The ESL Teaching Podcast

In today’s episode, I am chatting with Molly Badrawy all about lesson planning for ELs and the realities of working in a low incidence district. Molly Badrawy is a full-time ESOL teacher in  New Hampshire, and a freelance consultant at FaCES, Fair Culture and English Services, providing customized cultural guidance and language instruction for and individual adult language learners and organizations, alike.  A national and international career that spans public, private, higher education as well as the business sector, Molly has presented her work at many conferences, serves on the NH English Language Advisory Committee, and facilitates the NH Low-incidence Community of Practice cohort, which is where we met!  She lives in Peterborough, NH with her husband, two daughters, two cats, and a dog and believes she has the best job in the world. It was wonderful to speak with Molly and to get to know her. 

What you will learn about lesson planning for ELs:

• Different ways to collaborate with content teachers while planning lessons
• What co-teaching can look like in different classrooms
• Tips for making the most of your limited time with small groups
• Ideas for creating lessons that are responsive to student needs based on observations
• How journaling about students can support lesson planning for ELs
• Strategies for reviewing content for your ELs in fun and engaging ways

Resources

As mentioned in the episode, I am linking some useful 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. 
• 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 

You may also be interested in:

• WIDA Resource Library
• Episode 17 - A Peek Into My Middle School EL Classroom
• Episode 18 - Collaboration with Teachers, Families, and Students with Beth Mailley

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In today’s episode, I speak with Kristen Vibas, an ELL teacher from Virginia who I met on Instagram. Kristen has been teaching since 2005.
She shares how she went from aspiring actress to ELL teacher, and shares peeks into her classroom. You will love the tips and strategies she has developed on how to support multilingual students and how to teach reading to ELLs as much as I did.

Both content teachers and ELL teachers will find this episode valuable as reading is such a critical part of learning in all subjects.

What you will learn about how to teach reading:

• The 5 components of reading 
• Reasons why reading is such a difficult domain for many students to master
• Tips and strategies for teaching reading to ELLs
• How reading instruction differs between younger and older students
• Suggestions for avoiding the dreaded “summer slide” with reading skills

Resources

As mentioned in the episode, I am linking some useful 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. 
• 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 

You may also be interested in:

• Follow Kristen Vibas on Instagram
• A Walk in the Chalk - Kristen Vibas' Blog
• Episode 21 - How to Pre-Teach Vocabulary in the Mainstream Classroom

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To us EL teachers, vocabulary pre-teaching is our daily bread, but I received a question from one of the content area teachers that made me think…what comes naturally to us, does not necessarily make immediate sense to our colleagues.

I recently saw a post from a science teacher tasked with teaching English Newcomers and suggested a list of ideas, one being pre-teaching vocabulary. But, how do you pre-teach vocabulary in a mainstream classroom? Today’s episode addresses this question and more.

Why is pre-teaching vocabulary good for all learners?

There are 3 tiers of words we talk about in EL instruction: Tier 1, or everyday, words, Tier 2, or frequently used words that show up across content areas, and Tier 3, or subject specific words. Pre-teaching, particularly tier 2 words, is important for access to the academics and equity. All students are building their vocabulary and ability to communicate their ideas and building confidence in demonstrating their content knowledge.

What you will hear in this episode:

• What vocabulary pre-teaching is
• The reasons why it is so important to pre-teach vocabulary in the mainstream classroom
• The steps that can be taken to pre-teach vocabulary
• How pre-teaching vocabulary will benefit all students not just the language learners

Resources

As mentioned in the episode, I am linking some useful 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. 
• 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 

You may also be interested in:

• Sample vocabulary slide - Google Slides
• Episode 14 - Vocabulary for ESL Students

Support the show

Today’s episode is the answer to the question from one of my readers/listeners. What do I do with my newcomers the last three weeks of school? They are so frustrated and will speak no English this summer. How can I help them without frustration? 
I wanted to share some activities that will take the frustration away because they all involve creativity, flow and connection. The rules for the end of the year are really no different than those for the beginning of the year - there just might be less motivation and more exhaustion on both the teachers and the students’ parts. 

Here is what you will hear in this episode:

• I will share a few quick ideas that you can implement in community building, classroom environment and academics. 
• I will go more in depth into five activities that have worked well for my students over the years 

As mentioned in the episode, I am linking some useful 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
• Teachable Platform - Courses and Workshops
• Follow me on Instagram 
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

End of the Year Activity Packet for grades 6-12

End of the Year Memory Book (grades K-5)

Blog posts

5 End of the Year Activities for Your English Learners

End of the school year digital activities for ESL students

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I have been a big believer in the importance of social emotional learning for a long time. But, teaching amidst the pandemic for the last few years has really emphasized how vital it is for all students, particularly for English learners. There are five competencies to social emotional learning - self awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship skills, decision making skills. Each of these is worthy of a dedicated episode. 
So, in today’s episode, I focus specifically on self management. I will share the challenges I see my middle and high school students face with regards to self management and the techniques I have developed to help them help themselves.

Here’s what you will learn about Self Management:

• How choice boards illuminated my students’ challenges with self management
• Details of the 5 part self management structure  I use in my classroom
• How and when to support students with goal setting 
• How teaching my students the difference between urgent and important got my students to put their phones down during class
• How opportunities for flexible seating, time blocking, and reflection/self-evaluation help students practice self management

Resources

As mentioned in the episode, I am linking some useful 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
• Teachable Platform - Courses and Workshops
• Follow me on Instagram 
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

You may also be interested in:

• CASEL - Fundamentals of Social Emotional Learning
• The Eisenhower matrix in the classroom
• Book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (affiliate link)
• Episode 4 - Choice Boards

Support the show

In this episode, I am chatting with Beth Mailley. Beth is an ESL teacher in the Washington, DC area. She has been teaching for 23 years  with 11 years as a classroom teacher before becoming an ESL teacher. She has been in that role for the past 12 years and loves it. When she is not teaching, she is most likely reading, hanging out with family, or trying to convince herself to exercise. It was such a pleasure to speak with Beth. 

She shares how she ended up in the ELL field after being a language learner herself during a service trip to Mexico. She experienced first-hand how frustrating it can be to learn a new language and the importance of non-verbal communication and human connection in the process. She opens up about how she utilizes that human connection now to collaborate with teachers, families and students. And of course, she gives her best tips for making the most important connections and setting up your classroom for success. 

What you’ll hear about collaboration:

• Tips for collaborating with fellow teachers, even when common planning time is tight
• Models for co teaching that you may not have considered
• Ideas for preparing your students for a new English Learner to join your class
• How to partner with parents and families by asking the right questions at parent-teacher conferences
• Ways to collaborate with students on their own language learning path

As mentioned in the episode, I am linking some useful 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
• Teachable Platform - Courses and Workshops
• Follow me on Instagram 
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

Connect with Beth:

• Find Beth on Instagram 
• The ESL Teacher Life

You may also be interested in: 

• Episode 6 – The simple steps to teacher collaboration with Courtney Morgan
• Episode 4 – Choice Boards for ESL Students: How to Use them in the Classroom

Support the show

Planning for middle school EL students  is different from planning for just about any other class. You may have 20 students or just a few, and you will likely have a wide variety of different proficiency levels and students all at the same time. In my situation this school year, at least in middle school, I am teaching seventh and eighth grade students who span levels 1 through 4 on the WIDA language proficiency assessment. In this episode I will be sharing with you how I account for all of their unique needs and what my setup and planning looks like on a daily basis.

Here is what you will hear about middle school EL lessons:

• Considerations I make while lesson planning for my ESL class.
• How I leverage independent work to check in with students individually
• Why I believe that addressing social emotional needs is as important as academics
• How I teach language through core content
• Curriculum resources I recommend and resources I have created myself (which you can find in my ESL teaching roadmap membership!)
• Elements of Universal Lesson Design and how to incorporate them into your assignments
• The simple question I end every class with

As mentioned in the episode, I am linking some useful 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
• Teachable Platform - Courses and Workshops
• Follow me on Instagram 
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

You may also be interested in: 

• ESL Curriculum by National Geographic - Inside USA
• Why UDL Matters for English Language Learners
• Demystifying Complex Texts: What are "Complex" Texts and How Can We Ensure ELLs and MLs Can Access Them?

Support the show

So often we hear advice from educators who have been in the classroom, honing their craft for years. While their experience is valuable, I thought it would be refreshing to hear from an ESL teacher who is in the beginning stages of her career. Today, I chat with Kennedy Merriam, my student teacher this semester, who has been so open and creative during her time with me. She shares her own journey to finding ESL teaching and the reasons she is so passionate about this career. 

Kennedy is from Massachusetts and is currently a senior at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. She will be graduating with a major in Spanish and a minor in ESOL education, with certification to teach ELL students in grades 9-12 in Massachusetts. She is passionate about the Spanish language, traveling, and writing music (she’s also a singer!). Extroverted, compassionate and a keen listener, Kennedy will always try to understand and support another person, and I have seen that in action so many times! She is eager to get even more experience working with newcomers so she can better serve them and can’t wait to continue her career working with English Learners and newcomers.

Here is what you will hear about ESL Teaching:

• What teachers of English Learners teach, besides the language
• Why ESL teaching is such a rewarding career
• A few things that may surprise you about teaching English Learners and new comers 
• Advice for new ESL teachers and student teachers
• Tips and strategies for all teachers with English Learners in their class
• Essential ideas for vocabulary instruction to support your ESL students and newcomers

Resources

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Follow Kennedy on Instagram
• Follow Kennedy on Facebook
• 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. 
• Follow me on Instagram 
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

You may also be interested in:

• Episode 2: What to Teach ESL Newcomers First
• Episode 13: Teaching Newcomers - A Peek into Karen Emerson’s Classroom
• Episode 14: Vocabulary for ESL Students

Support the show

Teachers are often puzzled when they approach teaching grammar for a couple of reasons. Particularly if they are native english speakers, they often don’t feel like they know formal grammar rules very well. They just know when a phrase or sentence “sounds right.”

The other big struggle for teachers is not knowing what order makes sense to teach grammar rules to their students. 

But the bottom line is ESL students do need to learn grammar so that they have a framework, a safety net, to rely on as they learn and practice the language. In fact, students often ask me for help with grammar and give a sigh of relief when they are handed a grammar worksheet. Remember, those rules provide them with a sense of safety.

In this podcast episode, I will break down the most important grammar points to touch upon when you get a new beginner English learner and the suggested order in which to teach them. 
Here is what you will hear about Grammar for English Learners:

• Reasons you may feel overwhelmed by teaching grammar
• Reasons it is important to teach grammar to your English Learners
• What grammar rules are most important to teach
• What order I suggest teaching grammar
• Activity suggestions specific to the age of your students

As mentioned in the episode, I am linking some useful resources!

• Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Teachable Platform - Courses and Workshops
• Grammar Teaching Sequence 
• The Grammar Answer Key: Short Explanations to 100 ESL Questions

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. 

Follow me on Instagram 

Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

How to Teach ESL Grammar for Beginners: Tips, Activities and Games

Video: Grammar Teaching Tips for ESL Teachers

Support the show

We all know that learning a new language requires vocabulary instruction, but what is the best approach? Which words should we teach? Which words are the most important? And how can we help students retain the academic vocabulary we teach them? I address these questions in today’s episode.

Language learning is not an overnight process, and vocabulary teaching is ongoing whether you work with exclusively newcomers or have long-term English learners. It is said that it takes learning a word seven times in different contexts for that word to become part of your vocabulary. 

There are simple ways teachers can intentionally incorporate content vocabulary before, during, and after an activity that will greatly improve their ESL students’ ability to understand the lesson and retain the vocabulary. I share a few of my favorite tools and activities as well as two well researched frameworks for introducing new words to your students that will take your vocabulary instruction to the next level. 

Here is what you will hear in this episode:

• 3 effective tools you can use to use to teach new vocabulary
• 2 research-based frameworks for vocabulary instruction that have been proven to increase the retention of academic vocabulary
• Ways to intentionally incorporate repetition and visual representations of new academic vocabulary into your classroom to support student learning
• Ideas for differentiating vocabulary instruction for students at different proficiency levels

As mentioned in the episode, I am linking some useful resources!

Reminder - 10% of the proceeds from my sales in March 2022 will be donated to Unicef to benefit the people of Ukraine. 

• Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
• Teachable Platform - Courses and Workshops

You may also be interested in:

• Teaching Absolute Beginners: An ESL Teacher’s Handbook
• 25 Authentic Speaking Activities for Your ESL Classroom
• 3 Tips That Will Rock Your ESL Vocabulary Instruction
• Dr. Maria Calderon’s 7 Steps to Vocabulary Pre-teaching
• Marzano’s Six-Step Process for Teaching Vocabulary 
• Pixabay 
• A Speaking Game That Will Captivate Your ESL Students

The ESL Teaching Roadmap – membership community for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers. As a thank you for listening, use code ESLPODCAST for 20% off when you join. 

Support the show