Teaching Strategies
Recent Newsletter Articles
Project-Based Learning in Action: How to Be a Successful Online Student – Part 2
Instructor Dan Bruski describes how he led his low-intermediate ESL students through a project-based learning activity around composing a list of rules and expectations for their online class. The culmination of the lesson was the creation of a video on "How to be a successful online student," which has an authentic use for orienting new students. Read More
Project-Based Learning in Action: How to Be a Successful Online Student – Part 1
Instructor Dan Bruski describes how he led his low-intermediate ESL students through a project-based learning activity around composing a list of rules and expectations for their online class. The culmination of the lesson was the creation of a video on "How to be a successful online student," which has an authentic use for orienting new students. Read More
Engage Learners in Preventing Food Waste
Save the Food! – a free curriculum developed by public health practitioners who specialize in cross-cultural and immigrant health – provides interactive instruction, games and exercises that deliver both useful language instruction and relevant environmental health information, enabling learners to identify and prevent food waste as well as save money in the process. Read More
Diversifying Your Image Searches
How can a beginner level ESOL class be made more culturally responsive, when the content and skills we need to cover seem so basic? I realized that in order to embody the values that our field aspires to hold, I needed to figure out how to make them real and tangible in my classroom. This school year, that mission became my primary focus. I’d like to share some of my thoughts and takeaways from my journey so far. Read More
Fun Minimal Pair Activities for English Learners
Where to begin with easy and effective pronunciation instruction? Read on to learn about two pronunciation activities targeting minimal pairs that are a great starting point for teaching pronunciation, as well as where you can find the recordings and materials from ATLAS’s latest pronunciation webinars. Read More
Manipulatives Are a Fun and Engaging Way to Help ESL Students Learn! – Part 2
Miriam Bosveld, a Level 1 ESL teacher at the Robbinsdale Adult Academic Program and a PANDA consultant, wrote the following article series about the relevance of using manipulatives in teaching her students. Using manipulatives is also supported in the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) free training that PANDA offers each year. Read More
Manipulatives Are a Fun and Engaging Way to Help ESL Students Learn! – Part 1
Miriam Bosveld, a Level 1 ESL teacher at the Robbinsdale Adult Academic Program and a PANDA consultant, wrote the following article series about the relevance of using manipulatives in teaching her students. Using manipulatives is also supported in the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) free training that PANDA offers each year. Read More
The “Just in Time” Evidence-Based Reading Instruction (EBRI) Resource Series: Part 4
This article is Part 4 in a newsletter series highlighting PD and resources for each of the four components of Evidence-Based Reading Instruction (EBRI): alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. This week we’ll focus on some useful free vocabulary resources for teaching academic vocabulary and locating it in text. Read More
Get Them Talking with Career Conversations
There are so many things to consider when helping learners plan for a future career that it can sometimes feel overwhelming. We need to provide opportunities for learners to identify their skills and interests, create a resume, research education and training options, practice interviewing skills, and more. Check out this resource that helps students work on several of these skills at the same time! Read More
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
COVID-19 has caused distractions and worry for many people due to the uncertainties in our world. But is it Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Many adults have trouble sitting still, getting distracted, paying attention, or being impulsive on occasion. It becomes troublesome when lack of concentration is consistently occurring and significantly impacting student learning. Read More