More technology in the classroom.

Here is a post from Powtoon, a great website for creating presentations in your class. I have a free classroom account and I have used it a few times. It really helps integrate technology into your class in a fun way. Check out the link below.

 http://www.powtoon.com/blog/13-simple-ways-integrate-technology-lesson-plan/


OK that was the practical and now we have the theoretical. Here is a post from the TESOL connections blog on the effects of learners who grew up in an age of technology and teachers who had to learn that same technology later in life. 

http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/tesolc/issues/2015-10-01/index.html 

The Holidays are coming! But how should I teach about them to my students?

This post from TESOL might have the answer. "Reasons for the Seasons-Making Holiday activities for your ELLs"  Click on the link below for more information.
 


http://blog.tesol.org/the-reasons-for-the-seasons-making-holiday-activities-for-ells/

The Reasons for the Seasons: Making Holiday Activities for ELLS - See more at: http://blog.tesol.org/the-reasons-for-the-seasons-making-holiday-activities-for-ells/#sthash.t6z99fR7.dpuf

The Reasons for the Seasons: Making Holiday Activities for ELLS - See more at: http://blog.tesol.org/the-reasons-for-the-seasons-making-holiday-activities-for-ells/#sthash.t6z99fR7.dpuf

We all use videos in the class room, but are we using the right ones?

Here is a blog I found called "English Teacher Exposed" that has a list of You Tube channels that might be useful in your classes. Click on the link below for more information. 

 
 http://english-teacher-exposed.blogspot.com/2015/08/5-great-youtube-channels-for-efl.html

So, why not give your ESL students some training wheels for writing?

Here is a post from Fluent U about ESL writing. Let's face it, writing is one of the most difficult skills to teach in an ESL classroom. This post is loaded with links for good resources in writing. Click on the link below. 

 http://www.fluentu.com/english/educator/blog/esl-writing-worksheets/

Some things to think about for your next teaching observation.

Here is an article from elteachertrainer.com about peer observations in the classroom. It is called eye on the classroom. Check out parts 1 thru 5 at the link below. 

http://elteachertrainer.com/2015/10/12/eye-on-the-classroom-1-peer-observation/

How different is your English from your students L1?

This post from the TESOL blog is about how we as teachers think about how the English language has developed and not so much about how other languages develop and how this impacts our teaching. Click on the link below.  

http://blog.tesol.org/how-different-is-english-from-my-students-l1/

Free publications in professional development for English language teachers

The British Council has down-loadable books that are free to educators. This book has research from a wide range of geographical areas about professional development. I am reading it now and it is very interesting. Click on the link below for more information.   

 


 http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/innovations-continuing-professional-development-english-language-teachers?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=bc-teachingenglish

A brief introduction to digital literacies

Technological advancements in the language learning classroom are changing rapidly. This post from International House is about the basics of digital literacies. Click on the link below for more information.


 

 http://www.ihlondon.com/blog/posts/2014/a-brief-introduction-to-digital-literacies/