5 ESL Earth Day Activities That Build Vocabulary, Grammar & Writing  April brings Earth Day—a time when people around the world come together to celebrate our planet and think about how we can take better care of it. It’s a meaningful opportunit…

The beginning of April is a wonderful time to bring seasonal themes, vocabulary, and cultural traditions into your ESL classroom. From April Fool’s Day ESL activities to Easter vocabulary , ESL morning meeting slides , and engaging speaking and wr…

Spring is here—and with it comes testing season. WIDA, NYSESLAT (check out this blog post about NYS moving from NYSESLAT to WIDA), and state tests bring a level of pressure that many of our students feel deeply. But this time of year doesn’t just h…

By the time March arrives, many ESL teachers are either wrapping up annual language testing or preparing for the final stretch. After weeks of focused assessments and structured lessons, both teachers and students are ready for something a little di…

The Shift to WIDA in New York: What Changes in Real Classrooms? Starting in 2026–2027, New York will replace NYSESLAT/NYSITELL with the English Language Proficiency system developed by the WIDA Consortium. The final NYSESLAT will be given in spring …