EP 166 Creating Systems for the New Year

Welcome educators! Before we get started, I want to share the amazing resources I have available.

To learn more and download some engaging resources, go to myadventuresinesl.com/storeI just want to take a moment to remind you: the work you’re doing matters. The time you’re investing right now—planning, preparing, dreaming—is planting seeds for a smoother, more intentional school year. Even if it’s just a few small steps at a time, it counts. You are showing up not only for your students but also for yourself, and that is something to be proud of.

So take a breath, give yourself some credit, and know that you are not alone in this. You’re doing an amazing job—and I’m cheering you on every step of the way. 💛

The goal of today’s episode is to walk you through how to create beneficial systems for your classrooms over the summer.

Last summer, I traveled, worked a side job, and promised myself I’d get to planning ‘later.’ 

But later didn’t come… and by the time school started, I was in survival mode. I don’t want that for you. 

For me, being in survival mode looked like procrastination. I was so overwhelmed that I was putting everything off, which led to more responsibilities piling up. 

You are already carrying a lot of weight. That could look different, whether this is your first year of teaching or your 20th year of teaching.

You already pour so much into your students and educational growth. You are providing for the students—emotionally, academically, and even culturally. So, if no one has told you this lately, the fact that you’re even thinking about next year already shows your dedication.

Why should you spend any part of your summer creating systems for your classroom?

Creating classroom systems during the summer isn’t about trying to plan every single moment of the school year. It’s about setting yourself up with tools and routines that make your teaching smoother, your students more independent, and your days a whole lot less stressful.

As ESL teachers, we wear so many hats—language coach, cultural guide, advocate, and sometimes emotional support crew. When the year starts rolling, it gets busy fast. That’s why using the slower pace of summer to build out flexible, ready-to-go systems gives you space to focus on what matters most during the year: connecting with your students and supporting their growth.

These systems don’t have to be complicated. Think of them as your classroom autopilot—whether it’s how you introduce vocabulary each week, how you welcome new students, or how you organize small groups. With a few simple, thoughtful systems in place, you’ll have more energy and freedom to respond to your students’ needs, rather than feeling like you’re always reacting or reinventing the wheel.

Plan Routines for the 4 Language Domains

When planning for your routines, I am always going to advocate for keeping your routines as simple as possible. This is equally as important when you want to plan routines for the four language domains because it helps the students know what to expect and how to engage. 

Let’s take a look at some examples you can use in the classroom. 

• Listening: Use the same routine for listening tasks—ex: listen → jot notes → share with a partner → quick write.
  
• Speaking: Create sentence stems or discussion cards to use weekly.
  
• Reading: Implement a close reading or partner reading structure.
  
• Writing: Build a writing routine like quick writes on Monday and publishing on Friday.

Design Your New Student Welcome System

Having a welcome system in place for new students will be so helpful when students arrive at a new school. 

Here are some things you can include in your new student welcome system:

• Visual schedule
• Welcome notes from other students
• Classroom vocabulary chart
• Key survival phrases
• Classroom tour checklist
• School Map
• Buddy system guide

 This can be as creative as you like. One of the things I include in my new student welcome kit is commonly used school supplies. 

Before we jump back in, I want to take a quick moment to tell you about something that can truly change your summer planning game…

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to figure out what to do first, how to get organized, or how to confidently walk into the school year with a plan, you are not alone. That’s exactly why I created The ESL Teacher Master Plan.

This self-paced course walks you step-by-step through how to plan and prepare for the upcoming school year as an ESL teacher. From setting up your classroom systems to creating lessons that work across language levels, it’s all in there—broken down into simple, actionable steps.

So if you’re ready to feel calm, clear, and excited to start the year, head to My Adventures in ESL to check out The ESL Teacher Master Plan Wait List. I’d love to support you this summer!

Alright—let’s get back into it.

Establish a Feedback & Goal-Setting Routine

Goal-setting is one of my favorite back-to-school activities. One of the areas of growth for myself is to ensure that I am prepared to thoroughly go through this process with my students. Over the summer, design a simple system for goal-setting and feedback. I have one already planned out for you that you can check out in my store, My Adventures in ESL for the Language Learners Data Binder. 

Here are some simple action items you can do over the summer. 

📝 Summer To-Do: Map out a weekly structure that cycles through all 4 domains.

📝 Summer To-Do: Create a monthly check-in form or tracker.

📝 Summer To-Do: Create a bin or drawer system for printed materials (color-code by level if possible).

If this episode gave you a spark of inspiration, I want to encourage you to take one small step today: choose just one system you’d like to work on this summer—whether it’s your classroom routines, a newcomer welcome kit, or organizing your lesson templates. Write it down, and block off 30 minutes this week to start it. That’s it—just one intentional step.

And if you’re looking for more support, don’t forget to check out The ESL Teacher Master Plan—my step-by-step course designed to help you plan and prepare with confidence all summer long. You can find the link in the show notes.

You’ve got this, and I’m cheering you on every step of the way. 💛