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Continental’s ESL Resource Center for Teachers

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A male teacher holding an iPhone for two students to watch a video.

We know teaching English Language Learners (ELLs) can be a challenge, and a little support can go a long way. In this ESL Resource Center for Teachers, you’ll see our best online resources—like our blogs with classroom experts, freebies, and budget-friendly tools to energize your instruction while meeting standards and testing goals.

ESL Blog Resources For Teaching English Learners

Our Continental blogs are the bread and butter of our ESL Resource Center for Teachers. Over the years, we’ve worked with teachers and educators around the country to compile the best tips, activities, and ideas for ESL teachers.

ESL 101

New to teaching ELLs? Dive into these blogs for expert strategies and advice.

The Stages of Language Acquisition for ELLs

Explore the similarities and key differences between first and second language acquisition and discover how to tailor your instructional approaches to support ELLs in developing language skills. [+Video]

Activating Prior Knowledge for ELLs: 7 Activities to Make Learning Meaningful

Activating prior knowledge is a crucial strategy for supporting ELLs in the classroom. Here we explore effective ways to tap into students’ existing knowledge and experiences to boost comprehension and participation.

Hands Up! Engagement Strategies for ELL Students

Delve into engagement strategies tailored for ELLs, focusing on creating a supportive learning environment while implementing targeted techniques to encourage active participation.

Supportive Language Instruction: 5 Scaffolding Strategies for ELL Students

English learners (ELs) need purposeful and strategic instructional support to gain new content knowledge and language skills. Here, we will define scaffolding instruction and share five effective scaffolding techniques to implement for ELL students in your classroom. [+Video]

ELL Parent Involvement

Establishing solid partnerships with ELL families is essential for maximizing student potential. Explore insightful articles, practical tips, and strategies for fostering relationships.

Beyond the Classroom: How Can Parents Support Learning at Home for ELLs?

All parents play a vital role in their child’s academic success. ELL families face unique challenges related to language and educational background. In this blog, we provide strategies to enhance parent engagement, along with helpful ideas for supporting ELL students’ learning at home for both teachers and parents. [+Printable]

How to Empower Immigrant Parents to Help ELL Students

This blog explores effective strategies for teachers to empower immigrant families. Find useful tips to help immigrant families navigate the education system and become active participants in their children’s learning.

Summer Activities For English Language Learners

Explore a range of engaging summer learning activities specifically designed to help ELLs maintain and build their language skills during the break. Educators and parents will find actionable tips to keep students motivated and connected to their learning throughout the summer months.

Build Thriving Partnerships with These Teacher-Parent Communication Tools

Home-school partnerships are strengthened by frequent, positive communication. Check out our list of top communication tools to find the tool that works for you, and watch your parent-teacher relationship thrive.

Teaching Newcomers

Teaching newcomer students requires a culturally responsive approach that recognizes their unique backgrounds and experiences. Our collection of blog articles highlights strategies and resources for English language learners who are new to the classroom.

Homework for Beginning ESL Students: 8 Tips for Success

Homework is a debated topic, but for ESL students, it can be a valuable tool for extending learning beyond the classroom. This blog provides tips to make homework for beginning ESL students a positive experience, encouraging independent English skills at home.

ESL Reading 101: A Research-Based Guide for Teaching Reading to Newcomers

This blog will explore evidence-based strategies for effective reading instruction tailored to newcomer ESL students, focusing on strategies to support their unique needs. It will also provide straightforward approaches for developing the five pillars of literacy—ensuring a well-rounded foundation for English learners.

Teaching Newcomers? Effective Writing Strategies for ELL Newcomers

Newcomers face the additional stress of learning to write in a new language. In this blog, we’ll explore effective strategies to support ELL newcomers in writing, along with creative and engaging activities to kick-start their writing journey.

Tips for Teaching English Learners Video Series: Sentence Frames and Sentence Starters Build Confidence

Sentence frames and sentence starters can help ELLs learn to answer open-ended sentences more confidently. Check out our tips for utilizing these tools with your students. [+Video]

Creating a Welcoming Classroom

Creating a welcoming classroom for ELLs begins with fostering an environment where all students feel valued and respected. Explore the English language learner blogs below for tips and resources for promoting an inclusive classroom.

Accommodations for ELLs: How to Create a Welcoming Classroom

Whether you are welcoming a new ELL into your established English-speaking classroom or are starting your first year of teaching ELLs, check out these simple steps you can take to make the transition as smooth as possible. [+Printable]

Classroom Management for ELLs: 7 Tips for Teachers

Teaching is a tough job. Add in the obstacles ELLs face–communication difficulties, cultural differences, and more–and it can be even harder. Here are seven ideas to help manage ELLs in your classroom.

Fostering the ELL Growth Mindset: Tips for English Learner Resilience

Explore the importance of fostering a growth mindset for ELLs. Find practical strategies and activities that you can implement to encourage ELL students to embrace challenges, learn from feedback, and persist in the face of difficulties.

11 Ways to Celebrate Cultural Diversity in the Classroom

This article highlights creative ways to celebrate diversity in the classroom. Promote cultural awareness and appreciation and encourage students to share their unique backgrounds and experiences with these ideas.

Check Out Our Video Series: Tips for Teaching ELLs

Looking for a quick and easy way to expand your knowledge and gather new, engaging ideas for your students? Explore our ESL video series below!

Using Visuals In Your ESL Lessons

Visual aids are one of the most valuable tools for ELL teachers, especially those working with students in the pre-production stage of language acquisition. Check out these tips for making the most of your visual cues and aids in the classroom.

Sentence Frames and Sentence Starters Build Confidence

Sentence frames and sentence starters can help ELLs learn to answer open-ended sentences more confidently. Check out our tips for utilizing these tools with your students.

Using Turn and Talk to Encourage ELLs

Turn-and-talk activities provide a break from formal instruction and help get ELLs talking in a casual, small-group setting. Check out our video to learn how to get started with turn-and-talk activities.

Literacy & Language Arts for ELLs

ELLs have diverse literacy needs. Explore our blogs for effective ESL strategies and innovative ideas designed to support teaching in a way that meets these varied needs. Our ESL resources offer practical solutions to enhance literacy development for all students.

Building Strong Writers: Activities & Writing Strategies for ELL Students

Writing is a task that many students find difficult, but for ELLs, the challenge is magnified as they navigate a second language. To support their writing journey, we have assembled a range of activities and ESL writing resources designed to help them overcome these hurdles.

What is the Importance of Picture Books for ELL Students?

Effective picture books for English Language Learners (ELLs) help create links between their first language and English, enrich their vocabulary, and reinforce academic learning objectives. Find our top picks here.

Reading with Feeling: 4 Simple Strategies for Helping ELLs Develop Prosody

Explore the importance of teaching ELLs to read with prosody. Discover practical ELL strategies for reading and activities to help students develop expressive reading skills that reflect proper intonation, rhythm, and phrasing.

Language & Vocabulary for ELLs

Building language and vocabulary skills is necessary for ELLs to grow in the classroom. Check out our tips for making the most of these lessons with your students.

Strategies for Teaching Academic Language to ELLs

ELLs need to learn an enormous amount of vocabulary and terms, especially in their first few months in an English-speaking classroom. Academic language can be especially tricky to teach and learn. Here are our top strategies.

5 Fun Ways to Teach Vocabulary Words with a Picture Dictionary

Picture dictionaries are a valuable tool for effectively and efficiently building vocabulary through visuals. Here are three engaging activities to try with picture dictionaries. [+Printable]

How to Use Technology to Help ELLs Achieve Language Mastery

While educational technology is beneficial for all students, it holds particular value for ELLs in achieving language mastery. This blog will provide helpful tips for effectively using technology to support ELLs, alongside compelling reasons to integrate these tools into your classroom.

Vocabulary, Writing, Listening, and Speaking Activities for ELLs

Want to change things up and get your students moving and speaking with some fun classroom activities? Check out this list of our favorite ideas!

Content for ELLs

English language learners need focused language instruction to access grade-level content. The ESL strategies in these blogs offer suggestions for providing your ELLs with extra language support across various subject areas.

Strategies to Support STEM and Language Learning for Your ELL Students

Explore the intersection of STEM and English Language Learners (ELLs). Here we provide educators with strategies and resources to create an inclusive STEM environment that fosters language development and enhances learning for ELL students.

Elevate ELL Math Achievement with These Top Tips and Strategies

This article focuses on effective math strategies and instructional practices designed to support ELLs. Discover ESL resources that enhance understanding and engagement in math while promoting language development and academic success for ELL students. [+Video]

Free & Affordable Resources for the ESL Classroom

In this section of our ESL Resource Center for Teachers, we’re showcasing free and affordable Continental materials designed especially for teaching ELLs.

Free ESL Resources

We know budget-savvy ESL teachers appreciate free resources to support student achievement. Simply download and print our free vocabulary and math flashcards and graphic organizers to use with your ESL class.

ESL Resources for Teachers

Since 1937, Continental has provided teachers with instructional materials and ESL resources to foster successful learning. Here are some of our favorite ESL resource books for teachers. Not sure which materials are right for your class? Check out our quick Guide to English Learner Programs video.

Vocabulary Development

Strengthen your approach to teaching ELLs with resources designed to boost word knowledge and language acquisition.

ELP Test Readiness

Our test readiness programs, including the Finish Line series, prepare students for state English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments with standards-based lessons and item types they’ll face on test day.

Newcomers

ELLs have diverse literacy needs. Explore our blogs for effective ESL strategies and innovative ideas designed to support teaching in a way that meets these varied needs. Our ESL resources offer practical solutions to enhance literacy development for all students.

Writing Skills

Our test readiness programs, including the Finish Line series, prepare students for state English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments with standards-based lessons and item types they’ll face on test day.

Fundamental Skills

Our test readiness programs, including the Finish Line series, prepare students for state English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments with standards-based lessons and item types they’ll face on test day.

Not sure which materials from our ESL Resource Center for Teachers are right for your class? Check out our quick Guide to English Learner Programs.