Episode Summary
How do you build students’ EL literacy and confidence from the ground up? My guest, Kyle Larson, and I talk about just that on this episode.
How to help EL students with literacy, especially as they enter the US educational system in upper elementary grades or later, is an eternal question for all of us. There are so many nuances in this.
For example, an EL specialist will work with those students to ensure their language acquisition process. The content area teachers need to know what and how to accommodate English learners with beginning literacy. And literacy begins with reading appropriate level books, which are few and far between for older learners.
Kyle studied Spanish language and English linguistics at Western Oregon University, and he has a master’s in teaching from Northwest University. He has taught kindergarten, high school, university, and adults in Mexico, China, Columbia, and the US. He has recently relocated from Washington State to Texas where he teaches ELL at Frisco High School. He is also the CEO of Air Language about which we will talk a little bit towards the end of the episode.
I am excited to share our conversation with you, and I know it will be super valuable. And if you’d like to see us, you can watch the recording of this interview on my YouTube channel at Simply Ieva ESL.
What you will hear about in this episode:
- The importance of having honest conversations with students about their language learning challenges and helping them realize their own power to improve.
- Strategies for building EL literacy from the ground up, including setting reading goals for students and providing ways for teachers to check in on their progress.
- Kyle’s personal journey as an ELL teacher, including his studies in Spanish and English linguistics, teaching experiences in different countries, and his current role as an ELL teacher at Frisco High School in Texas.
- The concept of breaking down assumptions about language learning, accommodating diverse students in the classroom, and viewing every teacher as a language teacher who teaches their content through the medium of language.
Resources Mentioned:
- Sign up for the FREE Confident ESL Teacher Summit!
- The ESL Teaching Roadmap – membership community for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers. As a thank you for listening, use code ESLPODCAST for 10% off when you join.
- Simply Ieva ESL Teachers Pay Teachers Store
- AIR Language learning
- 1:1 ESL Teacher Coaching Session
- Essential Lesson Plan Bundle
Related/Previous Episodes:
- Episode 74 – Why Teachers Should Embrace Meditation As Part of Their Daily Routine
- Episode 75 – How to Navigate Grade Transition and Collaboration with Colleagues
- Episode 76 – Three Major Components of Effective Professional Development for EL (and all) Teachers
Connect with Kyle:
- LinkedIn – @Kyle Larson
- AIR Language learning
Connect with Ieva:
- Follow me on Instagram – @simplyievaesl
- Visit my website – www.simplyieva.com/
- Join the – Simply Ieva Facebook Group