language. As you listen, you want to identify what they can do and use that as a starting off point for what to work on next.

In every lesson in every classroom, students should be practicing all four domains - reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Valentina explains that she does not have a favorite domain, but says that speaking is really great for many of our ELs because speaking will lead to good listening, reading, and writing. She describes how we all learn our first language by listening and speaking and then learn to read and write later. You cannot read and write if we cannot listen or speak.

In today's episode:

• The most important first steps when teaching literacy to english learners
• The language domain that is the focus for all others
• How we can collaborate with teachers even in difficult situations
• A glimpse into Valentina’s day as an educational consultant

Resources

• The ESL Teaching Roadmap monthly membership 
• ESL Teacher Support - 1:1 coaching session with Ieva Grauslys (©Simply Ieva) 
• 25 Authentic Speaking Activities for Your ESL Classroom
• Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Teachable Platform - Courses and Workshops
• Follow me on Instagram 
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 
• Simply Ieva Youtube Channel

Valentina’s resources:

• Reading & Writing with English Learners: A Framework for K-5
• Krofne with Baba
• Valentina’s website
• Twitter @ValentinaESL

Support the show

We spend so long preparing for testing and getting testing completed, but what do we do once the testing season is over? Getting back into the swing of things after weeks and weeks of testing can be really tough. In today’s episode, I share some tips with you for how to get back on track after ACCESS testing. 

1. Do a classroom reset. You can do a classroom reset anytime, not just at the beginning of the new year or after testing. Try class routine rehearsals, classroom expectations Kahoot, or goal setting for the rest of the school year.
2. Meet the students where they are. For example, if they are in the thick of reading a novel while you were testing the other students, are there activities related to that novel that will help the story come to life? Vocabulary building activities, relating the content to real life, and mixing up the environment (think about taking students outside or changing up your classroom scenery somewho) are all ways to do this.
3. Start a new project. Projects allow students to engage in a topic of interest, to work on all 4 language domains (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), and guarantee lesson planning is done for you because you can build activities off the same project for weeks. Listen to hear about the project I do with my students every year.
4. Grab lesson resources that are done for you so that you can make the most of your limited, valuable time as a teacher. My ESL Teaching Roadmap is a great place to start, and it is on sale until February 24!

What you will hear about in today’s coaching session:

• Ideas for classroom resets
• Strategies for meeting your students where they are
• Projects to do to get students engaged
• Ways to save yourself time with Lesson planning in order to come to class in the right frame of mind

Resources

• The ESL Teaching Roadmap monthly membership discount 20% - valid February 20-24, 2022
• ESL Teacher Support - 1:1 coaching session with Ieva Grauslys (©Simply Ieva) 
• 25 Authentic Speaking Activities for Your ESL Classroom
• Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Teachable Platform - Courses and Workshops
• Follow me on Instagram 
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 
• Simply Ieva Youtube Channel
• Episode 47 - 5 Ways to Reset Your ESL Classroom Management

Support the show

In today’s episode, we continue our coaching session from last week and discuss reading, writing, and phonics with ELs. For teaching literature, like Romeo and Juliet, it can be helpful to let students read in their native language first to let them access the content. You can also pre-teach vocabulary, or summarize chunks of the story and focus on key parts of the story, the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet, for example.

We also discuss using novel studies to keep kids interested and engaged. I share a few of my favorite novels to teach this way. Remember that even when students are from the same country and speak the same language, their personal interests can be very different. You will never find a book that perfectly suits every students’ interest, but if even 50 percent of your class is engaged, you’ve won half the battle.

One of my favorite ways to keep kids engaged is through short stories and short films. I share some lesson resources I have for teaching literary elements with short stories and short films.

Next in the coaching session, we talk about writing. It can be tough to find good resources to teach writing to older EL students, so many teachers often end up finding resources from teacher pay teachers. I also recommend mini lessons in grammar and phonics lessons like consonant vowel consonant or silent e. There is also a phonics program from Saddleback that I use. It was too hard for beginners, but is great for level 2 and 3 students. Ultimately, the only way to improve writing is to write, so Incorporate writing into every unit in some form, even if it is journaling.

What you will hear about in today’s coaching session:

• Resources you can use to teach literary elements 
• How to teach grammar and phonics to our ELs in a practical way
• Ways to incorporate writing in daily instruction
• How to give feedback in a meaningful and efficient way

Resources

• ESL Teacher Support - 1:1 coaching session with Ieva Grauslys (©Simply Ieva) 
• ESL Teaching Roadmap -  membership community for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers. As a thank you for listening, use code ESLPODCAST for 10% off when you join
• 25 Authentic Speaking Activities for Your ESL Classroom
• Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Teachable Platform - Courses and Workshops
• Follow me on Instagram 
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 
• Simply Ieva Youtube Channel
• Episode 51 – Teaching English Content: Here Are 3 Ideas How To Make It Accessible To ELs
• Episode 53: Coaching Session Part 1- How To Teach Research To ELs
• Romeo and Juliet Meets West Side Story

Affiliate Links

• A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi 
• Love in English by Maria Andreu

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