I’ve been an elementary ESOL teacher since 2005, working with grades K–6, and during that time I’ve used a wide range of resources. Over the years, my favorite resources are the ones that have truly stuck with me. Even though my “classroom” setup often changes from year to year—from pushing in and co-teaching to predominantly working with small pull-out groups—these tried-and-true resources are the ones I continue to rely on. Here’s a look at a few of my top favorite resources.
Graphic Organizers
This resource is #1 for a reason! I almost always use graphic organizers when teaching reading comprehension. I find them to be highly effective because they are accessible to all students. Students read with a purpose, then respond to their reading using a graphic organizer. No matter my students’ level of reading or language proficiency, a simple graphic organizer is what I often use to reinforce the taught skill or strategy. 🙌🏼
I keep these graphic organizers on my desktop, and when I’m planning my lessons, I quickly pull up the organizers I need– then print and go!
Tip: I reduce the setting to 75% and then trim the sides. Students glue the graphic organizer into their ELD notebooks which makes for a great collection of student work and visual reference of student progress and effort throughout the year.
Leveled Books for Small Group Instruction
While I still love using leveled texts, it’s with much less frequency due to the new ELA & ELD curriculums my school district adopted recently (Benchmark). They do, however, continue to be a valuable resource, especially for my primary grade students, as well as my level 1 & 2 upper elementary students.
My all-time favorite books are these non-fiction books from Pioneer Valley, especially the books from their “Explore the World” series. 💕
If you’re looking for leveled books to support science and social studies content, my favorites are from the English Explorers series by Benchmark Education. 
The power of leveled books isn’t about matching a level– it’s about giving students texts that are appropriate for practicing specific literacy skills, whether that’s decoding word patterns, engaging with rich vocabulary, or applying comprehension strategies. Leveled texts allow for meaningful differentiation so that each small group can work on the skills they need while still accessing rich and relevant content.
Visual Reading Word Wall Cards
This is a favorite resource because of the visuals and versatility. When introducing a reading concept, such as “making predictions” or “plot,” especially to beginning or intermediate English learners, a meaningful visual is definitely worth a thousand words!
These reading word wall cards provide my students with the visual supports they need as they are learning new concepts in English. I use these cards at my reading table, as a word wall, in anchor charts, as sorting headers, and in my learning objectives that I post on the board.
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| Small Group Instruction |
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| Anchor Chart |
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| Lesson Objectives |
Vocabulary Mini Office
This is a MUST have for my newcomers! When they arrive, this is the first resource I give to them. It’s basic everyday vocabulary that students use throughout their day. The Vocabulary Mini Office is kept at their desk to use during independent work time. Whether it’s during Writer’s Workshop, Reading or Vocabulary practice, it provides them with access to everyday vocabulary at their fingertips. 
My newcomers love this resource, and they use it often. For my older newcomers I put the pages inside their reading folder. When they practice their writing, they can easily find the vocabulary they need.
A Favorite Writing Resource
What I love about this writing resource is that it builds on the skills needed for the annual English proficiency writing assessment. And because of the variety, I’m able to pick and choose the skills my various groups need practice with.
Tasks Included:
Writing Words
Writing Sentences
Stories in Sequence
Predict an Event
Compare and Contrast
Explain
I keep a color copy in a plastic sleeve for me to model the writing task. Dry erase markers clean off easily:) Students get a black and white copy. This has been an invaluable resource with my students in grades 1-3 but can easily be used with older students as well.
As a teacher of English Learners, these are just a few of my favorite resources. When I plan my lessons, they are often the first ones I grab. They make my instruction consistent, effective and meaningful. Yes, there are other resources that I would not want to do without, and perhaps that would make for a follow up post, but if I were to pick a few dependable favorites, these would be them!
I’d love to know what some of your favorite resources are!
