EP 151 Celebrate Lunar New Year in Your ESL Classroom with Engaging Lessons and Activities
Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers
Release Date: 01/20/2025
EP 153 Supporting You & Your Students This Testing Season
Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers
Welcome to the My Adventures in ESL Podcast! I want to encourage you to take the time to explore the podcast and my website . Testing season can be overwhelming for both ESL teachers and students, with multiple required assessments in a short period. In this episode, we’re diving into strategies to help your students feel confident and prepared while ensuring you stay effective and energized. From test-taking strategies to self-care tips, you’ll walk away with actionable steps to make this season smoother for everyone. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ How to...
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Breaking Myths About Newcomer Students: Insights for Educators
Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers
Welcome to today’s episode of the My Adventures in ESL Podcast! We’re tackling some of the most common misconceptions about working with newcomer students and sharing practical strategies to help educators support their success. Episode Highlights: 1. Myth: Students Must Acquire Oral Language Before Literacy Misconception: "Students need to speak English fluently before engaging in literacy activities." Truth: Literacy-rich classrooms are key to helping students develop the academic language they need. Strategies: Teach text structures to help students understand academic...
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EP 151 Celebrate Lunar New Year in Your ESL Classroom with Engaging Lessons and Activities
Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers
Welcome, educators! In this episode, we’re sharing exciting ways to bring the Lunar New Year into your ESL classroom. From close reading strategies to hands-on activities, you’ll find creative ideas to spark curiosity, foster cultural appreciation, and build essential language skills. What’s Inside This Episode: 1. Lunar New Year Close Read Discover how close reading can help ESL students unpack key vocabulary and phrases like "red envelopes," "lanterns," and "spring festival." Learn how to identify main ideas, analyze details, and draw inferences while exploring Lunar New...
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Strategies for Teaching Close Reading to Newcomers: A Guide for ESL Educators
Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers
Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re diving into effective strategies for teaching close reading to ESL newcomers! Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just starting your journey, these actionable tips will help you empower your language learners and create meaningful learning experiences. Episode Highlights: Building Background Knowledge: Learn why background knowledge is essential for newcomers to access and understand texts. Practical ideas: Think-alouds, picture walks, vocabulary banks, videos, and virtual or in-person field trips. Teaching Academic Vocabulary: ...
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Unlocking Strategies for Engaging Language Learners
Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers
Welcome back, educators! In this episode, I’m sharing insights and strategies inspired by my recent experience at the TNTESOL conference in Nashville. From innovative math strategies to utilizing library resources and understanding translanguaging, you’ll find actionable tips to enhance your teaching and support your language learners. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Math Strategies for Language Learners: How picture books can introduce math concepts and build background knowledge. The importance of making math tangible through real-life applications like schedules and...
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Ep. 148 Simple and Effective November Lesson Ideas for Your Language Learners
Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers
Welcome to the My Adventures in ESL Podcast! This week’s episode is all about making your November lesson planning efficient and engaging for you Language Learners. We’ll cover strategies and activity ideas for Veterans Day, Daylight Savings Time, Fall Festivals, and Hibernation. Tune in to get inspired with hands-on, student-centered activities that save time while creating an impactful classroom experience. In this episode, we discuss: Veterans Day Lesson Ideas: Start with a KWL chart to let students share what they know and want to know. Activity: Follow...
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Transform Your Planning Period: Time-Saving Tips for Teachers
Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers
In this episode, we’re diving into practical strategies for educators to find more time in their day to support students effectively. From analyzing how you spend your time to planning ahead, this episode is packed with tips to help you maximize your productivity. We discuss: Analyze Your Time Track everything you do during the school day to get a clear picture of where your time is going. This exercise is eye-opening and helps reveal areas where you can save valuable minutes. For example, something as simple as streamlining student transitions can free up time...
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EP 146 Procrastination & Planning
Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers
Welcome to the My Adventures in ESL Podcast! In this week’s episode, we’re sharing practical and effective strategies to help you transform your planning period and optimize your productivity. In This Episode: Introduction to Trey Browder: A licensed therapist and impact coach dedicated to helping educators achieve work-life balance and manage stress effectively. The Importance of Understanding the “Why”: Trey explains why understanding the root of our challenges is crucial for personal and professional growth. Procrastination and Its Impact:...
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EP 145 Speaking and Writing Activities
Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers
Welcome to the My Adventures in ESL Podcast! In this week’s episode, we’re diving into speaking and writing activities that you can easily incorporate into your lessons to help your students express themselves more effectively. These activities are designed to boost both listening and speaking skills while enhancing students’ writing abilities. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Simple and effective speaking activities to improve student communication skills and build confidence in group discussions and presentations. Writing prompts and...
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EP 144 Start Using Stations Today
Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers
Welcome to the My Adventures in ESL Podcast! Welcome, educators! In this week’s episode, we are exploring practical tips and strategies for setting up effective literacy stations in your classroom. Literacy stations can make a huge difference in your students’ learning experience by promoting independence, responsibility, and a variety of learning styles. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The advantages of using literacy stations, including: 1. Reducing the time and effort needed for setup 2. Encouraging student ownership of their learning environment...
info_outlineWelcome, educators! In this episode, we’re sharing exciting ways to bring the Lunar New Year into your ESL classroom. From close reading strategies to hands-on activities, you’ll find creative ideas to spark curiosity, foster cultural appreciation, and build essential language skills.
What’s Inside This Episode:
1. Lunar New Year Close Read
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Discover how close reading can help ESL students unpack key vocabulary and phrases like "red envelopes," "lanterns," and "spring festival."
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Learn how to identify main ideas, analyze details, and draw inferences while exploring Lunar New Year traditions.
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Get a hands-on tip: Use a gallery walk with photos to engage students visually and encourage discussion.
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Resources Mentioned: Check out the Lunar New Year Close Read Lesson at myadventuresinesl.com/store for ready-to-use materials.
2. Red Envelope Writing Activity
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Explore the tradition of red envelopes (hongbao) and its significance in Lunar New Year celebrations.
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Activity Breakdown:
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Students create and decorate red envelopes.
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Write messages of good luck or gratitude using sentence starters like “I wish you…” or “May you have…”
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Exchange envelopes to practice speaking skills and spread positivity.
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Featured Resource: The Lucky Red Envelope by Vikki Zhang is a great story to introduce this activity.
3. Lantern Craft and Storytelling
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Dive into the cultural significance of lanterns during Lunar New Year and the Lantern Festival.
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Activity Steps:
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Build background knowledge with read-alouds or videos.
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Create personalized paper lanterns with easy-to-find materials and free templates.
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Pair the craft with storytelling—students can retell a story or create their own inspired by their lantern.
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This activity strengthens both creative and language skills.
Additional Resources:
Want more ideas and detailed lesson plans? Visit myadventuresinesl.com/store to access a comprehensive resource bundle, including two weeks’ worth of lesson plans and activities to make Lunar New Year memorable for your students.
Are you tired of planning and looking for lessons for your Language Learners every week? If so, then I have the perfect option for you! Join my monthly lesson planning club “The Close Read Club”. Each month you will have access to lesson plans that are ready to print and go! Click here to learn more or go to myadventuresinesl.com/closereadclub.