John Carlson

I help teachers of English learners with the materials and strategies they need to engage their ELLs, save time, and close the gap.

4th Grade ESL Teaching Curriculum Guide and Resources

ESL Teaching Strategies / By
ESL Teaching Curriculum Guide - 4th Grade

In this article:Overview4th Grade StandardsDifferentiatingActivities & StrategiesMaterials & Resources Share0 Tweet0 Share0 Pin0 4th Grade FoundationsIn this article, I have pulled together and summarized grade 4 standards as well as best practices for helping English learners at different levels meet those standards. Before we get to the specific standards for grade 4 students, it is helpful …

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3rd Grade ESL Teaching Curriculum Guide and Resources

ESL Teaching Strategies / By
ESL Teaching Curriculum Guide - 2nd Grade

In this article:Overview3rd Grade StandardsDifferentiatingActivities & StrategiesMaterials & Resources Share0 Tweet0 Share0 Pin0 3rd Grade FoundationsBefore we get to the specific standards for grade 3 students, it is helpful to recognize that grade 3 standards require certain basic skills that not all English learners necessarily possess. Here are a few foundations that students will need to …

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Teaching Grade Level Content to ESL Students Overview

ESL Teaching Strategies / By
ESL Teaching Curriculum Grade Level Guide Overview

Jump to:Grade Level GuidesLesson PlanningMore Teaching Resources Share0 Tweet0 Share0 Pin0 In this post, you will learn specific lesson-planning strategies to help your students access rigorous, grade-level content, regardless of what their current English level is. This guide includes:Concrete Lesson Planning TipsGuides to Specific Grade Level Standards Adapted for ELLsEngaging and Effective Activities and StrategiesWhether you …

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2nd Grade ESL Teaching – Helpful Guide and Resources

ESL Teaching Strategies / By

Jump to:Overview2nd Grade StandardsDifferentiatingActivities & StrategiesMaterials & Resources Share0 Tweet0 Share0 Pin0 2nd Grade FoundationsBefore we get to the specific standards for grade 2 students, it is helpful to recognize that grade 2 standards require certain basic skills that not all English learners necessarily possess.Here are a few foundations that students will need to work …

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ESL Writing Activity – Roving Paragraphs

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By
ELL Writing Activity - Roving Paragraphs

Duration: 15-20 MinutesType: GroupThis wonderful activity comes from Carol Salva and gets students speaking, listening, reading and writing. You can read more about it in Carol’s book Boosting Achievement in part 4 which covers lots of really practical teaching strategies. You can also read about it in this article from Kirsten Foti. What you will need:Sentence …

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Katie Toppel – MLL Teaching Hero Spotlight

ESL Teaching Strategies / By
ESL Teaching Heroes MLL Katie Toppel

Follow Katie ToppelBlog: Sneaker TeacherBlog: ELL Book ClubTwitter: @Toppel_ELDActivities Inspired by Katie ToppelThese are some activities that have either been inspired by Katie Toppel or specifically recommended by her. Katie Toppel Articles & ResourcesKatie Toppel is the go-to person for book recommendations as well as wonderful classroom teaching tips for younger learners. She is also proficient …

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Tonya Ward Singer – ELL Teacher Spotlight

ESL Teaching Strategies / By
Tonya Ward Singer ESL Teaching Hero

Jump to:Links to Follow TonyaESL Teaching ActivitiesArticles & ResourcesTonya’s StoryFollow Tonya Ward SingerBlog: Tonya Ward SingerTwitter: @TonyaWardSingerFacebook: Tonya Ward SingerTonya Ward Singer Articles & ResourcesTonya Ward Singer is passionate about helping teachers make a difference in students’ lives.Her book EL Excellence is a go-to manual for many teachers for practical tips and strategies to help …

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Andrea Honigsfeld – ESL Teacher Hero Spotlight

ESL Teaching Strategies / By
Andrea Honigsfeld ESL Teaching Hero

Jump to:Links to Follow AndreaESL Teaching ActivitiesArticles & ResourcesAndrea Honigsfeld’s StoryFollow Andrea HonigsfeldWebsite: Dr Andrea HonigsfeldTwitter: @andreahonigsfelFacebook: Collaboration and Co-TeachingActivities Inspired by Andrea HonigsfeldI will be adding a collaboration and co-teaching category to the Kid-Inspired website, so check back here at a later date to find Andrea Honigsfeld approved activities.Andrea Honigsfeld Articles & ResourcesAndrea Honigsfeld …

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A Surprisingly Effective Way to Solidify English Learners ESL Vocabulary

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By
A Surprisingly Effective Way to Solidify ESL Students Vocab

Duration: 5-10 minutes Type: Individuals/Partners The activity is called Text Data Sets. This awesome ESL vocabulary activity was inspired by Larry Ferlazzo. You can read more about using Text Data Sets in Larry’s book The ESL/ELL Teacher’s Survival Guide.  The activity requires very little preparation and can be used frequently with students of all ages. …

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Tan Huynh – ESL Teacher Hero Spotlight

ESL Teaching Strategies / By
Tan Huynh ESL Teaching Hero

Jump to:Links to Follow TanESL Teaching ActivitiesArticles & ResourcesTan Huynh’s StoryFollow Tan HuynhBlog: Empowering ELLsTwitter: @TanELLClassroomaFacebook: Empowering ELLsActivities Inspired by Tan HyunhBelow are strategies or activity ideas on Kid-Inspired Classroom that were either inspired by Tan Hyunh or that I know he supports. I will continue to add to this collection with time. You can …

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Valentina Gonzalez – ESL Teacher Hero Spotlight

ESL Teaching Strategies / By
Valentina Gonzalez ESL Teaching Hero (600x600)

Jump to:Links to Follow ValentinaESL Teaching ActivitiesArticles & ResourcesValentina Gonzalez’s StoryFollow Valentina GonzalezBlog: English LearnersTwitter: @ValentinaESLFacebook (Private Group): Advocating for ELLsNewly ReleasedValentina has just released her new book called Reading & Writing with English Learners: A Framework for K-5! In the book, she discusses reading and writing workshops, phonics, accommodations for your ELLs and more. You …

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Carol Salva – ELL Teacher Hero Spotlight

ESL Teaching Strategies / By
ESL Teaching Heroes MLL Carol Salva

Follow Carol SalvaBlog: Newcomers at Grade Level and BeyondTwitter: @MsSalvacFacebook: SalvaBlogActivities Inspired by Carol SalvaBelow are strategies or activity ideas on Kid-Inspired Classroom that were either inspired by Carol Salva or that I know she supports. I will continue to add to this collection with time. You can find lots more from Carol by scrolling …

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Larry Ferlazzo – ESL Teacher Hero Sp0tlight

ESL Teaching Strategies / By
Larry Ferlazzo ESL Teaching Hero

Jump to:Links to Follow LarryESL Teaching ActivitiesArticles & ResourcesLarry Ferlazzo’s StoryFollow Larry FerlazzoBlog: Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the DayTwitter: @LarryferlazzoFacebook: Larry Ferlazzo – EducatorActivities Inspired by Larry FerlazzoBelow are strategies or activity ideas on Kid-Inspired Classroom that were either inspired by Larry Ferlazzo or that appear in his blog or books. I will continue to …

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QSSSA – Better Conversation Practice for Your ELLs

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By
QSSSA ESL Teaching Conversation Activity

Duration: 5-10 minutes Type: Partners What you will need for QSSSA Overview of QSSSA This is a Carol Salva, Valentina Gonzalez, and Katie Toppel favorite. The QSSSA stands for: How to organize QSSSA Question: This activity works with any topic. You just need a topic-related, open-ended question for students to discuss. Examples: What are two …

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Exciting Writing Activity for MLLs – Curation

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By

Duration: 10-20 Minutes Type: Small Groups, Partners, or Even Individuals What you will need: Overview: Students curate articles, images, videos, or any other content along a particular theme or category, organize them and then write about them. How to Organize: Benefits: You can read more about this engaging activity from Jennifer Gonzalez on the Cult …

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ELL Writing Activity for Excellent Results – P.S.W.C.

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By
Fun and Effective ESL Writing Activity Practice Say Write Change

PSWC – Practice, Say, Write, Change What you will need for this activity: TL/DR Overview of This Activity: This activity is called Practice, Say, Write, Change or PSWC for short. Each student receives a set of example sentences or an example paragraph that they practice together with the teacher or in small groups. Once a …

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ESL Writing Activity – Substitution

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By
Fun and Effective ESL Writing Activity Substitution (600x600)

Duration: 10-20 MinutesType: IndividualWhat you will need:Paper & Pencils (I suppose you know that ?)Whiteboard/Overhead/ProjectorAn Example TextOverview:With the students help, the teacher writes down lists of words that students can substitute into an example text to make it their own. How to Organize:Provide students with an example text you want them to reference. The text could …

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Bananagrams – Wonderful Spelling & Phonics for ELLs

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By
Fun and Effective ESL Vocabulary Activity Bananagrams

Duration: 5-15 minutes Type: Partners What You Will Need for Bananagrams Overview of Bananagrams In groups of 2, students choose a word from the list of vocabulary words. They race to spell that word using Bananagram Tiles or the letter tiles print-off you can find below. Whoever finishes spelling the word correctly first wins a …

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6 Teaching Strategies for Making Your ELL Activities Engaging & Effective

ESL Teaching Strategies / By

Not all ESOL games and activities are created equal, and how you set them up is just as important as which activity you choose.Not all ESL games and activities are created equal, and how you set them up is just as important as which activity you choose.If you want to see how effective your favorite …

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Exciting ESL Vocab Activity That Engages All Your ELLs – Charades Race

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By
Charades Race ESL Vocabulary Activity

Duration: 10 minutes Type: Small Groups Once students have become familiar with a set of target words, you can play this fun variation on charades. What You Will Need for Charades Race Flash Cards – 1 Set for Each Team Chairs Open Space to Move Around Overview of Charades Race In this fast-paced, ESL vocabulary …

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Two Truths and a Lie – ESL Speaking Activity

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By
Fun and Effective ESL Conversation Activity Two Truths and a Lie (600x600)

Duration: 10 minutesType: Small GroupsPractice asking and answering a set of conversation questions with the students.After they have the idea, all students write answers to 2 conversation questions truthfully and lie in answer to 1 conversation question.In small groups of 3-4, students take turns asking 1 particular student the conversation questions. The student answering questions …

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3-2-1 ESL Conversation Activity

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By
Fun and Effective ESL Conversation Activity 3-2-1 Activity (600x600)

Duration: 10 minutesType: Rotating PartnersThis is an activity Larry Ferlazzo recommends. You can read more about how he suggests using this activity in his book The ESL/ELL Teacher’s Survival Guide.After practicing any particular conversation topic with your students, you can use this fun activity to help make the students more fluent with the conversation.Put students in two …

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Popcorn Reading with ELLs? These Alternatives Are Far Better!

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By

Duration: 5-10 minutes Type: Group/Partner Popcorn reading is a popular activity, but it is also a huge waste of time that can actually cause problems. Most students are just waiting around and those who struggle with reading are put under a great deal of unneeded pressure. In this article, you’ll find some wonderful alternatives that …

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Do Not Laugh – ESL Speaking Activity

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By
Fun and Effective ESL Speaking Activity Don't Laugh (600x600)

Duration: 5 minutesType: PartnersAfter practicing the sentences of any grammar pattern as in the Kid-Inspired speaking grammar pages, put students with partners. (See this article for how to start with the Kid-Inspired speaking grammar pages.)You can also brainstorm a list together with the students on the board of funny nouns, verbs and adjectives for students to …

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Speed Challenge – ESL Speaking Activity

ESL Teaching Activity Ideas / By
Fun and Effective ESL Speaking Activity Speed Challenge (600x600)

Duration: 10 minutesType: PartnersAfter practicing any set of sentences–they could be vocabulary sentences, concept summary sentences, grammar pattern sentences–put students in partners. (See this article for how to start with the speaking grammar pages.) The goal of this game is to see which pair of students can make the most sentences in 1 minute (or 30 seconds). …

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