Adventures in ESL: A Podcast for K-12 ESL Teachers

I can remember staying until 6pm every school day trying to cram in as much work as I could. I was even waking up on Saturday and Sunday working hours on end with lesson planning. Finally, it all blew up in my face. I was at a breaking point and I knew what I was doing wasn’t sustainable. My husband had started to ask me .... “Why are you working till almost 6 everyday?” He was starting to see that I was exhausting myself. In the middle of my third year teaching, I started to see teachers quit because they were so overwhelmed with the workload. I started hearing murmurs that there was a high amount of teachers on anxiety medication because of the overwhelm. That is when I woke up! I loved teaching and I didn’t want to get burnt out and quit. I immediately implemented the following.

I started to say “No”.

No to extra professional developments that didn’t fit my goals, no to staying late, no to spending hours on my weekend planning.

At first it was hard because we are in a service profession. However, when I started asking veteran teachers they gave me this advice. “It is okay to say no”. So if there is a professional development I attend, it aligns with my goals and it will be one that I KNOW I am going to have a blast. I started committing to leave school at the bell. This required some extra reflection.

I was staying late preparing because I didn’t have an effective system in place on how I should prepare. Once I got a system in place I was able to save so much time and I was able to leave on time everyday. This allowed me to spend more time with myself, my family, and my friends. Guess What! When I was refreshed, I could teach with a clear mind.

Before you get out of the car every day, have a moment of silence.

Use this time to pray, mediatate, or whatever you do to get your thoughts together. I NEVER set foot in the school building before taking this moment of silence to gather my thoughts. This helps keep me focused and calm.

You don’t have to feel like you have to check everything off your to-do list for the day.

I started reducing my to-do list to 3-4 priority items I have to do for the day. If I don’t get to everything, I make peace with that I DID my absolute best for the day. Just include the items for your priority list for tomorrow.

Above all else remember your mental, physical, and social health is the priority.

For you to teach you best you need to feel your best. So don’t every compromise on your HEALTH.

If you are a new listener to My Adventures in ESL, I would love to hear from you. Please visit email at millie@[email protected] and let me know how I can help you today!

In this episode, you will learn:

• Tools that you can use to promote reading growth with your Language Learners
• Strategies you can use for virtual and in-person learning to increase reading growth
• How close reading can benefit your Language Learners

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Welcome to the My Adventures in ESL Podcast! I want to encourage you to take the time to explore the podcast and my website My Adventures in ESL.

Are you tired of planning and looking for lessons for your Language Learners every week? If so, then I have the perfect option for you!

Join my monthly lesson planning club “The Close Read Club”. Each month you will have access to lesson plans that are ready to print and go!

Click here to learn more or go to myadventuresinesl.com/closereadclub.

Welcome to the My Adventures in ESL Podcast! I encourage you to take the time to explore the podcast and my website My Adventures in ESL.

In this episode, you will :

• October ideas for planning
• Strategies on how you can plan for the month of October

Do you want to plan and look for lessons for your Language Learners every week? I have the perfect option for you! Join my monthly lesson planning club “The Close Read Club”. Each month you will have access to lesson plans that are ready to print and go! Click here to learn more or go to myadventuresinesl.com/closereadclub.

Welcome to the My Adventures in ESL Podcast!

I have seen teacher hoarding in so many groups that I am in, and even I am a teacher resource hoarder. YES! I am admitting this aloud for the first time. I am a teacher resource hoarder.

In this week’s episode, I will be sharing with you how you can overcome resource hoarding and tips on how to get your clutter manageable.

Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & Adventures in ESL!

Links & Resources Mentioned in this Episode

The Butterfly Teacher Teacher Hoarder Tips

Shared Teaching Declutter Tips

My Adventures in ESL Store

The Ultimate Teaching Guide

Announcements

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