Teaching English to Kids: A Journey of Fun Learning

Paola

"Teaching English to Kids: A Journey of Fun Learning" is the podcast that bridges the gap between rigorous methodology and engaging practice. Each episode delves into the core foundations of ELT – from SLA theory and classroom management techniques to curriculum planning and phonics fundamentals – and translates them into practical, game-based learning activities you can use immediately. Discover creative strategies for immersive storytelling, effective song use, and designing lessons that spark curiosity and build genuine confidence in your young learners. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or new to the classroom, join a community of dedicated educators who are transforming language learning. Move beyond the theory and find actionable inspiration to make your classroom more effective and incredibly fun. Subscribe now for your weekly dose of evidence-based strategies and playful teaching inspiration!

  1. Jul 2

    The Vocabulary Recycling Revolution – Why revisiting words is the engine of fluency.

    Send us Fan Mail You taught the vocabulary. They passed the quiz. Two weeks later, it's gone. Sound familiar? This is the linear teaching trap – and it's one of the most common design flaws in language programmes. The 2024 Hamdane & Hamdane study found that vocabulary recycling is not just "helpful" – it is compulsory for enhancing young learners' productive abilities, particularly writing. Students who received structured vocabulary recycling significantly outperformed peers (Mean = 4.94 vs. 3.70; p 0.001). In this episode, we explore the neuroscience and SLA research behind why recycling works – from Nation's multiple exposures principle (minimum 5–16 encounters) to the critical distinction between recognition and activation. We also examine Gardner's (2008) corpus study on authentic children's texts, revealing when themes and authorship actually recycle vocabulary – and when they don't.  Because a word is not learned when it is recognised. It is learned when it can be deployed fluently across contexts. Subscribe to transform your vocabulary instruction. Follow Paola on LinkedIn and Facebook @PaolaPandoDiaz. 🎓 Coaching & Consultancy: Ready to build a systematic vocabulary curriculum? Paola offers personalised online coaching for teachers and curriculum support for schools.  #VocabularyRecycling #SpiralCurriculum #TeachingEnglish #YoungLearners #AcquisitionArchitect #MindfulFacilitator #TeacherPD #CoachingForSchools

  2. Jun 18

    The Silent Period – Why silence is not empty, and what to do while they listen.

    Send us Fan Mail A new student joins your class. She watches. She follows instructions. She points when asked. But she doesn't speak. Weeks pass. Still, almost no words. Is something wrong? No. She is in the Silent Period – a natural, necessary, and deeply active phase of second language acquisition. In this episode, we explore the neuroscience of the Silent Period: what is actually happening inside a silent child's brain, why forcing speech can delay acquisition, and how to support learners through this critical phase. Drawing on research from Krashen, Saville‑Troike, and recent neuroscience (Conboy, Brooks, Meltzoff & Kuhl, 2015), we reveal the hidden cognitive activity behind silence – from private speech to phonological rehearsal to cognitive response suppression. You'll learn: Why the Silent Period is a biological necessity, not a sign of struggle.How to distinguish the Silent Period from Selective Mutism – a critical distinction for teachers.Practical strategies to support silent learners: extended wait time, TPR, non‑verbal participation, interactive storytelling, and small‑group peer modelling.A week‑at‑a‑glance plan for nurturing silent learners without pressure.Because silence is not empty – it is full of listening, mapping, and growing. Subscribe to transform how you support every learner. Follow Paola on LinkedIn and Facebook @PaolaPandoDiaz. #SilentPeriod #SecondLanguageAcquisition  #TeachingEnglish #YoungLearners #MindfulFacilitator #BrainBasedTeaching #CoachingForSchools

  3. Jun 3

    The Stress‑Free Assessment – How to know what they know without a single test

    Send us Fan Mail Friday afternoon. A vocabulary test. Students freeze, guess, or cry. Days of grading later, you learn almost nothing new – except that tests are stressful. Traditional testing often measures anxiety, not acquisition. But assessment can be different – quick, stress‑free, and genuinely informative. In this episode, we explore five low‑prep, brain‑friendly assessment strategies you can use tomorrow: The Three‑Column Clipboard: Track evidence of automaticity and plan your next step – during any student‑led activity.Exit Tickets (30‑second check‑ins): A drawing, a sentence completion, or a thumbs‑up/thumbs‑down gives you a whole‑class snapshot.The Learning Scan During Centers: Turn center time into rich diagnostic data with simple checklists.Error Analysis as Assessment: Record errors (e.g., “runned”) to spot interlanguage patterns and plan targeted mini‑lessons.Performance Tasks: Role‑plays, information gaps, story retelling, and show‑and‑tell – assess while they communicate.Plus, a week‑at‑a‑glance plan showing how to collect meaningful data every day, without extra time or red pens. Stop grading. Start diagnosing. Become a true Acquisition Architect. Subscribe to transform your teaching. Follow Paola on LinkedIn and Facebook @PaolaPandoDiaz.

  4. May 20

    Curriculum that teaches itself – Smart design for more impact and less stress.

    Send us Fan Mail Does lesson planning drain your energy before you even step into the classroom? What if your curriculum could do more of the heavy lifting, freeing you to focus on what matters most – your students? In this milestone episode, we bring together everything we've learned across two seasons to tackle the ultimate sustainable teaching challenge: curriculum design that reduces planning time while increasing learning impact. Discover the neuroscience behind cognitive load and decision fatigue – and why a smart curriculum is the most powerful tool for protecting your energy.  Walk through a concrete, month‑long example and leave with a checklist to evaluate your own curriculum. Stop reinventing the wheel and start designing systems that let you teach with clarity, confidence, and reclaimed time. Subscribe to finish the season strong. Follow Paola on LinkedIn and Facebook @PaolaPandoDiaz. #CurriculumDesign #SustainableTeaching #BackwardDesign #SpiralCurriculum #TeacherWorkload #MindfulFacilitator #ESL #YoungLearners

  5. May 6

    Universal Design for Learning + Individualised Education Plan: Not Opponents. Partners. 🧩

    Send us Fan Mail Universal Design for Learning (UDL) asks: “How can I design for the many?” An individualised education plan (PEI/IEP) asks: “How can I support the one?” Are these two frameworks opponents – or partners? In this episode, we dismantle the false dilemma and show how UDL and IEP exist on a single continuum of support. Drawing on the Tiered Support Pyramid, we explore how proactive universal design reduces the need for intensive individualisation – and how, for some learners, UDL alone is not enough. We discuss the neuroscience of learner variability (Todd Rose’s “jagged profiles”) and why intensive intervention can literally rewire the brain (Sally Shaywitz). Finally, we offer five practical principles for integrating UDL and PEI in your daily classroom, including a concrete example of a student with dyslexia who learns alongside peers because universal design + individualised accommodations work together. Tune in to discover why the welcome mat and the key belong in every inclusive classroom. Subscribe to build classrooms where every student thrives. Follow Paola on LinkedIn @PaolaPandoDiaz. #UDL #PEI #InclusiveEducation #UniversalDesignForLearning #IEP #Neurodiversity #MindfulFacilitator #TeacherPD

  6. Apr 22

    IEP Explained: When one student needs their own roadmap

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when Universal Design for Learning (UDL) isn't enough? For most students, a well-designed, inclusive classroom provides the pathways they need. But some learners—those with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, or other learning differences—require something more targeted: an individualized roadmap. In this episode, we explore the Individualized Education Program (IEP). Learn what a IEP is, when it's appropriate, and how it differs from UDL. Discover the neuroscience of neurodiversity—why variations in brain wiring are not deficits but natural differences that require specific supports. We also provide practical guidance for language teachers on implementing accommodations, collaborating with support teams, and maintaining high expectations with appropriate scaffolding. This is the first of a two-part series on inclusive education. Next week: Can UDL and IEP work together? Subscribe to build truly inclusive classrooms. Follow Paola on LinkedIn @PaolaPandoDiaz #PEI #IEP #InclusiveEducation #Neurodiversity #UDL #SpecialEducation #MindfulFacilitator #TeacherPD

  7. Apr 7

    The Sustainable Classroom: Building Systems That Last Beyond the Lesson

    Send us Fan Mail You have the tools from Season 1. You have the Mindful Facilitator's mindset from Season 2. Now, how do you sustain this high-quality practice without burning out? In this episode, we tackle the essential question of teacher sustainability through the lens of cognitive science and habit formation. Explore how Cognitive Load Theory explains why decision fatigue drains your energy, and how strategic systems can free your brain for what matters most: being present with your students. Learn to build practical, sustainable structures across three domains: Physical Systems (organized environments), Temporal Systems (predictable rhythms), and Data Systems (simple tracking). From the "Five-Phase Lesson Rhythm" to the "Three-Column Clipboard," discover how to transform conscious effort into automatic habit. This episode is your roadmap to a classroom that runs itself—where systems support learning, where you can be responsive without exhaustion, and where your brilliance shines without burnout. Subscribe to build a practice that lasts. Follow Paola on LinkedIn and Facebook @PaolaPandoDiaz for daily insights.

  8. Mar 26

    The Power of We: Understanding peer scaffolding and collaborative learning

    Send us Fan Mail What if the most powerful teaching resource in your classroom wasn't you—but the students themselves? In this episode of "The Mindful Facilitator," we explore the transformative power of peer learning. Discover how mirror neurons create shared emotional experiences, why Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development is inherently social, and how peer interaction naturally drives acquisition through negotiated meaning. Learn practical strategies for structuring meaningful collaboration: from strategic pairing and structured roles to information gap activities and the "Ask Three Before Me" routine. Understand how to fade your presence while students scaffold each other, and how to use observation to gather rich formative assessment data. Complete your Mindful Facilitator toolkit with the art of creating a classroom where every child becomes a teacher. Subscribe to build a community of learners. Follow Paola on LinkedIn  @PaolaPandoDiaz for daily insights. #PeerLearning #CollaborativeLearning #Scaffolding #MindfulFacilitator #SocialLearning #Vygotsky #SLA #TeacherPD

See All (31)

About

"Teaching English to Kids: A Journey of Fun Learning" is the podcast that bridges the gap between rigorous methodology and engaging practice. Each episode delves into the core foundations of ELT – from SLA theory and classroom management techniques to curriculum planning and phonics fundamentals – and translates them into practical, game-based learning activities you can use immediately. Discover creative strategies for immersive storytelling, effective song use, and designing lessons that spark curiosity and build genuine confidence in your young learners. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or new to the classroom, join a community of dedicated educators who are transforming language learning. Move beyond the theory and find actionable inspiration to make your classroom more effective and incredibly fun. Subscribe now for your weekly dose of evidence-based strategies and playful teaching inspiration!

Information

You Might Also Like