A Fun, Hands-On Way to Practice Positional Words (Prepositions of Place) Teaching positional words—also known as prepositions of place or location—is a foundational skill for young learners, ESL students, and early language development. Words like in, on, under, behind, next to, between, and above appear constantly in classroom directions, storybooks, math problems, and everyday communication. Yet for many students, especially Pre-K, Kindergarten, and ESL learners, these words can feel abstract without the right kind of practice. The good news? Practicing positional words doesn’t have to mean endless worksheets or rote drills. With the right visuals, hands-on activities, and playful themes,…
Author: brookehotchocolate
Writing is one of the toughest skills to teach in ESL — not because students don’t want to write, but because they often don’t know how to start. Beginners stare at a blank page. Intermediate students write short, repetitive sentences. Advanced learners avoid errors by playing it safe. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever thought, “My students can speak better than they can write,” or “They know the grammar in theory but can’t use it in their own sentences,” you’re not alone. ESL writing needs to be level-appropriate, supported, and consistent — and that’s exactly why digital and printable quick-write journals…
December in the classroom is magical, busy, and just a little bit overwhelming. Your students are counting down to winter break, your schedule is full of concerts, assemblies, and classroom events, and somewhere in the middle of all that you remember: you still need a class gift for every student. If you have ever typed “low cost student gifts,” “DIY Christmas gift for students,” or “best last-minute student gifts” into a search bar the week before break, you are absolutely not alone. Teachers want to make students feel special without spending a lot of money or staying up half the…
If your students already know what an adjective is but still write sentences like “a leather brown small bag” or “a blue beautiful dress,” you are not alone. Even confident writers struggle with ordering adjectives correctly. For English learners, this grammar rule can feel especially confusing because many languages do not require a specific sequence of adjectives before a noun. The good news is that adjective order does not have to be boring or intimidating. With the right visual tools and hands-on practice, students can quickly move from choppy, awkward sentences to smooth and descriptive ones such as “a small…
Plan a Christmas Party | ESL Project-Based Learning Speaking Activity The holidays are the perfect time to add a little fun and creativity to your ESL classroom! The Plan a Christmas Party ESL Project-Based Learning Activity gives your students the chance to use English in meaningful, real-world ways while working together to plan the ultimate holiday celebration. This engaging ESL speaking and vocabulary project encourages teamwork, communication, budgeting, and presentation skills — all wrapped in holiday cheer! Why This ESL Project Is Perfect for December December can be a challenging month for teachers — students are excited for the holidays…
Build Your Dream Classroom | ESL Project-Based Learning Speaking Activity Looking for a creative, student-centered way to get your English learners talking, planning, and collaborating? The Build Your Dream Classroom Project is a complete ESL project-based learning speaking activity that inspires students to use their imagination while practicing meaningful English communication skills. This resource helps students develop critical thinking, budgeting, and descriptive language skills—all while having fun designing their ideal classroom! Why Project-Based Learning Works for ESL Students Project-Based Learning (PBL) gives students the opportunity to use English in authentic, real-world contexts. Instead of simply completing grammar worksheets, they’re using…
Commonly Confused Words Game: A Fun Way to Teach Tricky Homophones and Look-Alike Verbs If your students constantly mix up their/there/they’re, write loose when they mean lose, or freeze every time they see affect/effect, you are absolutely not alone. Commonly confused words are one of those grammar pain points that keep reappearing on writing assignments, quizzes, and standardized tests. Instead of another worksheet stack, try turning those “Oops!” moments into a fast-paced, repeatable game that gives students tons of exposure, instant feedback, and a reason to care about accuracy. This post walks you through an engaging way to teach and…
If you’ve ever taught action verbs, you know how much energy this unit can bring to your ESL or EFL classroom! The key is moving beyond simple repetition and flashcard drills to create an engaging, movement-based learning experience. That’s where the Action Verbs Present Continuous Games, Activities & Worksheets Bundle comes in—a complete, one-stop collection of print-and-play materials that make learning fun, memorable, and full of movement. Whether you’re working on present continuous tense sentences (“He is running”) or general action vocabulary, this bundle includes everything you need to teach, practice, and review action verbs—from flashcards and games to task…