Equipping ELLs (Beth Vaucher, ELL, ESL Teachers)
Explore every episode of Equipping ELLs
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| 28 Apr 2023 | 72. Breaking It Down: The Speaking Domain | 00:34:38 | |
Over the course of 4 weeks, we are breaking down the 4 language domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. In today's episode, we'll discuss the 4 stages of development in the speaking domain. You'll learn practical strategies to get your students speaking. We'll share tips for your lesson planning so that you purposefully carve out time for speaking. And you'll leave with a list of student listening expectations for each language stage. Remember: If you like the show, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! If Beth reads your review on-air, you'll win a free month subscription to Equipping ELLs resources! Related Resources: --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 26 May 2023 | 76. Effective Strategies for Promoting Writing Success with ELLs with Guest, Sara Marye | 00:38:13 | |
Writing is one of the biggest challenges for ELLs and teachers of ELLs. Too often, writing is viewed as a product, when it should be viewed as a process. A foundational step in the process is understanding and mastering syntax, or sentence structure. We welcome back to the show Sara Marye, from The Stellar Teacher Co. as we delve into the fundamental role of sentence writing in shaping students' future writing abilities. Sara shares 5 practical strategies for integrating sentence-level writing into instruction. This episode is packed with useful writing activities, and may leave you inspired to bring your writing instruction back to the basics: with a sentence. Related Resources:
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 18 Aug 2023 | 88. Empowering Newcomers: Essential Lessons for the First 3 Weeks | 00:23:41 | |
Are you ready to make the most of the first 3 weeks with your ELL newcomers? Discover the ultimate guide in this episode as host Beth Vaucher equips you with actionable insights to ensure a successful start to the school year. While emphasizing essential foundational basics, we go beyond to provide a comprehensive breakdown of what to do with your newcomers during the first 3 weeks of school. With each week outlined for you and then ready-to-go resources offered to you, this episode is your key to a seamless start. Don't miss it! Resources:
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| 10 Mar 2023 | 65. Comparing Program Models for Teaching ELLs: Which is Most Effective? | 00:24:39 | |
You've learned the pros and cons of a variety of program models, but which is the most effective for reaching your ELLs? While one school may have students in a full immersion program, other schools are using the pull-out approach. It is important to know the different methods available when teaching ELLs, and you may have more power than you realize when it comes to choosing an instructional model for your English language learners. In this episode, I will break down 5 common instructional program models. After highlighting the pros and cons of each, I'll give my insights as to which model I believe to be most effective for helping our ELLs succeed. And, as always, you'll leave today's episode with practical tips for your teacher toolbox! Related Resources: --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 26 Jan 2024 | 111. The Evolution of Bilingual Education & Insights for Teachers of ELLs Today | 00:23:57 | |
Teacher, do you know the fascinating history of bilingual education in the U.S.? In this insightful episode, we are delving into the rich history of bilingual education, dating back to 1839. We explore pivotal moments, from early state laws permitting bilingual instruction to the significant shifts post-World War I and the landmarks in educational legislation. Unveiling key insights, Beth navigates the complexities of bilingual education's evolution, shedding light on its political, cultural, and educational impacts. From the challenges of transitional bilingual programs to the pursuit of nurturing bilingualism, educators will gain practical strategies and encouragement to support ELLs effectively. Tune in to gain invaluable insights into the past, present, and future of bilingual education, and leave empowered to advocate for your students and embrace the journey of linguistic and cultural diversity in the classroom! Resources:
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| 28 Jul 2023 | 85. Creating a Language-Rich and Visually Engaging Classroom: 8 Essential Setup Strategies for Teachers of ELLs | 00:25:20 | |
What does a language-rich, visually engaging ESL classroom look like?Today, we’re diving into practical ways to set up your classroom for the school year, ensuring it’s a space where ELLs can thrive and succeed. As teachers of ELLs, creating a language-rich and visually engaging classroom is crucial, as it enhances students’ language skills, fosters inclusivity, and empowers them to participate confidently! By incorporating these strategies, you create a welcoming and supportive learning environment for all students. Resources:
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| 22 Sep 2023 | 93. Effective Strategies for Preventing Burnout While Managing a Huge ESL Student Caseload | 00:26:16 | |
Are you an ESL teacher experiencing burnout as a result of an enormous case load? Whether you have a case load of 30 or 150 students, this episode is your lifeline. Discover the power of setting clear expectations, fostering collaboration with fellow educators, and implementing a delayed service schedule to ensure your students' success without succumbing to burnout. Join us as we delve into practical, time-tested methods tailored to ESL teachers, ensuring you maintain your passion and drive while supporting your English Language Learners. Don't miss it! Resources:
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| 19 May 2023 | 75. Text Engineering & Other Instructional Reading Strategies for Supporting Your English Language Learners with Guest, Susan Patterson | 00:30:02 | |
We all know that teachers are constantly seeking new ways to enhance their students' reading skills. That's why in today's episode, we have special guest, Susan Patterson (My MLL Mentor) who shares her expertise on reading support for ELLs. With proven reading strategies to add to your teacher toolkit, this conversation will equip you with valuable insights and practical tips to boost your students' reading proficiency! Related Resources:
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 23 Sep 2022 | 41. Rethinking the Way We Teach Sight Words with Leslie Tomanovich | 00:35:35 | |
Reading can be a challenge for many students and it can be especially difficult for our ELL students. That’s why it is so important to systematically work on sight words with our students. Leslie Tomanovich is joining us today to share her experience and wisdom on teaching sight words to our ELL students. When it comes to reading, we want to find ways to reduce the cognitive load and frustration for our students. Sight words play a huge role in that. In today’s episode, Leslie and I are discussing the importance of sight words for our ELL students, the difference between sight words and high frequency words, effective techniques for teaching sight words, what orthographic mapping is and why it’s great for reading instruction, and Leslie’s routine for teaching sight words in her lessons. Leslie is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to teaching sight words and phonics to ELLs and she is sharing so much information with us today! Don’t forget to check out the sight word resource we’ve put together if you’re interested in seeing more of her routine and how to make sight word practice work for your students this year! Leslie Tomanovich has been teaching ELLs for over 10 years. She lives and works in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. She works with grades K-4, but specializes in the primary grades. Leslie has developed multi-modal sight word instructional routines and materials that are used by many teachers in her school district. She lives and works in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/sight-words --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 26 Jul 2024 | 137. Back to School Ready: The Power of Teacher Connections in ELL Education | 00:20:18 | |
Teachers who connect and collaborate with colleagues do better. In the final episode of our "Back to School Ready" series on Equipping ELLs, host Beth Vaucher explores the vital importance of building connections with fellow teachers to enhance your teaching experience and support your professional growth. Whether you're a new teacher or have years of experience, establishing strong relationships with your colleagues can significantly impact your effectiveness and job satisfaction. Beth shares practical strategies for fostering these connections, including joining teacher study groups, participating in professional learning communities, engaging in mentorship programs, and leveraging online communities and resources. Tune in to discover how these collaborative efforts can create a supportive network, improve your teaching practices, and ultimately enriching the educational experience for your English language learners. Resources:
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| 20 May 2022 | 23. 6 Must Read PD Books to Teach ELLs | 00:23:29 | |
What are your favorite things to do during the summer? I try not to do a lot during the summer, but I do love finding good books to read by the pool. While not all the books I read are related to teaching, I enjoy reading a couple of PD books each summer that spark ideas, give me inspiration, and renew my love for teaching. In today’s episode, I’m sharing my top 6 books that I believe will help you build a foundation in supporting your English Language Learners or will challenge traditional views of teaching. These books have been so valuable to me and have really helped me support my students and grow professionally. I’m always searching for more books to read, so if you have a book that I didn’t share today, I would love to hear about it. Put it in the comments or send me a message on Instagram to share your suggestions. If you’re looking for more professional development support this summer, make sure to check out my course, ELL Strategy Academy. We go through 5 different modules, and you get access to all of them at once so you can go through them at your own pace. I’d love to see you there! Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/pd-books-to-teach-ells/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 09 Aug 2024 | 139. Collaboration in ELL Classrooms: Expert Tips from Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld | 00:35:29 | |
Struggling to foster effective collaboration in your ELL classroom? In this episode of Equipping ELLs, host Beth Vaucher sits down with renowned expert Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld to explore the transformative power of collaboration among teachers. Discover practical strategies for co-teaching, building professional learning communities, and differentiating instruction to meet the diverse needs of your English language learners. Tune in for actionable tips and inspiring insights that will help you create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for your ELL students. Resources:
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| 12 Jul 2024 | 135. Back to School Ready: How to Set and Achieve Your One Teaching Goal | 00:15:51 | |
Teachers of ELLs, let's set and achieve one goal in this upcoming school year! Welcome back to the Equipping ELLs podcast! In this episode, we dive into practical strategies for educators to kickstart the school year with confidence. Discover how to transform your aspirations into actionable steps using the S.M.A.R.T. criteria and learn from expert insights on creating a plan that works. Whether you're aiming to boost engagement for English language learners or streamline lesson planning, we've got you covered with tips, real-life examples, and inspiring advice to help you stay focused and motivated all year long. Tune in and get ready to make this school year your best one yet! Resources: | |||
| 24 Jun 2022 | 28. Save Planning Time by Creating Teaching Templates | 00:13:52 | |
How great would it be if you could “plug and play” your lessons and resources next school year? Well, you can and I’m here to show you how creating templates can save you precious time! Planning lessons, creating activities, tracking data, meetings, duties - the list of tasks for teachers goes on and on! Good news! I’m sharing a way to save time and energy in your prep and planning. Today, I am talking about 4 templates you can create this summer to streamline your lesson planning, make creating activities quicker and less stressful, and help you better support your students from multiple grade levels. Want these templates already started for you to make your summer prep even easier? Sign up for the FREE ESL Teacher Toolkit. We are continuing our summer giveaway inside of the Facebook Group so be sure to join and complete this week's task of setting up your templates! Also, I am so excited to share that I have an upcoming webinar all about how to cut your lesson planning time in half when you’re teaching ELLs and I can’t wait to share more tips like this with you there! Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/save-planning-time/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 12 Aug 2022 | 35. 3 Easy To Do Activities for the First Days of School | 00:22:45 | |
The first day of school is filled with so much excitement but can be full of stress and anxiety for our students. We all try to start the year off right by building relationships and community and often do this by using get-to-know-you activities or icebreakers. Unfortunately, these can cause unnecessary stress and create fear in students, especially ELLs. Today, we are looking at what we can do on those first days of school to build a safe and welcoming environment for all students. In this episode, we are looking at how to prevent creating an unsafe or unwelcoming experience for our students at the beginning of the school year. We are talking about how ELL students may feel when put on the spot, three questions to ask yourself as you prep activities for the first days of school, and three activities you can use to ensure your ELLs feel safe, welcome, and comfortable in your classroom. We want to make sure our students can be involved, having fun, and making connections without the added fear and anxiety that some ice breakers can cause. Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit (includes a year long editable scope and sequence) Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/activities-first-days-of-school --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 08 Jul 2022 | 30. Setting Up for Intermediate ELLs | 00:23:41 | |
Summer is flying by and we are finishing up our summer series, Successfully Setting Up for the School Year this Summer, by looking at how to prepare for our intermediate students. We want to be prepared so our classroom environment is one of trust, safety, support, and high standards. Today, we are looking at how to set up routines that help our intermediate students feel comfortable and confident in our classroom. In this episode, I am breaking down what to have set up to best support your intermediate ELL students so you aren’t burning out and working on lessons all the time. I am covering 5 different routines you can set up to support your ELL students, why these routines are beneficial, and tips on how to implement these routines. This week’s challenge is the last of the summer challenge inside the Facebook group. It’s not too late to complete the challenges and get entered to win the grand prize - a year long membership to Equipping ELLs! The Equipping ELLs membership gives you access to monthly lesson plans, materials, and activities for ELL students so you can just print and go! Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/intermediate-ells --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 15 Mar 2024 | 118. Scaffolding Success: 5 Strategies for Newcomers in Your ELL Classroom | 00:27:59 | |
Let's talk about practical scaffolds for newcomers! In Episode 118 of the Equipping ELLs Podcast, dive into a replay of a foundational episode where host Beth Vaucher delves into essential strategies tailored for supporting newcomers. Explore practical insights into creating inclusive spaces and discover why collaboration between educators is key for ELL student success. Join us as we unveil five practical scaffolding techniques designed to engage and empower newcomers in your classroom. Whether you're a homeroom teacher or an ESL instructor, this episode equips you with actionable advice to effectively scaffold lessons, fostering an environment where every ELL student can thrive. Resources:
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| 24 May 2024 | 128. Ready, Set, Refresh: 5 Summer Goals for ELL Teachers | 00:20:31 | |
Gear up for a productive summer in this episode of Equipping ELLs! If you're an ELL educator looking to make the most of your summer break, tune in to hear invaluable insights, incredible resources, and practical tips! Beth shares five essential objectives aimed at boosting classroom effectiveness. Whether it's diving into professional development books, organizing teaching materials, or finding balance through self-care routines, this episode offers support to empower ELL teachers for the upcoming school year. Tune in and get ready to refresh your teaching approach this summer! Resources:
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| 29 Jul 2022 | 33. What Supporting ELLs in K-8 Looks Like with Guest Jina Wood | 00:36:45 | |
Have you been curious what ESL teachers’ roles look like in other districts? We are joined by special guest Jina Wood who is sharing what her role as the K-8 ESL teacher looks like in her district in Iowa. Jina gives us a look at her challenges and shares her tips on how she ensures her students’ needs are being met. In this episode, Jina talks about how she groups and supports her ELL students, how she prepares for the school year during the summer, why it’s important to advocate for both your students and yourself, and how she uses her special education background to best support her ELLs. Jina Wood has been teaching ELL for 7 years. Her current role is as the K-8 ESL Coordinator and Teacher at Cherokee Elementary and Middle Schools in rural Northwest Iowa. As an Iowa educator Jina is certified in K-12 Special Education, K-12 English as a Second Language, K-12 Reading, and holding a Masters in Professional Education. She has worked in education for 18 years, starting as a para-educator and then working in 9-12 Special Education, K-12 ESL, and also is a part time professor for the Schools of Education and Special Education at a local university but she has found her passion to be her ESL work. Jina and her husband have a busy blended family with 6 kids between them; 3 are now working full time, 2 are in college, and their youngest will be a high school senior this coming school year. Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit (includes a year long editable scope and sequence) Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/supporting-ells-in-k-8 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 04 Mar 2022 | 12. Helping ALL Students See Themselves with Guest Jenny LaRocque | 00:23:52 | |
“Students who have pride in their racial background or ethnic background actually do better in school. They feel a sense of belonging. They’re more engaged. Their grades are better. So it’s really important that we instill that pride in those students and really celebrate that we all look different and that’s what makes us beautiful.” - Jenny LaRocque In today’s episode, I am joined by Jenny LaRocque, a kindergarten teacher who is passionate about including diverse books in her classroom and providing a multicultural curriculum in her classroom. Jenny started the social media movement #allarewelcomeinmyclassroom on June 20th, 2018. She has spoken across the country about implementing culturally responsive teaching and was honored to speak at ISTE and Get Your Teach On. You can follow her on Instagram @themulticulturalclassroom. Jenny and I discuss the beauty and power of using diverse books in the classroom. This interview is loaded with resources and ideas for you to use with your own students to ensure that you are bringing in diverse books and stories and providing more equity for all students. You can connect with Jenny on Instagram @themulticulturalclassroom. For full show notes and more resources, head to https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/jenny-larocque/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 13 Oct 2023 | 96. Differentiated Instruction for ELLs: Scaffolding Techniques for All Levels | 00:28:39 | |
Teacher, are you grappling with the daily challenge of meeting the individual needs of your diverse students? This episode is a practical guide to get you started with scaffolds! Host Beth Vaucher takes you through three super practical scaffolding techniques that work in any content area. Beth not only explains these strategies but also paints a vivid picture of what they look like in real classrooms, catering to students at every language level. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your ELL teaching journey, this episode equips you with the tools to create a more inclusive classroom and unleash the full potential of your students. Don't forget to grab our freebie, too, for even more guidance on implementing these game-changing scaffolds! Resources:
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| 11 Mar 2022 | 13. 4 Ways to Easily Cover All 4 Domains Through a Read Aloud | 00:22:22 | |
Using read alouds is one of the most effective ways you can reach all levels of your English Language Learners, no matter what age your students are. Read alouds provide opportunities for students to connect with relatable characters and feel welcome and safe in the classroom. With visuals already provided for you, read alouds cut down on your prep work while encouraging your students to make tons of connections so they can better comprehend the text. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the easiest way to cover all 4 language domains for all levels of ELLs with very little prep work. You can take one book and really pack so much into a 30-45 minute lesson that includes discussion, vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension, and so much more. Unlock Language Through Read Alouds: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ESL-Lessons-and-Activities-ESL-Sub-Plans-ESL-Reading-Comprehension-Writing-7680048 Grab my FREE WIDA Can-Do Descriptors: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/wida/ For full show notes and more resources, head to https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/cover-all-4-domains-through-a-read-aloud/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 08 Sep 2023 | 91. Mastering ESL Lesson Planning: A Step-by-Step Path for Success | 00:26:11 | |
ESL teacher, can we support you in your lesson planning? Join us as we guide you through a step-by-step success path to revolutionize your approach to lesson planning! Discover how to set clear goals, assess your students' progress effectively, and design engaging lessons that resonate with real-life contexts. We'll also explore the power of ongoing observation and proficiency level descriptors to fine-tune your teaching strategy. Whether you're a seasoned ESL teacher or just starting, this episode equips you with such valuable, practical insights to empower your multilingual learners and elevate your teaching game. No more stress, no more wasting time! Resources:
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| 09 Feb 2024 | 113. Inside the Bilingual Brain: Exploring the Cognitive Superpowers of Our ELLs | 00:17:44 | |
Let's uncover the marvels of the bilingual brain! In this episode we are unveiling the unique cognitive strengths and abilities that ELLs bring to the classroom. Discover the enhanced cognitive control and executive functioning embedded in bilingual brains. From code-switching mastery to analytical thinking, this episode celebrates the extraordinary superpowers that bilingual brains possess. As educators, let's champion and embrace these strengths, creating an inclusive environment where bilingualism is celebrated. Share this episode with your students, so they can take pride in their incredible bilingual brain and be encouraged as they navigate the language learning journey! Resources:
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| 22 Jul 2022 | 32. What Supporting ELLs in K-4 Looks Like with Guest Jen Ferreyra | 00:42:01 | |
How can you successfully support your K-4 ELLs in a very large district? Our special guest is sharing some insight! In this episode, Jen Ferreyra is giving us a glimpse into what her role as an ESL teacher looks like at her school. Today, Jen and I are talking about how she works with other teachers to provide the best support possible for her students. We are covering the challenges and benefits of teaching ELLs using a co-teaching model in the classroom, how she gets set up for the school year during the summer, and the importance of relationship building with teachers and families. Jennifer Ferreyra has been an educator for over 20 years. She has taught in multiple bilingual classroom models and has been an ESL teacher for eight years. Jennifer currently teaches ESL at the elementary level in the Framingham School District in Massachusetts. Jennifer has facilitated PD at not only the school, but the district level as well, focusing on how to best support ELs and the power of co-teaching. Jennifer has also presented at the MATSOL conference multiple times to fellow educators who also teach multilingual learners. Jennifer speaks Spanish fluently and is raising her two children to be biliterate with her husband. Jen shares why she loves the Equipping ELLs community and membership! Interested in being part of this amazing community PLUS have access to lessons, activities, and tons of resources? Join us! We’d love to have you! Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit (includes a year long editable scope and sequence) Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/supporting-ells-k-4 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 30 Aug 2024 | 142. Empowering General Ed Teachers: Practical Tips to Support ELLs with Risa Woods | 00:31:00 | |
How can homeroom teachers effectively support multilingual learners using best practices? In this enlightening episode of the Equipping ELLs podcast, we dive into essential tips for homeroom teachers to prepare their classrooms, specifically tailored for those teaching English Language Learners. We welcome to the show Risa Woods, who shares practical strategies that will help you create an inclusive and effective learning space for all students. Discover how to organize materials, incorporate visuals, and implement routines that support the unique needs of ELLs. This episode is packed with actionable advice to ensure you're ready to empower all students, fostering success from day one. Resources: | |||
| 02 Jan 2022 | 1. The 1 Reason Your ELLs Aren’t Making Growth and How to Change That Now | 00:16:30 | |
Do you ever wonder if you are doing what’s best for your ELL students? You’re not alone. Many teachers feel lost when it comes to the complexities of teaching ELLs. They doubt that what they’re doing is really working, so they constantly change materials and plans, leading to overwhelm and stress. What is the biggest factor that is preventing you from helping your ELLs have greater success? In today’s episode, I’m giving you 3 mindset shifts that will have a huge impact on the success of your ELL students. I believe these mindset shifts will have a greater impact than smaller class sizes, more support, or more training. They will give you a new level of confidence and empower you to equip your English language learners so they have what they need to thrive today, tomorrow, and for life. In honor of this brand new podcast, I’m celebrating with a giveaway of five $25 TPT gift cards! Plus one grand prize winner will receive my course, ELL Strategy Academy, a one year subscription to my membership, Equipping ELLs, and a $50 TPT gift card! Here’s how to enter the giveaway:
Check out the show notes for more resources: inspiringyounglearners.com/the-one-reason-your-ells-arent-making-growth/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 16 Jun 2023 | 79. The Language Lens for Content Classrooms with Author and Educator Sarah Ottow | 00:29:44 | |
Are you struggling to understand and connect with your ELLs in the content classroom? In this episode, Beth sits down with educator, entrepreneur and author Sarah Ottow. Sarah is the founder of Confianza, whose goal is to support cultural understanding, communication, and collaboration through professional learning programs that include tailored coaching, practical guidance, and world-class content. In today's episode, Sarah shares about her book The Language Lens for Content Classrooms: A Guide for K-12 Educators of English and Academic Language Learners. With years of experience serving ELLs from nearly every role, Sarah shares invaluable insights and strategies to help you step into your students' shoes and enhance their academic success. Tune in to gain new perspectives on language acquisition, cultural awareness, and equitable teaching practices. Understand the challenges your students face and discover proactive approaches to support their unique needs. * Leave a review of the episode on Apple Podcasts for your chance to win a free copy of Sarah's book! * Related Resources:
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 10 Jun 2022 | 26. Setting Up Quarterly Goals | 00:22:11 | |
We all want to rest and enjoy our well deserved and much needed summer break! But if we can spend a little time preparing for next school year, it will have a big impact on how the school year will go. We are continuing our Successfully Setting Up for the School Year This Summer series and this is an episode you don’t want to miss! Today, we are going to look at our scope and sequence and break it down into smaller target goals for each quarter. I give you tips on how to set these quarterly goals, maximize the days you have with your students, and determine the foundational skills you are going to work on with each group of students. Plus, I am giving you a FREE quarterly goal template to help you plan for your year! Do you want these quarterly goals, objectives, assessments, progress monitoring templates, and more already done for you? These resources will be ready for you by August 1st and you can have access to them inside my membership, Equipping ELLs. Not a member? You can join here and save yourself some stress and just enjoy showing up to teach! Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/setting-up-quarterly-goals/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 16 Dec 2022 | 53. The 1 Reason Your ELLs Aren't Making Growth and How to Change That Now [LISTENER FAVORITE] | 00:18:45 | |
Are you trying everything you can think of and your ELLs still aren’t making progress? When I talk to teachers whose students aren’t making growth, there is one common thread across the board. Doubt. The good news is that doubt is a reflection of our mindset so if we can fix our mindset, we can help out ELLs make more growth. If you’ve ever doubted that you are doing what’s best for your ELL students or if you flip flop your plans every week because you aren’t sure if what you’re doing is working, it might be beneficial to check where your mindset is at. In this episode, I am talking about 3 mindset shifts that are key to supporting your ELLs. We are looking at why self-efficacy is important, taking a look at how we approach our ELL students, and how to overcome overwhelm by keeping it simple. Related Resources:
For all links and resources, check out the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/ells-arent-making-growth/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 27 Oct 2023 | 98. Supporting Our English Language Learners through the Art of Linguistic Scaffolding with Dr. Lillian Ardell | 00:33:55 | |
Teacher, do you find it challenging to strike the right balance between offering support and nurturing students' independence in their language acquisition? In this enlightening episode, we welcome to the show, the brilliant Dr. Lillian Ardell of Language Matters. Host Beth Vaucher and Dr. Ardell delve into the art of linguistic scaffolding and oracy to help you transform your classroom. Discover how to harness the power of linguistic scaffolds to propel your ELL students forward, boost their confidence, and create a dynamic classroom environment where language learning becomes an exciting journey. Join us as we aim to equip you with valuable tools to unlock your ELL students' full potential! Resources:
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| 26 Aug 2022 | 37. Simple Classroom Management Tips for ELLs | 00:30:03 | |
We all know that classroom management is crucial for a smooth school year. But where do you even start with classroom management, especially when you aren’t a homeroom teacher? Today, we are diving into how to get started with easy-to-implement strategies to help you have great classroom management this year! Classroom management begins with building relationships and trust with your students. In this episode, we are talking about the importance of having clear expectations, how to get your students to really buy into the classroom rules, why you should explicitly teach expectations, and how to implement the behavior side of classroom management. We want our students to thrive and strong relationships, clear expectations, and involvement in classroom agreements are all great ways to help our students! FREE Visual Chart - Classroom Management Strategies Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/classroom-management-tips --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 02 Sep 2022 | 38. 5 Ways to Use Assessment to Drive Action | 00:28:19 | |
It seems like our ELL students are constantly taking assessments. They take them with us, for core classes, benchmarks, and the list goes on! But are these assessments helping to drive our instruction or are they just wasting time? Today, we are diving into how to better assess students authentically so that we can adjust our instruction to meet our students’ needs. We want our assessments to be more than just the mandatory state assessments. We want them to give us great insight so we can turn them into action. In this episode, we are looking at 5 different ways we can authentically assess our ELLs, why assessing in these ways is important, and ideas and tips on how to implement these assessments in your classroom. Grab your Generic Rubric FREEBIE here Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/assessment-to-drive-action --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 30 Dec 2022 | 55. 5 Easy Ways to Restart the Year Now | 00:22:24 | |
Coming back from winter break is the perfect time to restart and refresh things in order to make the most of the second half of the year. I know this year, and the past few years, have been incredibly stressful and exhausting and the thought of doing a refresh may be overwhelming. I totally get that! I want to help you finish the year strong so I am sharing five easy things for you to restart to make the most of the second half of the school year. At this point in the school year, you’re likely tired, burnt out, and just want to make it to the end of the school year. But I want you to think about how happy you’ll be in June if you try some of these things now and the rest of the school year goes smoother because of it. When you return from break, I challenge you to restart your mindset, classroom management, attitude, lesson planning routine, and confidence in order to make the most of the year from now until June. Related Resources:
For all links and resources, check out the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/ways-to-restart-the-year --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 30 Jun 2023 | 81. The Science of Reading in Action with Author and Educator Malia Hollowell | 00:34:37 | |
What is the most effective, science-proven method for teaching children to read? Join us as we welcome extraordinary author and educator, Malia Hollowell, who addresses the dire need for a new way of teaching reading. Learn from her book, The Science of Reading in Action: Brain-Friendly Strategies Every Teacher Needs to Know, and gain insights into making reading easier for both teachers and students. In this conversation, Malia shares how to harness the power of spoken language and seamlessly connect it with written letters. You’ll leave with practical activities and strategies to revolutionize your teaching and enhance your students' learning. Tune in now and leave a review on Apple Podcasts for a chance to win a free copy of Malia's book! Related Resources:
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| 03 Mar 2023 | 64. How Can Paraprofessionals Support ELLs? | 00:21:39 | |
Are you a paraprofessional, wondering how best to support your ELLs? Or are you a classroom teacher that knows you are underutilizing the paraprofessionals in your building? We are right in the middle of a series called Small Steps to Success for ELLs! Throughout this series, we are encouraging every person in our schools, from the front office to the cafeteria, to take vital steps to help support our English language learners. We know when each person does this, you will see positive change! Today we are talking about the role of paraprofessionals. We believe paraprofessionals are a vital piece of the school and a huge key to helping our ELLs find success. In this episode, I am sharing how I got my start in education as a paraprofessional and how my experience was invaluable to my continued career in educating ELLs. I'll share with you 5 ways paraprofessionals can support ELLs, hoping to give you concrete steps you can take this week with your students! Related Resources:
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 05 Jul 2024 | 134. Back to School Ready: Essential Reflection Tips for Teachers of ELLs | 00:19:34 | |
Teacher, let's reflect on this past school year with our ELLs. Join us for the first episode of the "Back to School Ready Series" on the Equipping ELLs podcast, hosted by Beth Vaucher. In this episode, we dive into the importance of self-reflection for ESL educators. Beth guides you through reflecting on the past school year, identifying both successes and challenges, and leveraging these insights to set effective goals for the upcoming year. Discover practical strategies for enhancing your teaching methods, reducing stress, and improving student outcomes. Don’t miss this essential guide to starting your school year with confidence and clarity. Tune in and get ready to make this year your best one yet! Resources: | |||
| 21 Oct 2022 | 45. How One Librarian Created a Culture of Reading in Her School | 00:32:12 | |
Are you looking to create a culture of reading at your school and with your ELLs? We all know that reading opens so many doors for our students but getting them to read can be a struggle. Today I am joined by high school librarian Terrie Sharp, who is sharing how she helped create a culture of learning in her school. There can be many obstacles in getting ELL students and emergent bilingual students to read but it is so important that we help them become readers. Terrie saw there was a need to make reading more accessible to the students in her high school in order to help them develop their reading skills. In this episode, Terrie is sharing her background and current role, what the Cowboys Read! program is and how it got started, how the program created a culture of reading in the school, and what’s next for the program. Terrie is celebrating almost 30 years as an educator at McCollum high school in San Antonio, Texas. She began her career as an English teacher and taught all levels, from IS to AP and everything in between. Her love of books and reading inspired her to make a change 15 years ago and became the librarian at McCollum. Inspired by students, Terrie has developed the Cowboys Read! program to promote reading without restrictions tied to checking books out of the library. Terrie enjoys how different every year can be at the best job in the world, a librarian. Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/culture-of-reading --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 01 Sep 2023 | 90. Essential ESL Teacher Resources: Our Top 5 Must-Haves | 00:23:52 | |
Discover essential tools for success with your ESLs in this episode of Equipping ELLs! With insights drawn from classroom experience, we delve into five indispensable resources that can transform your teaching approach. From honing phonemic awareness through Heggerty Phonics to engaging high-frequency words with Snap Words, and from harnessing the power of digital libraries and interactive platforms like Nearpod to enriching vocabulary acquisition, this episode equips you with practical strategies to equip your ELLs. Join us as we seek to create dynamic, effective, and engaging learning environments for all students! Resources:
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| 05 Apr 2024 | 121. Enhancing ESL Education: Insights from Consortium Consultants Serving Rural School District with Guests Jessie Bloyd and Natalie Briscoe | 00:33:17 | |
Instructional programs for ELLs looks different from district to district and state to state. In this episode of Equipping ELLs, we are delving into the pivotal role of consortium consultants in bolstering ESL education in under-resourced rural areas. Hosted by Beth Vaucher, this episode features education consultants Jessie Bloyd and Natalie Briscoe as they shed light on the consortium's mission and the significance of cadres. A consortium, as explained by our guests, represents a collaborative effort among educational professionals, pooling resources and expertise to address the unique challenges faced by ESL learners in rural settings. Cadres, specialized teams within the consortium, play a vital role in offering tailored support to these under-staffed areas. Through targeted curriculum development, teacher training, and community engagement initiatives, cadres ensure that ESL education is not just accessible but also effective in school districts of all shapes and sizes. Tune in to learn how these concerted efforts are reshaping ESL education outcomes in rural school districts! Resources: | |||
| 25 Aug 2023 | 89. Mastering ESL Curriculum: Strategies for Success and Pitfalls to Avoid | 00:23:47 | |
What curriculum should I be using with my ELLs? In this episode, Beth uncovers the reasons behind common curriculum pitfalls, from rigid one-size-fits-all approaches to the challenge of time constraints. She lays out a blueprint for an effective ESL curriculum with 8 key features to look for, including clear goals, comprehensive skill development, and adaptable flexibility. Last, she shares a practical four-step framework that guides you through assessing and adapting the curriculum you already have. Resources:
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| 17 Mar 2023 | 66. Practical Tips for Co-Teaching with Guest, Leslie Tomanovich | 00:37:58 | |
Are you currently co-teaching, preparing for co-teaching, or maybe just hoping some day your school will adopt this effective model for reaching ELLs? In this episode, Beth interviews guest, Leslie Tomanovich. Leslie is an ENL (English as a New Language) teacher in New York. After years of teaching with the pull-out method, the state of New York changed their ENL laws and required instruction for ENL students to be co-taught. Leslie shares about her experience transitioning to co-teaching. She also contrasts different program methods, and she shares great practical advice for any teacher of ELLs! Related Resources: --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 14 Jul 2023 | 83. Defining Your WHY: Empowering You to Embrace Your Purpose | 00:19:44 | |
Why do you do what you do? What is your goal as teacher? How does it drive the decisions that you make and how you prioritize your time?In this episode, host Beth Vaucher shares her story of how she started her career in education, the newcomer who forever left an impact, her failures and successes in the classroom, and her role as a second language learner living out of her native country. She shares what brought her to develop and grow Inspiring Young Learners. She shares with her listeners her WHY. Tune in as Beth invites you to define and embrace your own WHY. When you do, you'll see your impact grow further than you imagined possible. Resources: | |||
| 01 Jul 2022 | 29. Setting Up Materials for Newcomers | 00:18:09 | |
We are seeing more and more newcomers join our classrooms in the U.S. every year. It can be both exciting and challenging when these students first join our classrooms but today, I am walking you through tips on helping both you and them be successful those first few weeks of school! We are continuing our Successfully Setting Up for the School Year this Summer series with an episode dedicated to helping you help your newcomers. Being prepared to help your newcomers when they walk into your classroom is one of the most important things you can do to help them feel comfortable and welcome. In this episode, I am giving you tips and suggestions (and freebies!) to be prepared for your newcomers. We are covering why it is important to have things prepared for your students, 5 things you should have ready for your newcomers, and how each of these items is so beneficial. Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Grab your FREE Newcomer Welcome kit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/materials-for-newcomers/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 25 Mar 2022 | 15. 3 Ways to Connect with the Parents of ELLs | 00:18:31 | |
How is it possible to build a positive home-school connection with parents of ELLs when they don’t speak the same language as us? We know the power these connections have on our students and how important it is to their success, but how do we practically make it happen? In today’s episode, I'll be sharing tips and tricks to help build those connections so the families of your English language learners feel welcome in your classroom and school. I’ll share from the perspective of my own experience as a parent of a second language learner. Join the Equipping ELLs Membership: https://www.equippingells.com/ell-sales-page Check out the ELL Strategy Academy: https://www.equippingells.com/yes For all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/parents-of-ells/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 15 Jul 2022 | 31. What Supporting ELLs in K-12 Looks Like with Guest Karen Hartke | 00:32:12 | |
Are you wondering what teaching ELLs looks like in other schools or districts? Today, I am chatting with Karen Hartke to get some insight into what being an ESL teacher looks like for her and her district. Karen serves as both the only ESL teacher and the EL coordinator in her K-12 district which brings on unique challenges. In this episode, she is sharing with us what her role looks like, some tips and tricks for teaching ELLs, and the importance of building strong relationships with administration, classroom teachers, and support staff to best serve your students. Karen Hartke is currently a K-12 ESL teacher at Lakeview Independent School District in rural southwest Minnesota. She has taught at the primary, intermediate, and upper elementary levels, as well as 7th and 8th grade mathematics. Additionally, she has MN teaching certification in middle school Mathematics, K-12 English as a Second Language, K-12 Reading, K-6 Elementary, and a Masters in Educational Leadership. She is also a parent of middle and high school age children. Karen shares how beneficial being part of the Equipping ELLs membership has been for her and her teaching. If you would like access to ready to use lessons and activities, tons of resources, and be part of an amazing and supportive community, join us! We would love to see you there! WIDA Can-Do Descriptors SIMPLIFIED! Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/supporting-ells --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 28 Jun 2024 | 133. The Role of Determination in Language Learning: Inspiration from Isacar’s Story | 00:33:43 | |
Tune in to this inspiring story of determination, as we welcome Isacar to the show. An English language learner from Panama, Isacar shares his remarkable journey of mastering English in his home country with his gaze fixed on achieving academic and professional success abroad. Despite starting with no modern technology, Isacar utilized books, audio recordings, and mission trips to immerse himself in English, eventually earning a scholarship to study in the United States. His story highlights the power of determination and resourcefulness in overcoming obstacles. Isacar’s experiences offer valuable insights and inspiration for both teachers and English language learners, emphasizing the importance of mindset, consistency, and using available resources to succeed. Isacar's story has so much to offer ELLs and teachers of ELLs! Resources: | |||
| 10 May 2024 | 126. Reimagining Professional Development for Teachers of ELLs | 00:21:22 | |
A recent survey showed that 84% of teachers find their school-provided PD is lacking in relevance or applicability. In this episode of the Equipping ELLs Podcast, we delve into the pressing issue of ineffective professional development for educators. Highlighting the concerning decline in certified ELL teachers despite a growing student population, we examine the crucial need for targeted and practical training. In this episode, host Beth Vaucher dives into 5 ways schools can make PD so much better. By advocating for personalized, collaborative, and hands-on approaches, we pave the way for a paradigm shift in PD, empowering ELL educators to thrive in their classrooms and beyond. Listen in for an exciting new resource from Inspiring Young Learners and Equipping ELLs (and a coupon code to save you big)! We believe teachers who are well-equipped have students who succeed! Resources:
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| 18 Mar 2022 | 14. 3 Ways to Connect with Homeroom Teachers | 00:24:31 | |
How do you connect with homeroom teachers who aren't really interested in working with ELLs and expect you to do all of the work? How can you successfully build a strong relationship with your co-teachers so you can better support your ELL students? If you’ve asked these questions yourself, this episode is for you. With a background as both an ESL teacher and a homeroom teacher, I’ll be sharing my perspective from both roles. I made plenty of mistakes in the beginning and learned a few things about how important it is for ESL teachers to build a solid connection with the homeroom teachers that they’re supporting. When you and the homeroom teacher are connected, building trust, and communicating well, it’s so beneficial and helpful for your ELL students. Today I’m sharing 3 ways that you can engage and build relationships with your homeroom and content area teachers so your ELL students can soar. Join the Equipping ELLs Membership: https://www.equippingells.com/ell-sales-page Check out the ELL Strategy Academy: https://www.equippingells.com/yes For all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/connect-with-homeroom-teachers/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 13 May 2022 | 22. 3 Ways to Encourage Your ELLs to Keep Learning English in the Summer | 00:14:33 | |
The two words all teachers dread…summer slide. You’ve worked so hard with your students all year. The last thing you want is for them to go for the next 2 months without applying the skills or practicing English. You know if they don’t use it, they’ll lose it. It can be tricky with our students who live in homes and communities that mainly speak a different language. Today, I’ll give you 3 easy ways to encourage your students to keep practicing English during the summer, and some of them may surprise you. You may be tempted to print off a bunch of pages and create packets of work for your students to do throughout the summer, but I will tell you why you definitely should NOT do that! I’ve got a FREE resource for you that you can send home with your students, so be sure to sign up for that. Sign up for the FREE Bingo Card Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/learning-english-in-summer/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 25 Nov 2022 | 50. 5 Ways To Prepare for Access Testing Now | 00:18:47 | |
Do you dread prepping your students for Access testing every year? I think it’s safe to say we all do. What if I told you there is a way to prep without taking precious time away from giving students the support they actually need? Toss the test prep packets because I am sharing 5 fun ways you can prepare for Access testing starting right now. We want to prepare our students for Access testing in a way that is beneficial to them outside of just the test. How can we do that? We embed preparing for Access testing into our lessons and daily routines! In this episode, I am sharing the importance of giving students plenty of opportunities to talk, why you should model expectations for thinking through questions, how to consistently use academic vocabulary, why you should have students practice speaking into the computer, and the benefit of talking about goal setting all year long. Test Prep Speaking Digital Cards New Test Prep Resource Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/prepare-for-access-testing --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 12 Jan 2024 | 109. Simplified ACCESS Testing: Tools, Tips & Support for Teachers of ELLs | 00:21:22 | |
It's testing time, and you need support! Host Beth Vaucher delivers essential solutions for teachers facing the challenge of preparing themselves, their ELLs, parents, and homeroom teachers for the WIDA Access test. Dive into this episode brimming with expert guidance and actionable strategies, providing invaluable support in navigating this assessment. Discover a wealth of practical tips, from familiarizing students with the test format to empowering educators and homeroom teachers, and even engaging parents with specialized communication templates. Join us as we unpack the keys to smoother testing experiences! Don't forget to grab your FREE Access Testing Guide from Equipping ELLs, which includes editable templates to make your life easier, and stay tuned for next week's episode as we continue on the topic of Access testing! Resources:
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| 14 Apr 2023 | 70. If You're Not Focused On This One Thing, You Are Wasting Your Time. | 00:29:53 | |
At Equipping ELLs, we pride ourselves on giving practical strategies to our listeners in every episode. Along with this, we want to make sure our listeners have the foundational understanding for why these strategies work and how our students learn. In this episode, we go deeper into understanding language theory. The key terms for today are language acquisition and comprehensible input. If you're a teacher of ELLs, you won't want to skip this one. Related Resources: --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 19 Jul 2024 | 136. Back to School Ready: Essential Prepping Strategies and Tips for Teachers of ELLs | 00:18:39 | |
As the new school year approaches, we are diving into practical and effective strategies to help you prepare! In this episode of the Equipping ELLs podcast, host Beth Vaucher hones in on the importance of early and organized preparation, and explores step-by-step methods to set up your classroom, plan lessons, establish routines, and build relationships with your students. Hear ESL-specific tips, including organizing materials by proficiency levels, using visual supports, and fostering cultural inclusivity. Get ready to start the school year with confidence and clarity, armed with strategies that cater specifically to the needs of your English language learners. Resources:
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| 04 Nov 2022 | 47. How to Teach with the 5 Stages of Language Acquisition in Mind with Guest Cris Howard | 00:32:59 | |
Do you know what stage of language acquisition your ELL students are in and how to support them in that stage? Understanding the stages and knowing where your students are at is so important in helping them successfully learn the English language. Cris Howard is joining us today to share her extensive knowledge on language acquisition and its importance. Keeping the stages of language acquisition in mind when we are teaching our ELLs is key to helping them understand and retain the language. Cris is sharing some incredibly helpful insight on language acquisition with us. She is covering her experience teaching English, what language acquisition is and why it matters, why it is important for teachers to understand this approach, what the steps of language acquisition are, and tips on how to teach students at each stage. Cris Howard is from Brazil and speaks three languages: English, Portuguese, and Spanish. She worked as an EFL teacher for 14 years in Brazil, and as a Family Education ESL teacher in the US for a few years before working as an ELL teacher for the past 7 years in a Southern Indiana district, and as Adjunct Professor for the ENL program at Indiana University Southeast for the past 5 years. She loves languages, Applied Linguistics, teaching Multilingual Learners and connecting with other educators on Twitter. Cris’ “How Languages Are Learned” YouTube Playlist Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/language-acquisition --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 28 Oct 2022 | 46. 4 Ways to Use Holidays to Improve English Skills | 00:18:53 | |
Holiday season is upon us in the U.S. which means it’s a great opportunity to improve our ELLs’ English language using seasonal vocabulary. We can take advantage of the season and use the excitement of the holidays to engage our students and really work on their English skills. Today, I am sharing some activities I wish I would have done to take full advantage of the holidays with my ELLs. We’ve all tied the holidays into our lessons by teaching vocabulary, playing seasonal vocabulary games, or using word searches. But are these activities making the best use of our time with our students? In this episode, we are looking at alternative activity options to be more intentional with our instructional time while still bringing in the excitement of the holidays for our students. We are covering ideas for teaching holiday vocabulary in context, the importance of including students’ native language when teaching holiday vocabulary, using discussion prompts in your lessons, and how to help your students feel included in your classroom and connected to the holidays. Check out more holiday resources here ESL Christmas & Holidays Around the World ELL Vocabulary Flashcards: Valentine's Day ESL | ESL Conversation Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/holidays-to-improve-english-skills --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 27 Jan 2023 | 59. Small Steps to a Creating a Culturally Competent School with Guest Jocelynn Hubbard | 00:33:42 | |
As ESL teachers, we are especially aware of how important it is for our ELL students to feel welcome, respected, and safe. Because of this, creating a culturally competent school environment is so important. Our guest today, Jocelynn Hubbard, is sharing how all teachers, admin, and staff play a huge role in creating this culturally competent environment for our students. Creating a culturally responsive environment takes effort from all staff members to not only learn new things, but to unlearn some biases they may unknowingly have. Knowing how to transform our school environment into one that is respectful and welcoming to all cultures can seem intimidating. Luckily Jocelynn is here to help us begin this process! In this episode, Jocelynn is sharing her experience in education and how she is helping schools now, what culturally responsive teaching is and why it is so important, how to develop cultural competency as a school, and actionable ways we can begin to transform our schools to be more culturally competent. Jocelynn Hubbard helps teachers spark joy during the learning experience by creating an inclusive and welcoming classroom environment for ALL their students. She is the founder and managing director of Custom Teaching Solutions, LLC and host of The Culture-Centered Classroom podcast. She has 16+ years of experience in education as an educator, speaker, professional development creator and facilitator. Driven by a passion to see the diverse people of our world feel welcomed, affirmed, and celebrated, she provides training on becoming and remaining culturally competent. As a wife and mother of five, her goals include squeezing in time for exercise, finding moments of joy each day, and parenting each of her children as unique individuals. Related Resources:
For all links and resources, check out the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/culturally-competent-school --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 14 Oct 2022 | 44. The Essential Components to Creating Skilled Readers with Guest Sara Marye (Part 2) | 00:35:19 | |
I’m sure you’ve heard about the Science of Reading and maybe your school is pushing to incorporate it more into literacy lessons but you aren’t quite sure how to do that. You’re in luck! Today, we are continuing our conversation with Sara Marye about how to create skilled readers through literacy instruction and the Science of Reading. If you haven’t checked out last week’s episode, be sure to do that so you don’t miss out on the incredible information Sara shared with us! In this week’s episode, we are picking up right where we left off. Sara is sharing the remaining three elements of language comprehension, how to determine what to focus on first with your students, and her advice for teachers who want to focus more on language comprehension this year. Sara Marye has over a decade of experience working as a classroom teacher and school administrator. She is now CEO of The Stellar Teacher Company and a literacy specialist passionate about helping elementary teachers around the world grow their students into lifelong readers. Sara’s mission is to make teachers’ lives a little easier by providing them with endless encouragement, effective strategies, and engaging no-fluff resources. Sara is also the host of the Stellar Teacher Podcast, where she loves to share her favorite literacy tips each week! FREEBIE: Word of the Week Routine [The Stellar Teacher Podcast] Episode 85: What is The Science of Reading & Why is it Important? Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/creating-skilled-readers-2 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 03 Feb 2023 | 60. Cultural Crash Course with Guest Margarita Pearce | 00:39:33 | |
Understanding where our students come from and who they are is so important to ensuring we are providing them with an environment where they feel welcome and respected. This may mean dismantling some assumptions we have about different countries and really trying to understand the countries they are coming from and the specific areas they are coming from. Margarita Pearce is joining us today to share her unique perspective and provide some insight and tips for ESL teachers. In this episode, Margarita is sharing what it was like growing up in Panama and her experience working with the U.S. Embassy in Panama and the Fullbright Program. We are diving into ways teachers can ensure that newcomers feel comfortable in their new school, why you should consider the challenges their families face and find ways to support them in understanding the school system, and tips for how teachers can create an environment that fosters success. Margarita Pearce was born and raised at the crossroads of the world, the Republic of Panama. My education includes a Master in Business Administration and a Bachelors Degree in Biology both from universities in the U.S.A. I also have TESOL certificate and I am completing my TEFL certification. My teaching experience includes in-person and online ESL tutoring. My background also includes counseling, student recruitment, and program management for universities in the U.S.A. Related Resources:
For all links and resources, check out the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/cultural-crash-course --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 02 Aug 2024 | 138. Essential Organization Tips for Teachers: An Interview with Kristen Donegan | 00:28:00 | |
In this episode of Equipping ELLs, we sit down with Kristen Donegan of Easy Teaching Tools to discuss essential organizational strategies for teachers at the start of the school year. Kristen shares her personal journey from feeling overwhelmed and experiencing burnout to implementing effective systems that transformed her work life. Learn practical tips like the three-drawer system, respecting the timer, and creating designated spaces for classroom materials. Discover how these techniques can help you stay organized, reduce stress, and create a more efficient and enjoyable teaching environment. Tune in for actionable advice to kickstart your school year on the right foot! Resources:
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| 15 Dec 2023 | 105. Unlocking Vocabulary for ELLs Using 5 Types of Context Clues with Special Guest, Sara Marye | 00:28:55 | |
Teacher, are you ready to supercharge your ELLs' vocabulary skills? Do you want to equip them to add new words to their working vocabulary on their own? Today's show is all about context clues, and I've got a fantastic treat for you—it's a special episode featuring my awesome friend, Sara Marye, from The Stellar Teacher Podcast! She's a real rockstar in teaching and has loads of wisdom to share. In this episode, Sara breaks down the 5 different types of context clues that can be used to decipher the meaning of unknown words. (Bet you didn't know there were 5, right?) By showing your ELLs how to spot and use these clues, you're arming them with the tools to build their vocabulary all on their own! Listen in to hear how you can support your students as they level up their vocab game! Resources:
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| 07 Jul 2023 | 82. The Power of Language with Jen Rafferty | 00:33:07 | |
Teacher, your words have power! Join us as we delve into the power of language with Jen Rafferty, founder of Empowered Educator®. Jen is passionate about the latest research in mindset, leadership, and cognitive neuroscience. In our conversation, Jen shares transformative practical strategies to address teacher burnout, promote social-emotional well-being, and revolutionize your teaching approach! We know you'll leave encouraged and empowered! Related Resources:
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| 18 Nov 2022 | 49. 5 Reasons To Be Thankful You Teach ELLs | 00:17:29 | |
Thanksgiving in the U.S. is right around the corner which means it’s the perfect time to look at why we should be thankful that we get the privilege to teach our English language learners. At this point in the year, you may be feeling tired and overwhelmed so I want to remind you why we are so fortunate to be able to work with amazing ELL students. Teaching is not easy and there are so many things that are put on teachers, especially these past few years, that make some days really hard. If we can pause and remember why we got into teaching and why we love working with ELLs, it can help us get through those hard days. In this episode, I am sharing five reasons we are so fortunate to teach ELLs including getting to teach a global community right in our classroom, how we are impacting more than just our students’ lives, why our ELL students are especially resilient, how lucky we are that we get to learn about new cultures all the time, and how amazing it is to see our students grow so much. Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/thankful-you-teach-ells --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 21 Jul 2023 | 84. Essential Classroom Setup: A Comprehensive Checklist for Teachers of ELLs | 00:20:28 | |
What can you do now to set yourself up for a successful year? Whether you're new to ESL or just wanting to make this your best year yet, this episode covers the crucial aspects of the teacher setup, including lesson planning, paper organization, supplies, and effective communication with teachers and parents. We also touch on the student setup, exploring the significance of thoughtful storage, technology integration, and welcome folders. Tune in to ensure a smooth and successful academic year for your English language learners! Resources:
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| 22 Nov 2021 | Welcome to Equipping ELLs! | 00:03:36 | |
Welcome to Equipping ELLs! This podcast will empower you to equip your English Language Learners with the important skills they need to thrive in your classroom and beyond. Whether you teach kindergarten or twelfth grade ELLs, you'll hear practical strategies that you can walk away with and make your own. In addition to this podcast, you can find more done-for-you resources at inspiringyounglearners.com. If you are looking for a community of like-minded educators, come join our Facebook group: Inspiring Young Learners Engage, where you can ask questions, feel encouraged, and connect with other passionate educators from around the world. Follow Beth on Instagram @inspiringyounglearners. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 10 Feb 2023 | 61. 5 Ways Schools Can Create a Welcoming Environment for ELL Families with Guest Janna Adams | 00:31:43 | |
We know how important it is for us to make our new ELLs feel welcome and comfortable but how can we help their families feel supported? There can be so much confusion for families as they are adjusting to living in a new country, learning a new school system, and understanding different offerings and options that are available. Our guest, Janna Adams, is sharing ways that we can help our ELL families overcome some of these hindrances. In today’s episode, we are chatting with Janna about some things she has implemented that have made a huge impact on getting ELL families more involved in school and the community. She is sharing her teaching experience and how she became an ESL teacher, why it is so important to engage ELL families in the school setting, ways ESL teachers can help connect these families to the school and community, and the difference she has seen with engagement after implementing these things. Related Resources:
For all links and resources, check out the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/schools-create-welcoming-environment --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 29 Sep 2023 | 94. 4 Essential Language Domain Routines for Teachers of ELLs | 00:26:14 | |
Do you need help implementing all 4 language domains into your lesson plans? In today's episode, we're diving into four key routines tailored for ELLs. Discover how these routines can boost reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills while creating a comfortable and predictable learning environment. (And they take very little prep work on your end! Yay!) Join host Beth Vaucher as she shares practical strategies, from pre-listening activities to daily speaking warm-ups, enriching vocabulary for reading, and a fun collaborative writing exercise. Learn how to seamlessly integrate these routines into your classroom and watch your ELLs thrive. Beth also shares a lesson plan template that will have your students using all 4 language domains in one class. This plan can be easily replicated with any content area and for any grade level! Don't miss this opportunity to equip your ELL classroom with effective tools! Resources:
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| 06 May 2022 | 21. 3 Mistakes You Might be Making When Teaching Reading/Writing to ELLs and How to Fix It | 00:29:07 | |
There is a big difference in how the ELL brain learns to read and write compared to native speakers. Reading and writing are the two most difficult domains for our ELL students. It makes it even more challenging for those students when we are using materials that were designed for native English speakers, not ELLs. In today’s episode, I’ll share some of the mistakes we make while teaching reading and writing to our English language learners and what we can do to better support them and build a strong foundation. We will focus on phonics, comprehension, and writing. I’ll share ways to reduce the frustration and anxiety your students feel around reading and writing and how to increase their chances of success. If you’re looking for ways to support the writing of your ELLs, check out my brand new resource, Give Your Writing a Workout. This resource walks you through the foundations of writing and includes anchor charts, interactive grammar notebooks, games, and more. Get Give Your Writing a Workout Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/mistakes-when-teaching-reading-writing --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 28 Jan 2022 | 7. From Newcomer to MLB Scout | 00:31:36 | |
Imagine being 15 years old and moving to a new country where you don’t speak the language and being without your family. That’s exactly what today’s guest did when he signed a contract to play professional baseball for the Cincinnati Reds in July 1999. Damaso Espino was born in Panama in 1983. He loved playing baseball, and when an opportunity came along for him to play professionally and continue his education, he courageously walked through that door. Just 2 weeks after signing the contract, he left his home and his family to set off on a new adventure. This episode will show you from a newcomer’s perspective how important it is to build relationships with your ELL students and meet them where they are so they can feel comfortable from the very beginning. As an ELL teacher, you really are changing generations. You're changing communities. You're changing families through educating that one student you have in your class. For the full show notes, head to https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/newcomer-to-mlb-scout/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 16 Sep 2022 | 40. Easy Ways to Incorporate SEL with Our ELLs with Guest Rachel Davis | 00:22:47 | |
Working with our ELL students on social emotional learning is so important now more than ever. Between virtual learning, the pandemic, and any traumatic experiences they may have been through, they may need help with coping skills and that is where SEL comes in. Today, we are getting some wonderful insight about the importance of SEL from our guest, Rachel Davis. Rachel is sharing all about social emotional learning. We are talking about the importance of SEL, easy to implement tips for incorporating SEL into the classroom, SEL lesson ideas, and how to support students who have been through trauma. Rachel has so much knowledge on SEL and helping students with their emotions and she is sharing tons of info with us so we can best help our ELLs! Rachel is the school counselor and curriculum designer behind Bright Futures Counseling. With nearly a decade of experience, a highly rated school counseling podcast, and an engaged online community, Rachel is passionate about helping school counselors increase their impact and advocate for their role. She resides in Costa Rica, and when she’s not working on her business you can find her at the beach playing with her toddler son! FREEBIE: Feelings Check Poster Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/incorporate-sel --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 31 May 2024 | 129. Preventing the Summer Slide: Engaging ELL Students Beyond Workbooks | 00:16:02 | |
How do we prevent the summer slide with our ELLs? In this episode of the Equipping ELLs podcast, host Beth Vaucher addresses the critical issue of the summer slide, particularly its impact on English Language Learners. Beth goes beyond traditional workbook solutions, offering dynamic strategies to keep ELL students engaged and learning during the summer break. She highlights the importance of community involvement through local library programs and community center activities. Additionally, Beth discusses the benefits of summer school programs, educational technology, and reading in any language. Tune in for practical tips to help ELLs prevent the summer slide and thrive all summer long. Resources:
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| 04 Feb 2022 | 8. Three Ways to Move Beyond the ESL Worksheet | 00:19:06 | |
It can be tempting to reach for worksheets as a quick way to find something to keep your ELL students busy. I’ve done it myself when I felt like I just needed to grab something quick that would save me time. We know that using worksheets and workbooks are not the best way for students to learn a language. We need to provide our students with experiences and opportunities where they can engage with language right away so it’s not something they dread. So how can you provide these opportunities for effective and engaging learning without adding a lot more work to your plate? That’s what I’m talking about in today’s episode. I’ll be sharing 3 ways to go beyond the worksheet that will have your ELL students interacting with the language right away. With an increase in Newcomer students across the country, we have an opportunity as teachers to make a positive difference in these students’ lives and make language learning fun and effective. For full show notes and more resources, head to https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/esl-worksheet/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 17 Jun 2022 | 27. Defining Daily Language Expectations for All Levels of ELLs | 00:13:22 | |
Are you looking for something easy to do to help you prepare for next school year? I am giving you something you will want on hand at all times to help you support your ELL students. We are continuing our summer series, Successfully Setting Up for the School Year This Summer, with a tool that requires little prep but will be a big help! We have already been working on setting up our scope & sequence for the year and setting our quarterly goals. In this episode, we are talking about how to manage the day to day expectations for our students. We talk about how we need a clear idea of expectations for our students, how we can use those expectations to ensure we are not over scaffolding or under scaffolding for our students, and why having a clear understanding of these expectations is important. Be sure to grab your free scope & sequence, quarterly goals chart, language expectations chart, and more in the ESL Teacher Toolkit to help take the stress out of preparing for the school year! Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/daily-language-expectations/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 02 Feb 2024 | 112. Promoting Bilingualism in the Classroom: Embracing Diversity and Cultural Richness | 00:24:55 | |
How do I create a classroom that fosters bilingualism? In episode 112 of the Equipping ELLs Podcast, we dive deep into the incredible qualities bilingual students bring to education. As educators of English language learners, it's crucial to understand what our bilingual students have to offer their teachers and monolingual peers. From enhancing communication skills to promoting resilience and perseverance, our bilingual students offer invaluable perspectives that enrich our classrooms. Join us as we explore practical strategies for supporting bilingual learners and celebrating cultural diversity. Tune in now to discover how embracing bilingualism can transform your teaching experience and empower your students for success in a multicultural world. Resources: | |||
| 06 Oct 2023 | 95. Teaching ELLs: 5 Must-Do Practices for Student Success This Year | 00:23:00 | |
In this episode of Equipping ELLs, we're diving into "5 Must-Do Practices for Student Success" that you won't want to miss! Host Beth Vaucher kicks things off by emphasizing the importance of letting your ELLs take the lead in their learning journey. Plus, she spills the beans on the power of incorporating games into your classroom! Quality literature, meaningful conversations, and turning your students into "word detectives" also make the list of must-do practices. These simple, yet effective strategies will help you create an engaging and successful learning environment for your ELLs this year. Tune in to discover how to boost motivation, language skills, and overall success in your ELL classroom! Resources:
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| 27 May 2022 | 24. 6 Ways to Prepare for Back to School Now! | 00:20:34 | |
As a teacher, you’ve worked hard and earned your much-needed summer break. I hope rest, relaxation, and recharging are at the top of your to-do list this summer. As wonderful as summer is, we know it will come to an end. Before you know it, it’ll be August. You’ll hit the ground running with very little time to reflect. It’s important to take a little time now at the very end of the school year to do a brain dump. Reflecting for even just 15-20 minutes while the school year is fresh in your mind is such a good way to wrap up the year. Plus, if you write out some things that went well and some areas that could have gone better, you’ll have a guide going into the next school year that will help you forge a clear path and plan. If you’re tired of going into the new school year already feeling behind, you may want to spend a little time each week during the summer preparing for the year ahead. Don’t worry…I’m talking an hour or less each week. In this episode, I’m sharing 6 things you can do this summer to prepare for the year ahead. These quick strategic tasks will help you be prepared and ahead of the game when August rolls around. Plus you’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy your summer break and unwind. Over the next few weeks, I’ll go into more depth on each of these topics, and next week I’ll share more about the challenge that goes along with this, the prizes you can win, and how to make sure that you don’t miss out on the fun. Be sure to invite a friend and join the Facebook group! Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/prepare-for-back-to-school-now --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 29 Apr 2022 | 20. Identifying and Supporting Gifted and Exceptional ELLs with Guest Shelley Feliú-Love | 00:36:29 | |
“There’s a slight bias towards the Asian population being more identified [as gifted]. It goes back to being open from the very start and saying, ‘Hey, all of my students could be these high achieving gifted students, but I need to look at all of them with that attitude and set the bar high so they can show me what they can do.’” -Shelley Feliú-Love Today’s guest is one of the most incredible educators that I’ve ever met. I’ve had the opportunity to work with her, and I invited her to come on the show today to talk about how to identify and support the gifted and talented ELL students in your classroom, even if they’re not proficient in English. Shelley grew up exploring the world with her family. By the time she finished her Elementary Education and Spanish Language degrees at Auburn University, she had traveled to six continents. Before arriving in Panama, she taught for five years in the state of Georgia where she got her Gifted teaching endorsement. She moved to Panama to challenge herself both personally and professionally, striving to continue to grow as an educator. She later went on to get a master's degree in international education administration through Endicott College, studying both online and in Switzerland during the summer. Shelley aspires to challenge each student to reach his or her full potential. She realizes that each student has different strengths and abilities; therefore, she seeks to build upon those. She particularly enjoys inspiring her students to think creatively when they encounter challenges in school and in their lives. While not occupied with work, she enjoys running, traveling, photography, exploring outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and reading. Her greatest joy and challenge along with her husband is raising a bilingual "Panagringa" who is almost a year old! Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/gifted-and-exceptional-ells --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 22 Mar 2024 | 119. Transform Your Teaching: The Power of Simplicity & Consistency for Newcomer Success | 00:25:18 | |
Teachers of ELLS, hear this loud and clear: Simplicity and consistency are essential for the success of your newcomers! In this episode of the Equipping ELLs podcast, host Beth Vaucher delves into the critical role of simplicity and consistency in supporting English language learners, addressing a common challenge faced by educators. Beth emphasizes the need to cut through the noise and maxed-out schedules and focus on essential strategies for newcomer success. She highlights practical approaches such as utilizing go-to flashcards, providing visual schedules, and implementing consistent routines to create a supportive learning environment. By embracing simplicity and consistency, teachers can empower newcomers to thrive academically and emotionally, fostering trust, confidence, and language acquisition. This insightful discussion equips educators with actionable tips for optimizing their teaching practices and enhancing the educational experience for ELLs. Resources:
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| 05 Jan 2024 | 108. Advocacy in Education for Multilingual Learners: A Five-Step Plan for Impactful Change | 00:26:42 | |
How do I advocate for myself and my multilingual learners? In this episode of Equipping ELLs, host Beth Vaucher dives into the crucial realm of advocacy. Listen in for a comprehensive guide breaking down the what, why, and how of effective advocacy in education. Explore a five-step plan, from identifying challenges to crafting impactful solutions, empowering educators to become passionate advocates, working to transform the educational landscape for ELLs. Tune in to equip yourself with the tools and knowledge you need to advocate effectively for yourself and your ELLs! Resources:
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| 25 Feb 2022 | 11. 5 Ways to Scaffold Your Lessons for Newcomers | 00:30:41 | |
Schools across the United States are welcoming a record number of ELL students who are new to the country and new to the English language. When you’re working with newcomers, it's really important that you take time to get to know them so they feel welcomed and comfortable in the classroom environment. I talk more about this in Episode 3, so if you haven’t listened, be sure to check it out. It’s also important to gather background information about each newcomer so that you can understand how to best support them and their language needs. There is a big difference in how you approach learning for a newcomer that has a foundation of literacy in their native language and a newcomer who doesn't. If you’ve welcomed newcomers to your classroom and you’re wondering what to do next to get them excited and engaged with learning, you are going to love today's episode. I'm laying out step-by-step what to do once you've welcomed your newcomers and you are ready to scaffold your lessons to meet their needs. For full show notes and more resources, head to https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/scaffold-your-lessons-for-newcomers/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 21 Jan 2022 | 6. Short on Time, Do This! | 00:19:01 | |
How can you have the biggest impact in helping your ELL students develop their English language skills? As teachers, we are pulled in many directions and constantly need to decide where to focus our time and attention. There are two often overlooked areas that we can focus on that will make a big difference in how well our students will be able to speak, read, and write in English. Today’s episode is all about where to spend your time with your ELL students when you’re short on time. I’ll share the two areas I believe we should be spending more time on with our students and simple activities that you can add to your lesson plans that will reap great rewards for your students. As always, what is good for your ELL students is good for all your students! One of the most important things for you as a teacher of ELLs to know is what is appropriate for your students at each language and grade level so they can continue to progress. I have created this free tool, WIDA Can-Do Descriptors Simplified, that you can use to help you set clear expectations for your students and ensure their success: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/wida/ For all the resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/short-on-time-do-this --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 08 Mar 2024 | 117. Simplify Mid-Year Transitions: 5 FREE Resources for Newcomer Success! | 00:15:32 | |
Are you facing the challenge of integrating newcomers into your classroom in the middle of the school year? In this quick episode of the Equipping ELLs podcast, host Beth Vaucher offers actionable solutions. Dive into a wealth of FREE resources specifically curated to simplify mid-year transitions for newcomers! Join Beth as she unveils 5 (downloadable) invaluable tools designed to alleviate the stress of newcomer integration. From comprehensive newcomer welcome folders to WIDA-aligned can-do descriptors, these resources are tailor-made to empower educators and facilitate newcomer success. Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to seamless classroom transitions with expert insights and practical guidance. Tune in now to equip yourself with the tools you need to thrive! Resources:
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| 08 Dec 2023 | 104. Engaging Vocabulary Games: 25 Must-Try Activities for English Language Learners | 00:31:49 | |
Discover the magic of vocabulary development through GAMES! On episode 104 of the Equipping ELLs podcast we are exploring 25 engaging games designed to supercharge vocabulary learning among your ELLs. Uncover the educational benefits games offer, from sharpening concentration and problem-solving skills to improving memory, speaking, and reading abilities. In this episode, Beth shares 25 games, categorized by language proficiency level. The list includes a new spin on classic favorites like Bingo and Pictionary and strategic challenges like Scategories and Upwords. And listen in for Beth's list of no-prep games that you can play any time with ZERO supplies or preparation! Playing games not only enhances vocabulary development but also fosters a fun learning environment for your students. Trust us, your students will want you to listen to this one! ;) Resources:
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| 02 Dec 2022 | 51. 5 New Tech Tools to Try Now | 00:22:54 | |
What do you do when you have a love/hate relationship with technology but you know there are amazing tools that will help your ELLs learn? You find simple tech tools! I am sharing 5 of my favorite tech tools that provide students amazing support that will help them succeed and soar. In this episode, we are covering really simple but powerful ways we can better support our ELL students through the use of technology. There are amazing tech tools out there that we can utilize without having to worry about the added stress of students getting locked out of sites or forgetting passwords! Today, I am sharing a Chrome extension that makes creating voice notes simple, two extension options that read the text aloud to students, a great podcast to help with listening comprehension, and 2 websites that help bring a visual component to learning vocabulary. Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/new-tech-tools-to-try/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 09 Sep 2022 | 39. How to Lesson Plan for ELLs Using Language Forms and Functions with Guest Kristen Vibas | 00:33:59 | |
Have you ever thought about trying out a different lesson planning process? Planning units and lessons based on language forms and functions may be a method that could really benefit your ELLs! Today, I have special guest, Kristen Vibas, joining us to talk about how she plans her lessons around different language functions and forms. In this episode, Kristen is giving us an inside look at what her role and lesson planning process looks like. She is sharing what her role in a very large district looks like, what she focuses on the first month of school,how she communicates with parents, and how she plans her instruction utilizing language forms and functions. Kristen Vibas is a K-6 elementary ESOL teacher living in Northern Virginia. She’s been teaching multilingual learners since 2005 in one of the country’s largest school districts. She enjoys each grade level, but is particularly fond of working with upper elementary newcomers. Kristen also loves creating educational resources that support English language development. She opened her TpT store, called “Kristen Vibas,” in 2012, and shortly afterwards started a blog called “A Walk in the Chalk.” Teaching Language Functions in the ESL Classroom Download the ESL Teacher Toolkit Check out the ELL Strategy Academy Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/language-forms-and-functions --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 15 Apr 2022 | 18. Breaking Down Language Objectives with Guest Courtney Morgan | 00:37:20 | |
When it comes to language objectives, writing them in student-friendly language and making them visible for our ELL students is so important for them and has a huge impact. With help from today’s guest, you’ll learn exactly how these objectives impact your students and see that writing language objectives doesn’t have to be complicated. In today’s episode, Courtney Morgan shares about language objectives and scaffolds you can use in your classroom to address those objectives as well as some tips for navigating the WIDA standards. Courtney understands first-hand the overwhelm that Gen. Ed. teachers feel, and she is determined to keep things simple and easy to implement. If you’re looking for a way to boost the quality of your lessons, be sure to grab a FREE copy of Courtney’s Language and Content Objectives Quick Template here. Courtney Morgan is an English learner specialist and teacher living near Asheville, North Carolina, where she loves having the mountains at her doorstep. After 16 years as an elementary classroom teacher in districts large and small, Courtney shifted into her current role to focus her efforts on supporting multilingual students. Through her business, The All-Access Classroom, Courtney equips Gen. Ed. teachers to confidently make their lessons accessible to English learners. To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/language-objectives/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 22 Apr 2022 | 19. Connecting All 4 Domains to Content with Maria Montroni-Currais | 00:30:55 | |
“I learned by making my own mistakes and trial and error, and that just has kind of been the theme for my career. If it doesn’t work, try it again in a different way.” -Maria Montroni-Currais I love having the opportunity to talk to and interview amazing educators on my podcast and to share those insights and perspectives with you. Today I’m joined by an administrator with an ELL background, Maria Montroni-Currais. In this episode, we’ll be talking about how to connect the 4 language domains to all content. I’ve been following Maria on Instagram, and I love seeing all the ways she is helping ELL students as an administrator in her school. Today she also shares her thoughts on assessments and standards. Maria began her career in New Jersey public schools in 2009 and started writing for Everyone Deserves to Learn in 2013. She received an M.Ed in Teaching ESL from The College of New Jersey and obtained her Supervisor and Principal certifications through NJExcel. She currently serves as the Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction for a PreK-8 school district in Camden County, NJ. Join the Equipping ELLs Membership To access all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/domains-to-content/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 19 Jan 2024 | 110. Advocating for Change: Addressing the Impact of Access Testing on ELL Students with Special Guest, Mariel Norris | 00:31:49 | |
Teacher, are you navigating the challenges of ACCESS testing and misclassification issues with your ELLs? Join host Beth Vaucher in this episode of Equipping ELLs as she engages in a compelling conversation with Mariel Norris, a seasoned ESL educator. Mariel shares her educational journey and discusses her impactful article, "How We Can Help Daniela," published in the Washington Monthly. Together, they unravel the challenges posed by ACCESS testing, shedding light on misclassification issues and the emotional toll it takes on our students. The episode delves into advocacy efforts in which teachers can engage, emphasizing the need for change in ESL education and testing criteria. If you're passionate about empowering multilingual learners and advocating for positive change in education, this episode provides valuable insights and inspiration! Resources: | |||
| 31 Mar 2023 | 68. Differentiation Made Easy | 00:26:42 | |
Differentiate instruction. Every teacher has heard these familiar words given a million times. We strive to accomplish this goal both for the success of our diverse learners and also for the evaluation that follows a dreaded classroom observation. In this episode, you'll learn numerous strategies you can use to make differentiation easy! And you'll leave with a fantastic freebie that you'll want to download, print, and put to use in your classroom immediately! Related Resources:
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 06 Jan 2023 | 56. The Answer to This Question Will Change How You Teach ELLs This Year | 00:24:31 | |
Have you ever stopped to really think about what success looks like for your ELL students? Are you only gauging the success of your students based on if they are proficient in English or not? Defining what success looks like for your students is critical to ensuring your students experience successes and feel confident throughout their English language journey, not just when they are proficient or test out of language support services. Learning a new language is tiring and can be super frustrating. If we are limiting our students’ opportunities for success, they may want to give up when things get difficult. Today, we are diving into the question, “How do you define success for your ELL students?” We are looking at why it is so important to define success, how to determine milestones that can be used to mark success, why it’s crucial to have appropriate expectations, why you should set up pathways to success, and examples of milestones for these pathways. Related Resources:
For all links and resources, check out the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/change-how-you-teach-ells --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 07 Apr 2023 | 69. 5 Ways to Keep Your ELLs Moving Forward | 00:23:11 | |
Does the term longterm language learner apply to any of the students in your classroom? What can we do to keep our ELLs moving forward? I am my own humble inspiration for today's episode, simply because I am a longterm Spanish language learner. Having studied Spanish for 10 years, and now having lived in a Spanish-speaking country for 10 more, why am I not fluent?! Listen in for 5 things you can do to keep your ELLs moving forward! Related Resources: Join the Equipping ELLs membership --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 11 Feb 2022 | 9. How to Motivate Students that are Reluctant to Learn English | 00:14:47 | |
What pops into your head when you hear the term “reluctant learners”? Finding a way to reach our reluctant learners can be a challenge, but unlocking the desire to learn in these students and helping them reach their full potential is incredibly rewarding and totally worth it. If you have ELL students who just seem to have no desire to learn the language, you’re not alone. Many teachers are facing this challenge right now. In this episode, I’m sharing 3 different ways you can help your reluctant learners begin to learn English. For full show notes and more resources, head to https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/reluctant-to-learn-english --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 03 May 2024 | 125. Empowering ELL Educators: Addressing the 5 Reasons This Year Might Have Felt Really Hard | 00:20:45 | |
Teacher, did this year feel really hard? In this episode of Equipping ELLs, host Beth Vaucher explores some common challenges faced by teachers of ELLs and offers actionable strategies for success. Delving into the five reasons why this school year might have felt particularly tough, Beth addresses issues such as the education gap, diagnosing language barriers, and the disconnect between training and reality in professional development. She also discusses staffing challenges, student overload, and communication gaps between educators. By providing practical insights and strategies, Beth hopes to help you leave these struggles in this year, as you move forward in preparing for the next. Resources: | |||
| 01 Apr 2022 | 16. 4 Easy Ways to Support Refugee Students with Guest Elle Burdett | 00:20:54 | |
Imagine living in a war-torn country where there are not enough school buildings because they’ve been destroyed by war, not enough teachers because wages are so low, and many families are living in camps because they’ve been displaced and are living far away from everything that is familiar to them. Just think of the impact this has on children, families, and communities after years and years of this type of crisis that nations like Iraq in the Middle East and in other parts of the world are facing. Sometimes it can feel like we are so far away from those types of conditions that it can be difficult to shift our perspective, but as teachers of ELLs, it is so important for us to be aware of what’s going on in the world and how it is impacting education. Today’s guest, Elle Burdett, gives us insight into how to support students and families who immigrate to the United States and help them feel welcomed. When we open ourselves up to learn about what people have gone through, it can change us forever and give us a new perspective, allowing us to approach students and families from other parts of the world with empathy and understanding. For all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/support-refugee-students --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 21 Jun 2024 | 132. Empowering Educators, Empowering ELLs: Kavita Mahendra's Journey from Hyderabad, India to ESL Excellence in the U.S. | 00:32:42 | |
In this episode of the Equipping ELLs podcast, host Beth Vaucher interviews Kavita Mahendra, sharing her inspiring journey from Hyderabad, India, to ESL excellence in the U.S. Kavita reminisces about her multicultural childhood in Hyderabad and discusses the importance of embracing home languages. She sheds light on India's linguistic diversity and the significance of Hindi and English in uniting the nation. Kavita's personal experiences highlight the value of multilingualism and cultural identity in ELL education. Furthermore, she shares her transition to teaching ESL in the U.S., emphasizing the importance of unlearning and adapting instructional approaches. Kavita's passion for empowering educators and her impactful ESL initiatives in schools showcase her dedication to ELL success. This insightful conversation provides valuable tips for ESL teachers, emphasizing the importance of visibility, connection, and personalized student support. Tune in to hear Kavita Mahendra's teaching journey, and we know you'll leave inspired along your own! Resources: | |||
| 17 May 2024 | 127. Pathways to Proficiency: Understanding the Diverse Learning Journey of Your ELLs | 00:18:21 | |
Is there only one pathway to proficiency for our ELLs? Explore the diverse pathways to English proficiency for your ELL students in this enlightening episode of Equipping ELLs. Host Beth Vaucher delves into the complexities of language learning, challenging the notion of a singular route to mastery. From understanding the unique backgrounds of each student to tailoring instruction to their specific needs, discover practical insights to elevate your teaching. Gain valuable strategies for navigating the multifaceted journey towards proficiency, empowering you to create inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive academically and linguistically. Join us as we unravel the intricacies of language acquisition and equip yourself with the tools to support your ELLs effectively. And don't miss out on an invaluable new resource for educators dedicated to the success of English language learners: our new on-demand PD platform, Pathways to Proficiency. One last thing! Are YOU an ELL (or do you know an ELL) that would be willing to share your story on the Equipping ELLs podcast? During the month of June, host Beth Vaucher is sitting down to hear the inspiring stories of language learners, and we would love to hear from you! Click HERE or the link below to apply! Resources:
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| 24 Nov 2023 | 102. Supporting ELLs' Vocabulary Growth: 5 Teacher-Tested Methods | 00:25:08 | |
What methods give the most bang for your buck in teaching vocabulary to ELLs? In this episode, we dive into five actionable strategies tailored for teachers of English language learners to supercharge vocabulary instruction in the classroom. Join us as we explore practical methods for creating a language-rich environment, guiding ELLs through the stages of vocabulary development, and fostering independent learning. From daily conversations to purposeful word selection in read-aloud sessions, discover how to empower your students to not just learn but actively use and retain new words effectively. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting your journey with ELLs, this episode equips you with insights and tools to elevate your classroom's language instruction and support your students' vocabulary growth! Resources: | |||
| 29 Dec 2023 | 107. Your Role as an Advocate: Elevating Education for Multilingual Learners | 00:15:05 | |
What if 1 word could transform your teaching journey in 2024? Join us as we dive deep into the power of advocacy. From embracing the role of an advocate to navigating the challenges faced in education, this episode is your guide to empowering your classroom. In upcoming episodes, host Beth Vaucher will explore hot topics like mandated testing, equitable grading, and bilingual education, equipping you with practical tools and expert insights to amplify your voice and champion the needs of your students. Discover how even small changes can create significant impact, and learn actionable steps to advocate effectively for yourself and your multilingual learners. Tune in and embark on a journey toward becoming a confident and passionate advocate, making a difference one classroom at a time! Resources: | |||
| 23 Dec 2022 | 54. 3 Things to STOP Doing with ELLs (And What to Do Instead) - Top Episode from 2022 | 00:22:21 | |
We all want to support our ELLs as best as possible but some of the things we are doing could actually be inhibiting their growth. As teachers, we are doing our best to figure out what our students need in order to be successful. Unfortunately, some of our efforts could be an unnecessary waste of time. If you’re confused about what ELLs actually need and what they don’t, you’re not alone! We want to be sure that what we are doing is helping our students and stop doing anything that isn’t helping (or even hindering) their English language learning. In this episode, I am sharing why you should stop translating everything into your students’ native languages, how to stop planning for every single group, and how to effectively scaffold for our ELLs because they don’t learn the same as native speakers. Related Resources:
For all links and resources, check out the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/stop-doing-with-ells --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||
| 24 Feb 2023 | 63. 4 Easy Shifts to Make to Support ELLs in the Homeroom Classroom | 00:28:06 | |
If you’re a homeroom teacher, the thought of figuring out how to support ELL students in your classroom may be completely overwhelming. I know this because I’ve been there. When I was a homeroom teacher, I didn’t support my English language learners very well. As we are working on taking small steps to make a big impact on our ELL students, I want to share four shifts that homeroom teachers can make to ensure our ELLs are being set up to thrive in our classrooms. Most homeroom teachers want to help their ELL students be successful but don’t know where to start. I want to equip homeroom teachers with easy shifts they can make to help the English language learners in the classroom. I am sharing why it is crucial to see the ELL students in your classroom as your own students, how to use the ESL teacher as a coach, why starting with clear benchmarks and milestones is so important, and how learning new scaffolds is beneficial for all your students. Related Resources:
For all links and resources, check out the show notes: https://www.inspiringyounglearners.com/support-ells-in-homeroom-classroom --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/equippingells/message | |||