Boosting Achievement: The Esl Podcast

Instructional coach, Sara Sparks (@SaraSparks21) joins Carol (@MsSalvaC) and Stephen Hurley (@Stephen_Hurley) for a LIVE show about supporting unengaged or failing students. Sara has practical tips for connecting with families and engaging students in this difficult time. Show notes are at bit.ly/BAPODCAST

Carol reflects on her week in the Texas Blizzard. She describes what it was like for her family and friends and how the experience helps her reflect on the mindset we need to support our students right now.

Natalia Heckman joins Carol to explain the need for syntax instruction with ELs and how it does not need to be boring! Natalia is an educational consultant in high demand because she offers engaging EL trainings. She also has a proven track record for boosting the writing scores of older ELs on standardized assessments. This episode offers many links to free resources and opportunities to learn from Natalia.

Description: Carol explains her favorite January activities to support immigrant youth. She includes many resources for educators that want to work with compelling text and support ELs to listen, speak, read and write daily. The show explains how to facilitate the activities so they are practical and highly engaging for students.

Carol's guest is Michigan Educator Jen Steffens (@JenJenniels) who shares about a breakthrough with some of her Newcomer students. Jen and Carol reflect on the incredible payoff that is possible, even during a pandemic, when we exercise persistence, patience and high expectations for all learners.

You may have some great websites for your English Learners but what if they move? Do they still have access to them? Are they high interest for older learners? This show offers a top tip. Carol explains how to use NewsInLevels and how it can help your ELs take ownership of their language acquisition and literacy. It's also a GREAT idea for their parents.

Valentina Gonzalez (@ValentinaESL ) and Dr. Melinda Miller (@DrMelindaMiller ) join Carol to offer a sneak peek at their new book for K-5 educators. They share tips, insight and advice for working with ELs in a Balanced Literacy Framework. They also share about opportunities to join free PD events with them.

Michelle Shory (@Michelleshory) and Drew Courtney (@mrcourtney_esl) join Carol Salva (@MsSalvac) to talk about teaching ELs online when you've never met them, they have jobs, they don't have chromebooks, and they are at risk of aging out. Their adventures in teaching summer school and their roles at coaches offer fantastic insight!

Michelle joins Carol to reflect on a recent risk she took presenting PD live over YouTube. The show offers several examples of educators taking risks and the benefits that follow even if there is a tech fail.

Many parts of the world are going back to school. It will be a challenge regardless of how your school is going back. Carol offers ideas for starting the school year whether your ELL class is online or in person.

Carol shares information about the 4th annual VirtuEL conference. She explains why this free, online conference is important for educators during the pandemic and beyond.

Authors of new content resources join Carol to offer insight about their books, to share free resources and for an inspiring conversation about how to serve students in our changing reality.

Carol and Dorina take live calls and, along with several callers, they discuss their roles, responsibilities and potential to make a difference in the fight for racial equality.

Carol offers highlights from all the various webinars she has given during the pandemic. They have the language learner in mind but the principles can propel the learning of on or above level students as well.

Stress in inevitable, how you manage it is up to you. Dorina Sackman Ebuwa and April Williams join Carol and her call in guests to discuss ways to manage the stress so many of us are feeling right now

Carol is joined by Dr. Stephen Fleenor and Tina Beene, co-authors of Teaching Science to English Learners. They discuss teaching content to ELs, their book and the free content available from the authors.

If you wonder what happened to the rest of Ep 72, so are we! Here is he rest of that LIVE show where @Dorina_Believe and @MsSalvaC are addressing issues of mental health and emotional intelligence.

Dorina Ebuwa, joins Carol for another call in show. They address mental health, lack of engagement from students and how to help ELs when you can't be with them.

Dorina Ebuwa, aka Miss Dorito, joins Carol to take live call in questions about how to meet the challenges facing teachers right now. They are joined by listeners who have great perspective to add!

Digital coach Brad Shreffler joins Carol o discuss some of the potential effects COVI19 may have on the education of English Learners and also just to catch up.