Teaching English to Kids: A Journey of Fun Learning

Paola
  • 0.0 (0)
  • EDUCATION

"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. 3D AGO

    The power of scaffolding: Knowing when to hold on and when to let go

    Send us a text What is the perfect amount of help to give a struggling student? How do we support them without doing the work for them? In this crucial episode of "The Mindful Facilitator," we dissect the art and science of Scaffolding—the core skill of responsive teaching. Grounded in Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development, we explore the neuroscience of "desirable difficulty" and the psychology of building self-efficacy. Learn a practical, tiered toolkit that moves from heavy support (modeling, sentence frames) to light guidance (strategic questioning), with a dedicated focus on the critical final step: fading the scaffold. We’ll connect strategies directly to Season 1 favorites like storytelling, games, and TPR. Discover how to transform from an answer-giver into a designer of discoverable challenges, empowering your students to become confident, independent language users. Subscribe to master the mindful practice. Follow Paola for insights on LinkedIn and Facebook @PaolaPandoDiaz. #Scaffolding #ZoneOfProximalDevelopment #ResponsiveTeaching #DifferentiatedInstruction #TeacherPD #MindfulFacilitator #Vygotsky #SLA

    17 min

  2. JAN 21

    The grammar of movement: Teaching language through action.

    Send us a text Total Physical Response (TPR) is so much more than "Simon Says." In this episode of "The Mindful Facilitator," we explore TPR as a profound, neuroscience-backed strategy for teaching complex grammar. Discover the concept of Embodied Cognition—how performing an action while hearing language creates a fused, multi-sensory memory trace in the brain. We dive deep into practical applications that move beyond basic vocabulary to teach prepositions, narrative tenses, and polite social requests through structured movement. Learn how this method naturally lowers the affective filter, facilitates comprehensible output, and provides you, the observant teacher, with crystal-clear data on your students' grammatical understanding. Transform your classroom into a dynamic space where grammar is felt, not just learned. Subscribe to the "Mindful Facilitator" journey. Follow Paola on LinkedIn, Facebook & Instagram @PaolaPandoDiaz. #TotalPhysicalResponse #TPR #EmbodiedLearning #TeachingGrammar #ESL #YoungLearners #NeuroscienceOfLearning #SLA

    16 min

  3. JAN 7

    The Observant Teacher: Formative Assessment as your superpower.

    Send us a text Welcome to Season 2 of "Teaching English to Kids: A Journey of Fun Learning"! This season, we're shifting our focus to you, The Mindful Facilitator. Building on the foundational toolkit from Season 1, we now hone our most powerful instrument: our teacher expertise. In this premiere episode, we explore the transformative power of Formative Assessment—not as a test, but as a mindset of compassionate curiosity. Discover the triad of science behind it: the neuroscience of feedback, Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development, and the psychology of motivation. We then move to practice with three actionable, low-effort tools you can use tomorrow: the "Learning Scan," "Strategic Questioning," and the "2-Minute Student Conference." Learn how to move from being an activity manager to a diagnostic guide, using real-time observation to make masterful decisions that light up every child's learning path. Tune in to unlock your greatest teaching superpower. Subscribe to follow the "Mindful Facilitator" journey. Follow Paola on LinkedIn, Facebook & Instagram @PaolaPandoDiaz.

    19 min

  4. 12/30/2025

    A year of insight - 2026 Teaching Resolutions

    Send us a text As we close a remarkable year of discovery, join Paola Pando for a special reflective finale. This is not a typical episode; it’s a celebration and a synthesis of our entire journey together. In this powerful season wrap-up, we revisit the transformative ideas that have shaped our teaching: from the neuroscience of The Storytelling Brain and the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to the magic of Play-Based Vocabulary and the paradigm-shifting Natural Approach to Grammar. We connect the dots between theory and practice, showing how each episode builds a cohesive, brain-friendly philosophy for teaching English to young learners. More importantly, we turn our collective learning into action. Paola guides you in crafting your own Purposeful Teaching Resolutions for 2026—concrete, practical commitments drawn directly from the most impactful strategies of the past eighteen episodes. This is an invitation to reflect, celebrate your growth, and step into the new year with clarity, confidence, and a renewed passion for creating joyful, effective learning environments. Tune in for gratitude, insight, and a forward-looking charge to the incredible community of educators who make this journey so meaningful. This episode is a gift to your teaching future. Subscribe to stay connected as we continue the journey in 2026! Follow and share your resolutions with Paola on LinkedIn, Facebook & Instagram @PaolaPandoDiaz. #TeachingReflection #YearEndReview #TeacherResolutions #ProfessionalGrowth #ELTCommunity #TeachingEnglish #PodcastFinale #2026Goals #TeacherPD

    14 min

  5. 12/18/2025

    Grammar Unboxed: Teaching structure through meaning to Young Learners.

    Send us a text Is teaching grammar to children about rules or patterns? In this transformative episode, we dismantle the traditional approach and rebuild it through the lenses of neuroscience and the Natural Approach. Join host Paola Pando as we explore why explicit rule-teaching often fails young brains and how to leverage their innate talent for pattern detection instead. Drawing on the work of Stephen Krashen, Lynne Cameron, and Joan Kang Shin’s principles, we reveal how to weave grammar seamlessly into the meaningful, playful practices you already use. Discover practical strategies like "Story Grammar Detectives," "TPR Routine Chants," and collaborative play activities that transform abstract structures into tangible, usable language. Learn to shift from being an explainer of rules to an architect of experiences where grammar is naturally acquired. Tune in to build a classroom where grammar isn't taught, but caught. Subscribe for more brain-friendly teaching strategies. Follow Paola on LinkedIn, Facebook & Instagram by the host's name Paola Pando #TeachingGrammar #YoungLearners #NaturalApproach #ESL #InductiveTeaching #BrainBasedLearning #TeacherPD #LanguageAcquisition

    16 min

  6. 12/10/2025

    The Playful Lexicon: Using games to build deep, lasting vocabulary.

    Send us a text Are vocabulary lists leaving your students bored and forgetful? What if play was the most serious teaching strategy you could use? In Episode 16, we dive into the compelling research behind using games as a primary tool for vocabulary acquisition. Moving beyond "just for fun," we explore how games create the perfect low-anxiety environment for comprehensible input and output, stimulate emotional memory, and respect the holistic way young learners acquire language. We'll break down practical, adaptable games from the research—like "Hot Potatoes" and "The Washing Line"—and show you how to implement them to tackle real classroom challenges like noise and L1 use. Learn how to transform your vocabulary lessons into dynamic, memorable experiences that build a deep and lasting lexicon. Subscribe to make every lesson more engaging. Follow Paola for more insights on LinkedIn, Facebook & Instagram  Paola Pando Diaz #VocabularyGames #GameBasedLearning #ESL #YoungLearners #TeachingEnglish #ClassroomGames #LanguageAcquisition #TeacherPD

    15 min

  7. 12/03/2025

    Cracking the code with joy: Embedding phonics in meaningful practice

    Send us a text How can we transform essential phonics instruction from a rote exercise into a joyful, integral part of a dynamic language classroom? In Episode 15 of "Teaching English to Kids: A Journey of Fun Learning," we perform the perfect synthesis. Building on last week’s research on Differentiated Phonics, we now connect it directly to the timeless teaching principles from Dr. Joan Kang Shin’s "Ten Helpful Ideas" (Episode 13). Discover how to embed systematic phonics within the rich, multi-sensory, and thematic practices that define great teaching for young learners. We break down the cognitive science of why this fusion is so powerful and provide concrete activities that show you how to apply it, such as: Multi-Sensory Phonics Games that merge sound practice with movement and student creation.Thematic Phonics "Missions" that connect decoding to meaningful comprehension from day one.Strategic Phonics Routines that build confidence and lower anxiety.This episode is the ultimate guide to ensuring phonics serves its true purpose: not just decoding words, but empowering children to independently access and enjoy the worlds of stories and ideas. Tune in to learn how to weave phonics seamlessly into the vibrant tapestry of your classroom. Subscribe to never miss a strategy that bridges theory and practice. Follow Paola and share your takeaways: Find her on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram @PaolaPandoDiaz #Phonics #TeachingEnglish #YoungLearners #ScienceOfReading #DifferentiatedInstruction #ESL #MultiSensoryLearning #TeacherPD

    16 min

  8. 11/26/2025

    Beyond the ABCs - Differentiated Phonics for Powerful EFL Literacy

    Send us a text Is teaching phonics to English language learners just about repeating sounds? What if a one-size-fits-all approach is actually holding your students back? In this transformative episode of Teaching English to kids: A journey of fun learning, we move beyond the basics to explore a groundbreaking, research-backed framework: Differentiated Phonics Instruction. We dive deep into a compelling classroom study that reveals how tailoring your phonics teaching to the specific linguistic needs of EFL learners can dramatically boost their reading comprehension, spelling, and—most importantly—their ability to write dynamic, powerful sentences. Discover the three essential pillars of this approach. If you're ready to move beyond the ABCs and transform phonics from a rote exercise into the ultimate tool for authentic literacy and communication, this episode is your essential guide. Subscribe to Teaching English to kids for more episodes that translate cutting-edge educational research into actionable classroom strategies. Follow Paola on Social Media:  Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/paola-andrea-p-4803ab32 Facebook and Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/paola.pandodiaz/

    16 min
See All (21)

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