For over two decades I’ve taught English language learners from the ages of 2 to 90 in over 20 countries. I’ve seen how technology motivates learners of all ages to find their voice, connect with language learners around the world, and have access to knowledge and resources in multiple languages. I’ve taught in really poor […]
Category: What Works for English Language Learners
Posts aimed at helping teachers improve learning outcomes for ELLs by recommending tips used by real teachers or in the classroom
Developing Global Citizens Who Champion Change
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” – Mother Teresa More than ever we need our learners to be global citizens who help make the world a better place. This is why one of the learning missions in my new book, Hacking Digital Learning Strategies: 10 […]
Bring Your Novel to Life! 30+ Tips and Web Resources
“A book is a device to ignite the imagination.” – Alan Bennett Students struggle to read books and classic literature. One reason is that the language might be too archaic. Not only does no one talk like the characters do, but no one sounds like the way the authors write. Even if some of the […]
Frightful Learning! Halloween Activities and Resources
“As astronauts and space travelers children puzzle over the future; as dinosaurs and princesses they unearth the past … as monsters and gremlins they make sense of the unreal.”- Gretchen Owocki Tis the season when our learners love to learn from the stuff of our nightmares as they celebrate Halloween, All Saints Day, All Souls’ […]
Visualize Learning with Photo Challenges and Projects
“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.” – Marc Riboud Learners of all ages love taking pictures, especially with their phones. Learners can use these photos in projects, digital stories, or other learning projects to provide an authentic voice and to show the learning that is taking place all around them. You can […]
Web Tools for Video and Audio Feedback on Essays and Projects
“I think it’s very important to have a feedback loop, where you’re constantly thinking about what you’ve done and how you could be doing it better.” – Elon Musk This year I am teaching college English language learners reading and writing. My students submit their work on Canvas. My students are language learners and pointing out their […]
The Fabulous Field Trip Guide: Planning
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller In 1996, I joined an internship to design educational activities and exhibits to open the Witte Museum’s Science Treehouse. The internship taught me valuable lessons in organizing engaging field trips, summer camps, and camp-ins with student learning and safety […]
Teaching Language Learners with Twitter
“There’s an entire universe in every single tweet.”- Jack Dorsey Twitter has various updates, which have made it a wonderful app and web tool for learning a language. Soon, language learners will be able to express themselves in over 140 characters for richer writing practice. Currently, students are able to click on Moments to explore […]
Teach with Music and Songs: 35+ Resources and Web Tools
“Music is the universal language of mankind.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Music appeals to students of all ages and is a great way to engage learners. Try introducing a topic or novel with a song that captures the mood or provides insights. Try having your young learners remember vocabulary through hand gestures, while singing songs (Total […]
41 Recommended Extensions for Teachers, Research, and Language Learners
“It isn’t that they cannot see the solution. It is that they cannot see the problem.” – GK Chesterton Did you know a web browser has many free incredible extensions (Chrome/Safari)/add-ons (Firefox)/plugins(IE) to support teachers and learners? Teach your students how to enhance their reading, writing, literacy, studying, and research skills with these powerful web browser […]