The ESL Teaching Podcast Ieva Grauslys, ESL/ELL teaching

December is right around the corner, and we all know that everything seems to gain speed once Thanksgiving is over. With a few weeks left before the holiday break in December, we also want to make sure our lessons are meaningful and not just busy work. Have you ever wondered what December holidays are celebrated around the world? This question has come up for me personally and has been popping up in the schools I work in as well. So I took it upon myself to do a little research and to create an EL lesson for both my students and colleagues. 
In this episode, which was first aired last year, I'm sharing how it all started and how it led me to answer the age old question..Are there any other holidays celebrated in December? And if so, what are they? Not all of our students celebrate Christmas. Although in my practice, they're very curious to learn about it and have had at least some exposure to it. I will share a brief overview of the December holidays, and we'll leave you with a fun lesson you can teach during those last days before the holiday break.

What you will hear about in this episode:
Overview of December HolidaysIdeas for Teaching December HolidaysSharing information with colleagues and follow-upIncorporating food as a topic for language practiceReady-made lesson plans

Show Notes:
Episode 92 -  Embracing Diverse December Celebrations in ESL Classrooms

Resources Mentioned:
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 Store1:1 ESL Teacher Coaching Session Essential Lesson Plan BundleEL Curriculum Guide Grades K-5EL Curriculum Guide Grades 6-12


Related/Previous Episodes:
Episode 45 - Q and A with Susan PattersonEpisode 8 - 3 Step Roadmap


Connect with Ieva:
Instagram - @simplyievaeslWebsite - www.simplyieva.comJoin the  - Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

The ESL Teaching Roadmap is your one-stop shop not only for ESL curriculum materials, but most importantly, for personalized teacher support that you will not get anywhere else. If you are ready to say “yes” to more aligned EL teaching, go to www.simplyieva.com/roadmap and join us!

Support the show

As I was planning this episode out, I looked at all the things we talk about on this podcast. That is a lot! From EL newcomer teaching and all that is related to that, how to teach grammar and vocabulary, where to find materials, different teaching strategies and tips, teacher collaboration, ELs in regular education classrooms, and so many more topics. And since this podcast is for all of you involved in teaching multilingual learners, I wanted to make sure your voices are heard. On a daily basis, I received several emails that share your current biggest struggles as a teacher who works with EL students. After going through the questions, I began to see a pattern. Many of them fall under similar umbrellas. So let's do a little Q and A, shall we? I picked the most frequently repeated questions during the last few months, and I'm answering them in this episode.

What you will hear about in this episode:
Common struggles faced by teachers regarding curriculum planningDetails on the content covered in my curriculum guide (essential questions, objectives, vocabulary, grammar structures, etc.)Challenges faced by teachers in supporting middle school EL students and structuring class timeImportance of structuring lessons in a predictable way for all students

Show Notes:
Episode 91 - EL Curriculum Magic and Mastering Classroom Dynamics (Q and A)

Resources Mentioned:
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 Store1:1 ESL Teacher Coaching Session Essential Lesson Plan BundleEL Curriculum Guide Grades K-5EL Curriculum Guide Grades 6-12

Related/Previous Episodes:
Episode 29 - How can having a newcomer curriculum guide save you timeEpisode 8 - 3 step roadmapEpisode 17 - A peek into my middle school ELL classroomEpisode 85 - A peek into my high school ELL classroom

Connect with Ieva:
Instagram - @simplThe ESL Teaching Roadmap is your one-stop shop not only for ESL curriculum materials, but most importantly, for personalized teacher support that you will not get anywhere else. If you are ready to say “yes” to more aligned EL teaching, go to www.simplyieva.com/roadmap and join us!

Support the show

A couple of years ago, I had a conversation with a student who had just arrived from Turkey that inspired a monthly newsletter to our staff about celebrations around the world for that month. In November, as we were going over the days that we will be in school and why we have a break at the end of the month, we talked about the celebration of Thanksgiving and what typically happens during that time. 
Many of our ELs, unless they are in elementary schools, don't have a clear concept of the origins of certain purely American holidays. And the topic of Thanksgiving lends itself wonderfully to teaching history and language at the same time. So in this episode, I will share with you the answer to my student's question, and a lesson on Thanksgiving, the background, the aspects I chose to cover, and the very sequence.

What you will hear about in this episode:
Teaching Thanksgiving to newcomersThe Story of ThanksgivingVocabulary practice and adaptations for different proficiency levelsThe importance of teaching history objectively and respectfully


Show Notes:
Episode 90 - Teaching Thanksgiving with Accuracy and Empathy


Resources Mentioned:
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 Store1:1 ESL Teacher Coaching Session Essential Lesson Plan BundleThe Story of Thanksgiving Lesson


Related/Previous Episodes:
Episode 9 - Text Engineering For EL Students with Susan PattersonEpisode 41 - Language, Inclusion and Moving Beyond for ELs with Carly Spina

Connect with Ieva:
Instagram - @simplyievaeslWebsite - www.simplyieva.comJoin the  - Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

The ESL Teaching Roadmap is your one-stop shop not only for ESL curriculum materials, but most importantly, for personalized teacher support that you will not get anywhere else. If you are ready to say “yes” to more aligned EL teaching, go to www.simplyieva.com/roadmap and join us!

Support the show

Welcome to episode 89 of The ESL Teaching Podcast! In this episode, we dive into the three Cs of EL family engagement: connection, community, and continued support. I want to share my personal experience of creating a space for parents of EL students to come together and have coffee and conversation. Through this informal setting, my partner and I discovered valuable lessons about building an inclusive community in schools and districts.

What you will hear about in this episode:
The importance of family engagement in schoolsChallenges in engaging multilingual familiesMy personal experience and empathyThe Coffee and Conversation InitiativeThe 3 Cs of EL family engagementThe impact of the coffee and conversation initiative

Show Notes:
Episode 89 - The Three Cs of EL Family Engagement

Resources Mentioned:
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 Store1:1 ESL Teacher Coaching Session Essential Lesson Plan Bundle

Related/Previous Episodes:
Episode 7 - How to Make an Impact as an ESL TeacherEpisode 56 - Inclusion and Advocacy for ELs and Teachers with Valetina GonzalezEpisode 8 - EL Curriculum in Three Easy Steps

Connect with Ieva:
Instagram - @simplyievaeslWebsite - www.simplyieva.comJoin the  - Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

The ESL Teaching Roadmap is your one-stop shop not only for ESL curriculum materials, but most importantly, for personalized teacher support that you will not get anywhere else. If you are ready to say “yes” to more aligned EL teaching, go to www.simplyieva.com/roadmap and join us!

Support the show

Reading is always a hot topic, and teaching reading to English learners presents its own set of challenges. It has to do with grade level, with English proficiency, and other factors. So today, I wanted to share with you how I have been implementing novel study this school year with my middle schoolers in particular, and that has allowed my students to be engaged in and motivated to read.

What you will hear about in this episode:
Implementing a novel study in the classroomChallenges of teaching reading to English learnersSelecting appropriate books based on student proficiency levelsBalancing educational and enjoyable aspects of readingEnriching students' vocabulary through contextual usage in the book

Show Notes:
Episode 88 - How to Use Novel Study to Enrich Vocabulary and Speaking

Resources Mentioned:
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 Store1:1 ESL Teacher Coaching Session Essential Lesson Plan Bundle

Related/Previous Episodes:
Episode 22 Teaching reading with Kristen VibasEpisode 17 - a peek into my middle school classroomEpisode 85 - a peek into my high school classroom

Connect with Ieva:
Instagram - @simplyievaeslWebsite - www.simplyieva.comJoin the  - Simply Ieva Facebook Group The ESL Teaching Roadmap is your one-stop shop not only for ESL curriculum materials, but most importantly, for personalized teacher support that you will not get anywhere else. If you are ready to say “yes” to more aligned EL teaching, go to www.simplyieva.com/roadmap and join us!

Support the show

What does it take to acquire another language? In my previous episode, I used a phrase that I have heard many times, “Oh, but there's another language spoken in the home.” The statement can mean so many things and nothing at all. I want to break down what it takes to acquire another language in today's episode. 
If we are to embrace the notion that teaching multilingual learners is not just a job and care of the English Language Development (ELD) specialist, but that all of us play a part in the EL students' learning, then I want to offer some education around what it means to acquire another language.

What you will hear about in this episode:
My background with language, when I learned English, and other languages I understand and speakLearning two or more languages at the same time will not cause confusionThere are two ways to acquire a second language simultaneously when a person is exposed to two or more languages since birth, and sequentially when a person starts learning a new language after they have established some competence in their native tongueLanguage competence is different for each bilingual person

Show Notes:
Episode 87 - What Does it Take to Acquire a Language and Why All Teachers Should Know This

Resources Mentioned:
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 Store1:1 ESL Teacher Coaching Session Essential Lesson Plan Bundle

Related/Previous Episodes:
Episode 80 - Empowering English learners - an Asset Based ApproachEpisode 86 - 3 Essential Truths to Reaching ELs in Your Classroom

Connect with Ieva:
Instagram - @simplyievaeslWebsite - www.simplyieva.comJoin the  - Simply Ieva Facebook Group 

The ESL Teaching Roadmap is your one-stop shop not only for ESL curriculum materials, but most importantly, for personalized teacher support that you will not get anywhere else. If you are ready to say “yes” to more aligned EL teaching, go to www.simplyieva.com/roadmap and join us!

Support the show