Libsyn Directory

Ep 156 Lesson Ideas for March

Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

Release Date: 03/03/2025

Ep. 179 I Don’t Have Time to Plan—What Do I Do?

Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

If you’ve ever sat down to plan and felt instantly overwhelmed, this episode is for you. ESL teachers juggle multiple grade levels, language levels, paperwork, meetings, and constant interruptions — all with the same planning time as everyone else. It’s no wonder planning can feel impossible. In today’s episode, we talk honestly about why ESL lesson planning feels so heavy and what you can do when time is limited but your students still deserve meaningful instruction. You’ll walk away with simple, realistic strategies that help you plan faster, smarter, and with less stress — even...

EP 178 Powerful Strategies to Boost Student Engagement in Your ESL Classroom

Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

Feeling a dip in student engagement in your ESL classroom? You’re not alone—and you’re not doing anything wrong. In this episode, we talk about why engagement naturally fades during certain seasons of the school year and how small, intentional shifts can bring energy, joy, and participation back into your lessons without adding more work to your plate. This episode is designed to support ESL educators who are navigating tired students, low energy, and the pressure to keep learning meaningful during busy, high-stress times of the year. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why student...

EP 177 3 Time-Management Mistakes ESL Teachers Make (and How to Stop Them)

Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

Planning periods shouldn’t leave you feeling more overwhelmed than when you started—but for many ESL teachers, that’s exactly what happens. In this episode, we’re slowing things down and having an honest conversation about time: where it’s going, why it never feels like enough, and how a few intentional shifts can help you regain control of your day without working longer hours. If you’re juggling multiple grade levels, language proficiencies, assessments, and paperwork—and still trying to show up fully for your students—this episode was created with you in mind. What to...

EP. 176 But My Class Is Too Big / I Don’t Have Time — Can I Still Build Real Relationships?

Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the biggest challenges ESL teachers face: building authentic relationships with students when your class sizes are large, your time is limited, and your responsibilities feel endless. If you’ve ever looked around your classroom and wondered, “How do I connect with everyone when I barely have time to breathe?” — you are not alone. Today, we explore practical, realistic, and impactful strategies that help you strengthen relationships with your students through small, intentional actions that fit naturally into your day. This episode isn’t...

Ep. 175 From Planning as Chore to Thinking as Design: A Mindset Shift for ESL Teachers

Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

Welcome educators! Before we dive in, don’t forget to check out the engaging ESL resources available at myadventuresinesl.com/store. Episode Overview As we move closer to Winter Break, it’s completely normal to feel the weight of the season — the planning, the paperwork, the constant juggling. In this episode, we explore a powerful mindset shift that can bring clarity, purpose, and even joy back into your weekly planning: seeing lesson planning not as a chore, but as an act of design. This episode offers encouragement, practical strategies, and a refreshing way to approach planning...

Ep. 174 3 Smart Ways to Find High-Quality ESL Resources Fast

Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

Welcome educators! 🌟 Before we dive in, take a deep breath — you’re doing an incredible job. This time of year can be challenging, but every lesson, every smile, and every word of encouragement you give your students truly matters. 💛 In today’s episode, we’re talking about something every ESL teacher struggles with — finding high-quality resources that actually save time instead of wasting it. If you’ve ever spent hours searching for the “perfect” lesson only to end up disappointed, this episode is for you. You’ll learn: 🎯 3 Smart Strategies for finding high-quality...

Ep. 173 Myth: You Can’t Teach Multiple Levels Effectively – Why That’s Not True

Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

Teaching ESL across multiple language levels can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode, we’re breaking down practical strategies to help you confidently teach newcomers, intermediate, and advanced students all in one classroom. You’ll learn how to: Simplify lesson planning with one core learning goal Use flexible grouping to boost collaboration and engagement Offer scaffolded choices that meet every student where they are These tips will help you save time, reduce stress, and create a more inclusive, empowered classroom for all learners. 💛 Resources...

Ep. 172 My Plan to increase student engagement this year!

Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

Welcome to the My Adventures in ESL podcast—the show dedicated to helping ESL teachers like you feel confident, supported, and inspired in your classroom. I’m so excited you’re here! As ESL teachers, we know how much time and energy goes into planning lessons, organizing materials, and meeting our students’ diverse needs. But even the best lesson plan can fall flat if students aren’t engaged. In this episode, I’m sharing three practical and easy-to-implement strategies that will help you create an engaging classroom where students are excited to participate and eager to learn....

Ep. 171 What do I teach next month? October Edition

Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

October can feel like a turning point in the school year. Your routines are set, your students are finding their rhythm—but sometimes, the excitement from August and September starts to fade. If you’ve ever stared at your lesson plans this month thinking, “I need something fresh!”—this episode is for you. In this episode of My Adventures in ESL, I’m sharing three simple, seasonal, and interactive lesson ideas that you can start using in your classroom right away. These activities are designed to save you time, engage your students, and make learning fun again—without adding hours...

Ep. 170 Where do I Start? Tips to get you started

Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

Welcome back, amazing teachers! 🎉 The beginning of the school year is here, and if you’re anything like me, you know it can feel like a whirlwind. Between screening new students, managing schedules, creating lessons, writing language plans, and juggling everything else on your plate—it’s a lot! In this episode, I’m sharing three practical, high-impact strategies that will help you start the school year feeling calm, confident, and organized. My goal is to take some of the overwhelm off your shoulders so you can focus on what truly matters—supporting your students and building a...

More Episodes

Welcome to this episode, where we dive into engaging lesson ideas for March! This month offers a wealth of opportunities to create meaningful learning experiences for your students. From celebrating Women’s History Month and Poetry Month to exploring the arrival of spring, we’ve got you covered with creative ideas and actionable lesson plans.

Episode Highlights:

🎉 Women’s History Month: Celebrate and Inspire

The significance of Women’s History Month and why it’s important to recognize the contributions of women in history.
Lesson Idea: Biography and Research Projects – a versatile, scaffolded activity adaptable to different grade levels.
Student Presentations: Encouraging students to present their research builds confidence and public speaking skills.
Recommended Read-Alouds:

Bonus Resource: If available, Brainpop offers excellent Women’s History Month content.

📝 Poetry Month: Unleashing Creativity

Why Poetry Month is a great opportunity to develop literacy and creative expression.
Lesson Idea: Creating a Poetry Book – guiding students through writing and publishing their own poetry.
Step-by-Step Approach:

Introduce students to various poets and poetry styles.
Provide templates and scaffolds to help students craft their poems.
Conduct a class poetry reading or gallery walk to showcase student work.

Cross-Curricular Connection: Integrate Women’s History Month by focusing on female poets like Emily Dickinson and Maya Angelou.

🌿 First Day of Spring: Science Meets Creativity

How to integrate science into spring-themed lessons.
Lesson Ideas:

Metamorphosis of a Butterfly – Explore the life cycle of a butterfly through videos, read-alouds, and student projects.
Seed-to-Flower Growth – Teach students about plant growth with hands-on experiments.

Interactive Learning Opportunities: Group science projects to encourage collaboration and peer learning.

Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & Adventures in ESL!

Announcements

If you are looking for a community of dedicated and motivated educators, who support Language Learners, join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/adventuresinesl

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