Affirmations are a great way for anyone to combat negative self talk and our English learners are no exception. The teenagers I work with often struggle with thoughts that their English is not good enough and are hesitant to participate in conversations because of their low confidence. This is why the topic of today’s episode is affirmations to use with our English learners. 

Young people feel pressure to do well in school and fall into the trap of comparing themselves to others. I like to remind my students that it takes time to learn a language and it is okay not to have it all figured out yet, that it takes time to adjust to a new culture, and that what others are doing is none of your business. There is a formula of thinking that I teach them to use - be, do, have. This can be used to formulate questions: What do I need to be and what do I need to do to have what I want?

I also share 10 of my favorite affirmations to use with my students and how to get the most out of them. I have found that not all affirmations work in all situations and the way they are used can really make a big difference.

What you will hear about using affirmations with your English Learners

• Ways to support your students with combating negative self talk
• A formula of thinking you can use to change your thinking
• 10 of my favorite affirmations to share with my English Learners
• Tips for using affirmations effectively

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: 

• Episode 11 - Radical Self-Care for Teachers in Times of Crisis 
• Affirmations for students
• Affirmations for children

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 students may not be ready to share for personal or cultural reasons.The activity must also be the right proficiency for the students in your classroom and be age appropriate.

Ball toss is a go-to icebreaker activity that is great for beginners. It can be used as a get to know you activity and modified to be used throughout the school year. “Three things about me” is also great for beginners.

For intermediate and up, I recommend an activity called “concentric circles,” which allows one on one conversations and meeting new people and is good for teens and adults. Light Debate  is another icebreaker activity that intermediate students really enjoy and it is great for practicing language.

What you will hear about Icebreaker Activities

• Why you should plan icebreaker activities for the beginning of the school year
• Things to consider when choosing icebreaker activities for English Learners
• Examples of 2 icebreaker activities that are suitable for beginners
• Activities you can use with your more advanced EL students

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 

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 some things teachers did that were not so supportive. Maja also gives us insight on some of the cultural differences between attending high school in Poland and in the United States from her English learner's perspective. She explains several aspects of the new culture that she had to adjust to and how even minor cultural differences can be difficult to navigate. 

What you will hear from an English Learner’s Perspective

• What it feels like to be an English Learner and a new high school student in the United States
• Cultural differences that English Learners have to navigate
• Some challenges of feeling confident speaking from the perspective of an English Learner
• Things teachers did that were supportive and not so supportive

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

• Confident ESL Teacher Summit registration

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 made as a newer EL teacher and what I learned from them so that you can too! You will hear how I learned to communicate with the families of my students early and often. I will tell you about the ways I set expectation for my students to create a strong classroom culture. Finally, I will share about my lesson planning process as an EL teacher.

You will hear more about these mistakes I made as a newer teacher

• Not connecting with students’ families enough 
• Failing to set expectations of my students and myself
• Lack of planning ahead

Resources

• Confident ESL Teacher Summit registration is open NOW.  The summit is happening on August 9-11, 2022 so now is the perfect time to sign up!

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 

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 and let them get to know me and each other. I also share the best ways to reach and communicate with families of English Learners.

What you will hear about the most important thing to teach English Language Learners

• The basic things English Learners need when they enter school
• Activities to help students get to know you and each other
• Strategies for checking in with students each day and what to do with that information
• Ideas for communicating with parents and families who don’t speak English

Resources

• Register for The Confident ESL Teacher Summit! 

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 

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 to create a newcomer curriculum guide yourself. I know some teachers like to do things like this themselves because it helps them internalize their curriculum and tailor materials to their students.

What you will hear in this episode: 

• What a curriculum guide is and what it includes
• How a curriculum guide differs from a scope and sequence
• The ways  a curriculum guide provides both accountability and flexibility throughout the year
• The steps you can take to build your own curriculum guide
• Where you can find a template or a done-for-you curriculum guide to use

Resources

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

• Grades 6-12 Curriculum Guide
• K-5 ESL Curriculum guide
• Curriculum guide template 

You may also be interested in

• 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 

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 is a living document and can be tweaked throughout the year as you get to know your students and their specific needs. Listen to this episode to learn more about my process for creating a scope and sequence specifically for newcomers, even when you don’t have a curriculum to follow.

What you will hear about a scope and sequence for newcomers:

• What is included in a scope and sequence
• How to create a scope and sequence when you don’t have a curriculum or a team
• The best ways to incorporate Common Core State Standards, ELD standards, and WIDA standards into your scope and sequence
• TMy process for creating academic and social emotional goals for my students
• Using my grammar teaching sequence available for free on my website

Resources:

As mentioned in the episode, here is the 

• Free Year Long Scope and Sequence

Below you will find 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 

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, without sacrificing too much break time.

You will hear more about how these tips can help EL teachers prepare for a successful school year:

• Rest and relax.
• Do professional development on your own time and terms.
• Prepare a scope and sequence for your EL students.
• Review goals for specific language domains.
• Create templates.

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

• Episode 25 - 5 Fantastic Virtual Events for EL Teachers

• Episode 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 time to read a book or two to inspire you for the upcoming school year.

Professional development books you will hear about (some of the links below are affiliate links, which only means that I might get a few pennies if you purchase the book using that link. No additional cost to you at all:)

• A short handbook for new EL teachers and for those who have EL students in their classrooms
• A book that includes practical tips on how to differentiate instruction for multi level classrooms and great activities that can be implemented right away 
• A book that helps teachers move beyond their current practices with EL students. It provides simplified “can do” descriptors that list what students can do at different proficiencies and suggested scaffolds
• A book about celebrating student strengths using the  translanguaging approach when teaching English Learners.
• A book to help you improve your ability to develop your colleagues in the best practices you learn and practice.

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 

The books mentioned in today’s episode:

• Teaching Absolute Beginners: An ESL Teacher’s Handbook
• 7 Steps to a Language rich interactive classroom 
• Moving Beyond for Multilingual Learners
• Rooted in Strength: Using Translanguaging to Grow Multilingual Readers and Writers

• The PD Book: 7 Habits that Transform Professional Development

I enjoy taking a break and recharging my batteries over the summer, but I also love to take some time to work on lesson ideas that I don’t have as much time to think about during the school year and take advantage of some professional development. 
In this episode, I share my suggestions for quality virtual professional development opportunities that you can participate in this summer. If you are anything like me, I know they will inspire you, boost your confidence, and help you get ready for the upcoming school year. Whether you are looking to plan out the beginning of the school year, hear from experts in the field of ESL education, or take a deep dive into strategies like the SIOP model, there is something for you in this episode.

Virtual Events you will learn about in today’s episode:

• An overview of my Virtual Summit and what you can look forward to each day
• A virtual lesson planning masterclass to help you map out you first month with ESL students
• A large summit featuring amazing speakers with a wealth of knowledge
• One of my favorite webinar series for finding literature for your EL students
• A virtual conference where you can learn  everything you need to know about the SIOP model

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:

• The Confident ESL Teacher Summit 
• Map Out Your First Month with ESL Beginners Masterclass 
• The Multilingual Learner Summit
• Saddleback Educational Publishing:
  • Webinar series
  • Youtube 
  • Resources 
• The SIOP Virtual Conference

In this episode, I share 6 elements of an effective EL lesson plan that I have learned in my years as a teacher. Planning for English Learners is not the same as planning for other contents because many EL teachers do not have a set curriculum and will need to plan for different proficiency levels and different sized groups of students. I go into the essential components of an EL lesson plans - an objective, background building, presentation, practice, assessment, and extension. 

I discuss the preparation to do ahead of tim, how to choose strategies that will work best for the objective you’re working toward and give examples of how to follow the research based, SIOP protocol to write both language and content objectives. You will walk away inspired to make the most of the planning time you have over the Summer or any time of year.

What you will learn about EL Lesson Planning

• How to lesson plan for your EL students
• What information to include in your EL lesson plans
• How to figure out the right goals to plan for
• Why Summer is the best time to get started on your lesson plans for next year
• What makes planning for EL students unique
• Components of an effective EL  lesson plan

Join The Waitlist for the ESL Lesson Planning Masterclass

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:

• Blog Post: 6 Elements of an Effective ESL Lesson Plan
• Lesson Planning Masterclass for ESL Teachers

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

In today’s episode, I want to chat with you about a special group of students - those who have limited or interrupted formal education, otherwise known as SLIFE. 
Chances are many of us have encountered a student from this group at least once. And with everything that is going on in the world right now, we are likely to see more and more need to help these children that have found themselves in difficult situations due to no fault of their own. 
So today, I will share with you everything I know about SLIFE students - who they are, what they need, how they learn, how we can teach them as well as give you five does and don’ts to utilize - or NOT - in the classroom. 

Here is what you will hear in this episode:

• Who SLIFE students are
• What they need
• Three steps to help them
• 5 dos and don'ts of teachers with SLIFE in the classroom. 

As always, below you will find related resources that will help support your ELs and save you planning time!

• MALP Education website
• Blog post - Teaching Slife Students: What You Need to Know
• Teaching Absolute Beginners: An ESL Teacher's Handbook
• 25 Authentic Speaking Activities for Your ESL Classroom 
• 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.