Click below to hear what supporting ells in k-12 looks like:
Are you wondering what teaching ELLs looks like in other schools or districts? Today, I am chatting with Karen Hartke to get some insight into what being an ESL teacher looks like for her and her district.
Karen serves as both the only ESL teacher and the EL coordinator in her K-12 district which brings on unique challenges. In this episode, she is sharing with us what her role looks like, some tips and tricks for teaching ELLs, and the importance of building strong relationships with administration, classroom teachers, and support staff to best serve your students.
Karen Hartke is currently a K-12 ESL teacher at Lakeview Independent School District in rural southwest Minnesota. She has taught at the primary, intermediate, and upper elementary levels, as well as 7th and 8th grade mathematics. Additionally, she has MN teaching certification in middle school Mathematics, K-12 English as a Second Language, K-12 Reading, K-6 Elementary, and a Masters in Educational Leadership. She is also a parent of middle and high school age children.
Karen shares how beneficial being part of the Equipping ELLs membership has been for her and her teaching. If you would like access to ready to use lessons and activities, tons of resources, and be part of an amazing and supportive community, join us! We would love to see you there!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- What Karen’s role looks like as a K-12 ESL teacher and EL Coordinator
- How she prevents the overwhelm of her role from taking over by having strong relationships
- Tips and tricks on how to teach such a wide range of students
- The importance of collaborating with homeroom teachers
- Why the Equipping ELLs membership has been so beneficial in Karen’s role
- How building relationships with parents and students is so helpful
Related resources:
- WIDA Can-Do Descriptors SIMPLIFIED!
- Speaking and Listening Cards
- Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
- Check out the ELL Strategy Academy
- Shop TpT resources that help with supporting your ELLs
Related episodes and blog posts:
- Episode 17: Breaking Down the Language Levels
- Episode 15: 3 Ways to Connect with the Parents of ELLs
- Episode 14: 3 Ways to Connect with Homeroom Teachers
Connect with Beth:
- Join the Facebook group: Inspiring Young Learners Engage!
- Follow her on Instagram @inspiringyounglearners.
More about Equipping ELLs:
We all know that teaching isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be this hard. Equipping ELLs is a podcast for both ESL specialists and homeroom teachers who are looking for effective and engaging ways to support their English Language Learners without adding to their endless to-do list. Tune in each week to hear tips, strategies, and inspirational stories that will empower you to better reach your ELL students, equip them with life-long skills, and strengthen relationships with colleagues and parents.
Your host, Beth Vaucher, is the founder of Inspiring Young Learners. She is an ESL certified homeroom teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in the US and internationally. Her background of M.Ed in ESL and Curriculum and Instruction combined with her experience has led her to develop a bestselling newcomer curriculum that has sold in over 90 countries around the globe. She brings a different perspective to teaching ELLs from her years teaching and living abroad and working with ELLs from around the world. You will walk away from each episode with the ideas and tools you need to transform your experience as a teacher and cultivate a thriving and welcoming environment for your ELL students.
