My Favorite ELL Resources

There are some tools that I simply cannot live without in my classroom. They make my life in classroom so much easier, and creates independence with the students. Here are a few of my favorite things (in my Sound of Music voice)…

Anchor Charts

Oh the power of anchor charts in a classroom. I simply love anchor charts. An anchor chart is a tool that you can use in your classroom to support instruction. This is important for English Language Learners because it provides a visual for learning. Recently my students were struggling with writing conclusion sentences. I created an anchor chart that they used throughout the school year to help them if they get stuck. You can on Pinterest and type in anchor charts and find a treasure trove of helpful charts. In the photos below you will see some I use in my classroom.

Kahoot!

Is an online quiz game for students. You can literally turn anything into a game. The students get so excited about playing and competing with their classmates. My favorite is using vocabulary and then creating a quiz on Kahoot. I promise your students will love it!

Flexible Seating

Two years ago I decided to get rid of the traditional desks and chairs in my classroom. Flexible seating allows students the choice to sit where they would like it. Flexible seating also encourages community and collaboration with their peers. Flexible seating can completely transform your ESL classroom, so consider it as you are planning for the upcoming school year.

Edmodo

Edmodo is an online app that allows teachers to upload assignments and task for the students. I use this as a way to create independence in the classroom. You can use it to upload the students homework and important projects. It also makes grading so much easier because you can send immediate feedback. Edmodo allows you to upload videos, text, and integrates with many other platforms.

Brainpop!

I simply love Brainpop! They have every single topic imaginable to build background knowledge for your students. I often use Brainpop to introduce a new topic to the students. Brainpop is a paid service however they do offer free video options. Take a peep below!

I would love to know some of your favorite things to use in your classroom. Drop them in the comments below!