EP 166 Creating Systems for the New Year

Welcome educators! In this week’s episode of My Adventures in ESL, we’re diving into how to use your summer intentionally by building simple, effective systems that will support you—and your students—all year long.

Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a veteran, setting up classroom systems during the summer isn’t about perfection. It’s about preparation. With the right tools and routines in place, you can avoid the chaos of survival mode and step into the new school year with clarity, calm, and confidence.

You’ll walk away with ideas for routines across the four language domains, how to create a newcomer welcome system, and strategies to establish goal-setting and feedback structures—all while giving yourself permission to start small and go at your own pace.

🎯 What You’ll Learn:

• Why creating systems now can reduce overwhelm later
• Sample routines for listening, speaking, reading, and writing
• What to include in a new student welcome kit
• How to build simple, sustainable goal-setting and feedback systems
• Steps to take today to make your classroom feel organized, intentional, and student-ready
  
  

💡 Episode Highlights:

• “You are already planting seeds for a more intentional school year.”
• “Systems aren’t about control—they’re about creating space for connection.”
• “One small step this summer can make a huge difference in how your year begins.”
  
  

📘 Resources Mentioned:

• My Adventures in ESL Store: myadventuresinesl.com/store
• The ESL Teacher Master Plan (Wait List): Your self-paced guide to planning a smooth and organized school year.
• Language Learners Data Binder
  
  

✅ Summer To-Do’s Shared in This Episode:

• Map out a weekly structure covering all 4 language domains
• Create a welcome kit with visuals, key phrases, and supplies for new students
• Design a monthly goal-setting/check-in form
• Set up a color-coded storage system for printables and handouts
• Block off 30 minutes to start building one system you care about
  
  

📲 Stay Connected:

Let’s keep growing together!
💬 Instagram: @MyAdventuresinESL
💛 Share this episode with another teacher who’s planning ahead and could use a little encouragement.

 

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Remember: Summer planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Choose one thing to work on, and take that first step with intention. You’ve got this—and I’m cheering you on every step of the way.

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