Let’s face it, the idea of teaching a whole new language to a child is completely overwhelming. If you are teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) it can be pretty scary at the beginning of the year. For me, the question that pops into my mind is always, where do I start? The answer is, in a lot of places! Today I am going to be sharing some ESL classroom resources that I have found to be particularly helpful.
What is a good ESL book?
The first classroom resource that I ensure to stock up on every year are classroom books that are accessible for my students. What does an accessible book look like for a beginning ESL students? There are a couple things I look for: common English words, lots of descriptive pictures, relevant topics, and repetition.
Let’s break these down a bit more. The thing I really want my ESL beginning students to have access to is repetition within the books they read. They should be reading common sight words over and over. It may seem ridiculously repetitive to you, but remember, they are just learning these words. They need repeated exposure to them! The more they see the words such as “like” and “play” the more likely they will be to start using them in their own vocabulary. So look for those repeated words!
Descriptive pictures go a long way when working with ESL students. What is a descriptive picture? A descriptive picture is one that shows students exactly what is happening. For example, if the text reads “He ate a sandwich on the mat.” The picture should show just that. A boy sitting on a mat eating a sandwich. It shouldn’t have a boy sitting at a table with a bowl and a fork. Pictures that match the text are vital as students begin their English journey.
Finally, choose books that are about relevant topics for your students! Beginning ESL students shouldn’t yet be reading about topics like advanced technology, government, or history. They should be starting with the basics. School, family, friendships, hobbies, favorites, daily routines and activities, plants, and animals. These are the topics that they are going to be learning and talking about the most, so choose books with topics that are relevant and important to them.
Book sets to have in the classroom
So what are some of my favorite books that follow these guidelines? The first up is my all time favorite set of Elephant and Piggie books. To say my kids are obsessed with these books is an understatement! Every day my kids are grabbing these books first thing in the morning. They have everything you need as an ESL classroom resource. Teaching your beginner ESL students to read feels a lot easier when you have books you know they will love. They include plenty of repeated words, and themes such as friendship and play that are perfect for beginning ESL students.
So if you are looking for book resources for an ESL classroom, be sure to get your Elephant and Piggie set. It’s been worth every cent!
Another favorite of mine for classroom ESL resources and books are the leveled readers. Last year I purchased the leveled readers super set and it’s been such a life saver! There are tons of relevant topics included in the super set. The varied levels also supports students as they move up in their reading level. These are great for 1-1 reading and working with students on specific vocabulary. I can highly recommend these engaging small books for students. They help break down reading into a smaller, more manageable task. Grab them here!
VOCABUlary resources
Next up, let’s talk vocabulary resources! Vocabulary resources are so necessary in an ESL classroom! Yes, students will naturally acquire vocabulary, but specific targeted vocabulary instruction should not be forgotten. I like to use flashcards and play different games with them. My top pick for flashcards are these picture and word flashcards. One thing I really love about them is that they have the word with the picture on one side and just the word on the other side. This is great for students as they advance. Instead of seeing the picture they can draw the picture themselves or describe it.
The best way to teach vocabulary is through games. It’s the most engaging method for students. Games are my top resource in my ESL classroom. As far as vocabulary games go, my students’ favorite game is one that I made up (blush)! This game is called Simby! It has to do with matching symbols and racing to name a word in a given vocabulary category. You can take a look at the game on my Teachers Pay Teachers store. If you want to see specifically how the game works, you can watch a video of how to play the game here.
let’s get to it!
So there you have it, a whole lot of my favorite ESL classroom resources! If you want an ESL friendly classroom, it’s crucial to have the right materials. It has taken me several years of teaching in an ESL classroom to figure out what works best, and I can say confidently that my above recommendations are my go to resources for my ESL classroom every year. I hope they serve you and your students!