The ESL Teaching Podcast Ieva Grauslys, ESL/ELL teaching

I don't know about you, but every year around April, I feel like my energy is drained. I can no longer focus, and the feeling of inadequacy begins to creep in. The students have absorbed as much as they could. We all are just counting the days until that summer break when we all can recharge and look at things from a different perspective. But we have to somehow get through those last weeks of school. I want to share some of the end of year hacks that I use to feel like I'm still making a difference in my teaching and student learning and, what I do to not lose my own sanity in the process.
What you will hear about in this episode:
Shifting focus from new material to reviewing past lessonsStrategies to handle waning student focus and increased energyThe impact of changing environment on teacher motivation and creativityThe importance of self-care and maintaining personal well-being
Show Notes:
Episode 111 - 5 End of the Year Hacks to Finish the School Year With Sanity
Simply Ieva Offers:
🥳 On-Demand Digital Library “Light The Way to EL Teaching Success” 🥳
Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Free Audio Training - 3 Mindset Shifts for Instilling and Living Out a Belief that All Teachers are Teachers of Language.Book a $0 Consult Call - Lead ELs to Progress without OverwhelmAccommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin 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. My TpT storeRelated episodes and articles:
Shinrin Yoku: The Japanese Practice that Could Transform Your DayEpisode 74 - Why Teachers Should Embrace Meditation as Part of Their Daily RoutineEpisode 64 - 3 Ways to Finish Your School Year Meaningfully
Let’s Connect!
Follow me on InstagramFollow me on LinkedInI have compiled every masterclass I have ever recorded on how to teach and reach English learners in a regular education classroom - I’m talking strategies, how-tos and done for you resources!) and have created a digital masterclass library called Light the Way to EL Teaching Success where you can get instant access to 10 practical and actionable videos, 8 done-for you lessons and 1 professional development certificate for 3 hours of your time. 
Support the show

In education, hard skills such as the academic knowledge of the subject and the know-how of teaching in general, the strategies, the methodology, the assessment are the focal point. But today, I wanted to talk about the soft skills that are much more difficult to define and quantify because they are less concrete, but have been proven time and time again just as important as the know-how. These skills involve interpersonal and interpersonal communication, being flexible, cultural awareness, and others. And they help us forge meaningful relationships, as well as allow us to live a more fulfilling life. And, in particular, I wanted to touch upon two aspects of those soft skills, communication and cultural awareness, and why they are extremely important when you're working with English learners.


What you will hear about in this episode:
The crucial role of soft skills in effective communication and relationship buildingList of Essential Soft Skills for EducatorsThe impact of teacher communication on student connection and content accessibilityDefinition and significance of cultural awareness


Show Notes:
Episode 110 - The Two Most Important Soft Skills for Teachers of English Learners


Simply Ieva Offers:
🥳 On-Demand Digital Library “Light The Way to EL Teaching Success” 🥳
Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Free Audio Training - 3 Mindset Shifts for Instilling and Living Out a Belief that All Teachers are Teachers of Language.Book a $0 Consult Call - Lead ELs to Progress without OverwhelmAccommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin 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. My TpT store


Related/Previous Episodes:
Episode 106 - Common SEL Challenges ELs Face in the Classroom


Let’s Connect!
Follow me on InstagramFollow me on LinkedInJoin the Simply Ieva Facebook GroupI have compiled every masterclass I have ever recorded on how to teach and reach English learners in a regular education classroom - I’m talking strategies, how-tos and done for you resources!) and have created a digital masterclass library called Light the Way to EL Teaching Success where you can get instant access to 10 practical and actionable videos, 8 done-for you lessons and 1 professional development certificate for 3 hours of your time. 
Support the show

Welcome back to another episode of The ESL Teaching Podcast. Today we're tackling an issue that's close to the heart for so many of us educators: the challenge of negative self-talk. As teachers, we navigate not only academic pressures but also the emotional and mental weight of our personal lives. Recognizing our humanity is crucial to maintaining not just our performance in the classroom but our overall well-being. In this episode, we explore practical strategies and self-reflection tools designed to transform our inner dialogue. From identifying types of negative thoughts to embracing moments of quiet and mindfulness, join us as we unpack five powerful practices that can uplift our spirits and reshape how we perceive and respond to stress.

What you will hear about in this episode:
Overcoming the feelings of mental exhaustionThe parallel between the struggles of students and teachersFive practices to combat negative self-talk and mental health challengesThe necessity of self-care for effective teaching and personal well-beingFour types of negative self-talkReframing thoughts for mental well-being


Show Notes:
Episode 109 - Rewriting the Script of Negative Self-Talk for Teachers


Simply Ieva Offers:
🥳 On-Demand Digital Library “Light The Way to EL Teaching Success” 🥳
Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Free Audio Training - 3 Mindset Shifts for Instilling and Living Out a Belief that All Teachers are Teachers of Language.Book a $0 Consult Call - Lead ELs to Progress without OverwhelmAccommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin 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. My TpT store


Related/Previous Episodes:
Episode 74 - Why teachers should embrace meditation as part of their daily routine

Let’s Connect!
Follow me on InstagramFollow me on LinkedInJoin the Simply Ieva Facebook GroupI have compiled every masterclass I have ever recorded on how to teach and reach English learners in a regular education classroom - I’m talking strategies, how-tos and done for you resources!) and have created a digital masterclass library called Light the Way to EL Teaching Success where you can get instant access to 10 practical and actionable videos, 8 done-for you lessons and 1 professional development certificate for 3 hours of your time. 
Support the show

Welcome to Episode 108 of The ESL Teaching Podcast! In this episode, I share my go-to activities for those "I can't even" days, when exhaustion and lack of inspiration make lesson planning a struggle. I candidly discuss my own experiences with feeling tired and bored while teaching, and offer practical, low-prep activities to reignite the classroom's energy. From engaging listening and speaking activities like back-to-back drawing and interviewing, to creative writing prompts using social media and vocabulary categorization, these tips are designed to invigorate both teachers and students. So, if you're looking for innovative teaching strategies to combat those off-days, stay tuned for some valuable insights!


What you will hear about in this episode:
Dealing with exhaustion and lack of creativity as a teacherThe need to teach regardless of challengesActivities to boost classroom energy and learningTeaching persuasive speech and helping ELLs think on their feetWriting activities for ELLs

Show Notes:
Episode 108 - No Plan? No Problem! 5 Activities for those "I can't even" days

Simply Ieva Offers:

🥳 On-Demand Digital Library “Light The Way to EL Teaching Success” 🥳
Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Free Audio Training - 3 Mindset Shifts for Instilling and Living Out a Belief that All Teachers are Teachers of Language.Book a $0 Consult Call - Lead ELs to Progress without OverwhelmAccommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin 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. My TpT store

Related/Previous Episodes:
Episode 64 - How to pre-teach vocabulary to ELs in the regular education classroomEpisode 88 - How to use novel study to enrich vocabulary and speaking

Let’s Connect!
Follow me on InstagramFollow me on LinkedInI have compiled every masterclass I have ever recorded on how to teach and reach English learners in a regular education classroom - I’m talking strategies, how-tos and done for you resources!) and have created a digital masterclass library called Light the Way to EL Teaching Success where you can get instant access to 10 practical and actionable videos, 8 done-for you lessons and 1 professional development certificate for 3 hours of your time. 
Support the show

My guest Zach Camenker, and I explore the challenges and joys of teaching English learners in a regular classroom. Zach, an English Language Arts teacher, shares his struggle with the repetition of the curriculum and his passion for reading instruction. The importance of adaptability, feedback, and collaboration in setting up a successful classroom environment for diverse learners is stressed. We discuss the need for better preparation for teachers facing ELL students and Zach's personal reasons for pursuing a master's in TESOL. Both of us reflect on the value of making connections with students and the pressures of meeting curriculum standards. Zach expresses his career aspirations towards leadership, illustrating his extensive involvement in educational extracurricular activities. The episode highlights the complex balance between following the curriculum and addressing the individual needs of English learners.
What you will hear about in this episode:
Challenges faced by mainstream teachers with ELL studentsBenefits of feedback and suggestions from colleagues and studentsChallenges due to students' lack of cultural and historical background knowledgeThe balance between connecting with students and delivering curriculumShow Notes:
Episode 107 - The Heart and Art of Teaching ELs in Regular Education Classrooms with Zach CamenkerSimply Ieva Offers:

🥳 On-Demand Digital Library “Light The Way to EL Teaching Success” 🥳
Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Free Audio Training - 3 Mindset Shifts for Instilling and Living Out a Belief that All Teachers are Teachers of Language.Book a $0 Consult Call - Lead ELs to Progress without OverwhelmAccommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin 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. My TpT storeRelated/Previous Episodes:
Episode 81 - Unlocking ESL Success: the top 5 questions every general ed teacher asksEpisode 99 - Why Less is More when Teaching EL Newcomers and BeginnersConnect with Zach: 
I have compiled every masterclass I have ever recorded on how to teach and reach English learners in a regular education classroom - I’m talking strategies, how-tos and done for you resources!) and have created a digital masterclass library called Light the Way to EL Teaching Success where you can get instant access to 10 practical and actionable videos, 8 done-for you lessons and 1 professional development certificate for 3 hours of your time. 
Support the show

We talk a lot about instruction of English learners, how we can accommodate our lessons, how we can scaffold, and what to teach them in general. But today, I wanted to bring to light another aspect of working with English learners that is just as important for all teachers to know as the instructional strategies. It is the social emotional aspect that is involved in moving to another country, learning a new language, making a new life, or for those students who have lived here all their life, it's the feeling like you are a part of two worlds that you're trying to navigate and to bridge. These non instructional challenges that our ELs come with into the classroom do affect their engagement and performance. So in this episode, I will share 6 challenges and how they can be addressed. Of course, there are many more, and each student's situation might have even more nuances, but let's begin with six.

What you will hear about in this episode:
Importance of addressing social emotional aspects of learning for English learnersImpact of non-instructional challenges on ELs' engagement and performanceLink between social emotional challenges and language learning progressChallenges faced by ELs in the social emotional domain

Show Notes:
Episode 106 - 6 Most Common SEL Challenges ELs Face in the Classroom

Simply Ieva Offers:


🥳 On-Demand Digital Library “Light The Way to EL Teaching Success” 🥳
Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Free Audio Training - 3 Mindset Shifts for Instilling and Living Out a Belief that All Teachers are Teachers of Language.Book a $0 Consult Call - Lead ELs to Progress without OverwhelmAccommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin 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. My TpT store

Related/Previous Episodes:
Episode 81 - Unlocking ESL Success: the top 5 questions every general ed teacher asksEpisode 99 - Why Less is More when Teaching EL Newcomers and Beginners

Let’s Connect!
I have compiled every masterclass I have ever recorded on how to teach and reach English learners in a regular education classroom - I’m talking strategies, how-tos and done for you resources!) and have created a digital masterclass library called Light the Way to EL Teaching Success where you can get instant access to 10 practical and actionable videos, 8 done-for you lessons and 1 professional development certificate for 3 hours of your time. 
Support the show