Not simplified, supported. What I thought would be a small project to create materials for a teacher-led literature circle (Our Reading Club), and then use them throughout the year, or years if they catch on, turned into something bigger, so…
What if you could finally read authentic English without constantly stopping to look up words? I’m often asked the same question: What can I read in my spare time? Language learners are looking for an authentic story, or a ‘real’…
Integration The other day, I was telling my daughter (now doing her MA and trying to figure out the magic formula of time × research × life) about the days when I was working on my PhD thesis. Skipping the…
This year I’m taking the safest path to discussing love and relationships – the ‘healthy self’ path. As a warm-up, write self-love = selfish on the board, and ask students whether they mean the same thing. Have them come up…
‘Correct’ can’t be corrected because you’ve hit a ceiling.’ Today, I’m sharing an experimental tool I built to help come up with ‘upgraded’ versions of (spoken) sentences. I believe it could be useful for teachers who want to give non-corrective…
This is a song-based activity full of mondegreens, something every speaker of any language has experienced at least once in their life. Have you? For language learners (and enthusiasts), deliberate practice in spotting mondegreens can be a great way to:a)…
Every new year starts with a season of resolutions, or re-words. They feel more powerful than hopes because, etymologically speaking, when you make a resolution, you’re not just making a promise, you are already solving a problem by breaking it…
Jingle bells, jingle bells. Christmas activities are everywhere. Opposites bring fun. Well, it’s not the best piece of poetry ever, but you get the idea: Christmas is in the air, and here comes a new activity to add to my…
On days when battle themes just aren’t right for your class, go with the A-Maze-Ing Game. Bringing the classic games we grew up with into the classroom can be tricky. Sometimes we need to tweak them so they support learning,…
Good teaching ideas often come in espresso size. Sometimes a single word is all it takes to get students talking. Less is more My today’s post is about espresso dialogues. This is one of the best formats for teachers who…
