In this episode, we address the overlooked emotional dimension of language testing, exploring why English Learners (ELs) may "freeze, shut down, or give up" during high-stakes assessments like ACCESS. ACCESS and other language tests don’t just measure English as they touch the themes of identity, confidence, and belonging. In this episode, we offer a framework for shifting from a state of urgency to one of grounded presence to support the student's emotional well-being first, which then allows them to access their language and learning.

Here is What You Will Hear in This Episode:

• Why language testing can feel heavy for multilingual learners.
• What is actually happening beneath the behavior when students freeze, shut down, or give up.
• How our presence as teachers can either intensify pressure or create enough safety for students to access what they know.
• A personal story about where the host first learned what it truly means to hold space.
• A classroom moment that changed the host's approach to assessments, involving a student overwhelmed during ACCESS testing.
• Practical ways you can support students when anxiety shows up—without rushing, fixing, or pushing through.
• An invitation to download the free resource, The First 7 Minutes, designed to help teachers intentionally reset their classrooms.

Simply Ieva Offers:

• The Inner Classroom™ Clarity Session

If you find value in The ESL Teaching Podcast and want to support the time, effort, and costs that go into bringing you these episodes each week, consider making a small donation—whatever feels right for you. Your support helps keep this podcast going and means the world to me! You can find the donation link below. Thank you so much! https://www.paypal.biz/simplyieva

Save time and build confidence in your EL teaching with these resources:

• Simply Ieva website
• My TpT store

Free resource:

Grab your free practice The First 7 Minutes: How to Start the Class Grounded (Even if Your Students Aren’t)

Related episodes:

• One EL Strategy, One Shift: How to Support ELs Without Burning Yourself Out
• Preparing ELs for State and Language Proficiency Tests. Part 1: Listening and Speaking

Let’s connect!

• Follow me on Instagram
• Follow me on Facebook
• Follow me on LinkedIn

• Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Support the show

ACCESS season can quietly shift the energy in our classrooms—bringing urgency, pressure, and the feeling that we should be doing more. More prep. More drills. More fixing. But let's talk about preparing ELs for ACCESS without panic.

In this episode, we slow the entire conversation down.

Instead of panic-driven test preparation, we focus on what actually supports English learners during ACCESS—and how your own regulation as a teacher directly impacts student language performance.

This episode is about preparing ELs for ACCESS without cramming, without overload, and without sacrificing nervous-system safety—for you or your students.

Here is What You Will Hear in This Episode:

• The 3–4 language behaviors ACCESS measures across listening, speaking, reading, and writing
• Why understanding the task matters more than perfect grammar
• How expansion (adding a reason, detail, or example) impacts scores
• Why language acquisition doesn’t respond to last-minute intensity
• A simple Inner Classroom check for awareness and regulation during testing season
• Four low-stress, high-impact prep routines that actually support ELs
• What to intentionally let go of during ACCESS season
• A grounded reframe of ACCESS as information—not judgment

Simply Ieva Offers:

• The Inner Classroom™ Clarity Session
• If you find value in The ESL Teaching Podcast and want to support the time, effort, and costs that go into bringing you these episodes each week, consider making a small donation—whatever feels right for you. Your support helps keep this podcast going and means the world to me! You can find the donation link below. Thank you so much! https://www.paypal.biz/simplyieva

Save time and build confidence in your EL teaching with these resources:

• Simply Ieva website
• My TpT store

Free resource:

Grab your free practice The First 7 Minutes: How to Start the Class Grounded (Even if Your Students Aren’t)

Related episodes:

• Reading and Writing Practice for State and Proficiency Tests
• Preparing ELs for State and Language Proficiency Tests. Part 1: Listening and Speaking

Let’s connect!

• Follow me on Instagram
• Follow me on Facebook
• Follow me on LinkedIn

Support the show

If you’re listening today and you feel like you’re constantly trying to do more—more scaffolds, more supports, more differentiation—yet still wondering if you’re doing enough for your English learners, this episode is for you.

In today’s episode, I want to do something very simple and very intentional.

I’m going to share:

• One practical EL strategy you can use tomorrow
• And one Inner Classroom takeaway that will help you actually sustain your teaching—without burning yourself out

I have shared a lot about EL teaching strategies in some of my previous episodes on this podcast and I can link a few episodes for you to peruse below. But today’s episode is going to go a little deeper rather than wider - no overload, no long list. Just one solid instructional move and one internal shift.

If you find value in The ESL Teaching Podcast and want to support the time, effort, and costs that go into bringing you these episodes each week, consider making a small donation—whatever feels right for you. Your support helps keep this podcast going and means the world to me! You can find the donation link below. Thank you so much! https://www.paypal.biz/simplyieva

Related episodes:

• Seeing is Understanding: 5 Visual Strategies for Supporting ELs
• 4 Strategies for Teaching Math to ESL Students
• Cultivating Comprehension: The Art of Strategic Questioning for English Learners

Save time and build confidence in your EL teaching with these resources:

• Simply Ieva website
• My TpT store
• Accommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin checklist

Let’s connect!

• Follow me on Instagram
• Follow me on LinkedIn
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group
• Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Support the show

Today, I want to do an official introduction. An introduction to the new layer of Simply Ieva ESL, the addition that I believe is so so important in teaching yet is so frequently overlooked. That addition is the Inner Classroom™ framework. The Inner Classroom is what is happening inside of your mind and your emotional landscape and how it affects your environment and your perceptions. In today’s episode, I will talk about how taking care of this inner classroom helps teachers prevent burnout before it happens—and recover from it when it does—by strengthening emotional regulation, clarity, and self-leadership.

If you enjoy this podcast and would like to support the time, effort, and costs that go into bringing you these episodes each week, you can now do so through a pay-what-you-can contribution. You can pay by clicking HERE—just choose an amount that feels right for you. Your support helps keep this podcast accessible and sustainable for teachers.

• Grab your free practice The First 7 Minutes: How to Start the Class Grounded (Even if Your Students Aren’t)
• 1:1 EL Teacher Clarity Power-Up Session

Save time and build confidence in your EL teaching with these resources:

• Simply Ieva website
• My TpT store
• Accommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin checklist

Let’s connect!

• Follow me on Instagram
• Follow me on LinkedIn
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group
• Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Support the show

Stop focusing only on the lesson plan and start focusing on the most critical moments of your class: the first seven minutes.

In this episode, we dive into the powerful shift that happens when teachers prioritize grounding the room over pushing through. We explore why those initial moments set the tone for all the learning that follows, especially for multilingual learners.

Key Takeaways:

• It's about the Nervous System, Not Competence: The class often feels "off" not due to a classroom management failure, but because students (and you) are still transitioning and their nervous systems are activated. Learning can't fully land until the room settles.
• The Power of Grounding: Learn what "grounding" actually means—it's not about silence or perfect behavior. It's an invitation to settle, which can be physical (a breath, a stretch), emotional (naming the room's energy), or cognitive (a predictable routine).
• Save Time Later: Grounding the first seven minutes saves time later in the lesson because you spend less time redirecting, repeating yourself, and trying to recover attention.

If you are ready to change how you begin class, grab your free resource, The First 7 Minutes: Start the Class Grounded (Even If Your Students Aren’t). Find the link below..

I want to hear from you!

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to transitioning from one class to the next? Share with us in the comments or send a message on Instagram, Facebook, or email!

Here is What You Will Hear in This Episode:

• Three ways of grounding and what they can look like at the start of the class
• Why it is incorrect to assume that chaotic start of class is always classroom management failure
• The First 7 Minutes practice that you can use in your classroom right away

Simply Ieva Offers:

• 1:1 EL Teacher Clarity Power-Up Session

If you find value in The ESL Teaching Podcast and want to support the time, effort, and costs that go into bringing you these episodes each week, consider making a small donation—whatever feels right for you. Your support helps keep this podcast going and means the world to me! You can find the donation link below. Thank you so much! https://www.paypal.biz/simplyieva

Save time and build confidence in your EL teaching with these resources:

• Simply Ieva website
• My TpT store
• Accommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin checklist

Related episodes:

• Here is Why You’re Drained (or Energized) by Teaching
• How to Beat the Mid-Year Slump in the EL Classroom

Let’s connect!

• Follow me on Instagram
• Follow me on LinkedIn
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group
• Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Support the show

Today’s episode "When the Strategies Aren’t Enough: Teaching ELs without Losing Yourself," is a reintroduction to The ESL Teaching Podcast, marking a new season of growth and transformation.

Here are a few key ideas you'll here:

• A Personal Break and Burnout: I am sharing why I stepped away from the podcast for several months (July through December 2025) - to recover from complete burnout from teaching, over-giving, and grieving the loss of a loved one. This break prompted a necessary pause and a shift in perspective.
• The 'Inner Classroom': We are shifting focus from solely teaching strategies and lesson plans to the internal state of the teacher, which I call the "inner classroom." The argument is that no external strategy will be enough if the teacher's inner state is chaotic, exhausted, or depleted.
• The Podcast's New Direction: The podcast will continue to cover practical EL teaching strategies, scaffolding, and effective instruction, but it will also become a "bridge between pedagogy and self-preservation." Topics will expand to include:
  • Teacher energy and boundaries.
  • Sustainability in teaching.
  • Coaching (professional and personal).
  • Acknowledging teaching as emotional, relational, and human work.
• Invitation and Free Resource: I am inviting you to stay, subscribe, and be part of a space where you don't have to pretend you are fine. Grab my free practice titled "The First Seven Minutes: How to Start Class Grounded (even if your students aren’t)," which is designed to help teachers slow down, reset, and reconnect.

Grab your free practice The First 7 Minutes: How to Start the Class Grounded (Even if Your Students Aren’t)

Simply Ieva Offers:

• 1:1 EL Teacher Clarity Power-Up Session

If you find value in The ESL Teaching Podcast and want to support the time, effort, and costs that go into bringing you these episodes each week, consider making a small donation—whatever feels right for you. Your support helps keep this podcast going and means the world to me! You can find the donation link below. Thank you so much! https://www.paypal.biz/simplyieva

Save time and build confidence in your EL teaching with these resources:
Simply Ieva website

• My TpT store
• Accommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin checklist

Related episodes:

• Rewriting the Script of Negative Self-Talk for Teachers
• How to Beat the Mid-Year Slump in the EL Classroom

Let’s connect!

• Follow me on Instagram
• Follow me on LinkedIn
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group
• Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Support the show

Today’s episode is short, sweet, and exciting! I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes update and big news about the ESL Teacher Roadmap.

Whether you're new to the ESL Teaching Podcast or you’ve been listening since day one, this quick episode is for you. I’ll walk you through a few upcoming changes, a big shift I’ve been planning, and how it will impact the content, resources, and support available to ESL teachers just like you.

If you’ve ever wished there was a clear, practical path to follow as an EL teacher - one that balances pedagogy, language acquisition, and real-world support - then this update will speak to you. Be sure to listen to the end so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Show Notes:

• Episode 161 - Announcement + Big News About the Roadmap

Here is What You Will Hear in This Episode:

• A special announcement about the future of the ESL Teaching Podcast
• Exciting updates to the ESL Teacher Roadmap and what’s coming next
• Why this change matters for new and experienced EL teachers alike
• How to stay connected and make the most of upcoming resources

Simply Ieva Offers:

• New and improved: The ESL Teaching Roadmap membership for teachers of English learners
• 1:1 EL Teacher Clarity Power-Up Session

If you find value in The ESL Teaching Podcast and want to support the time, effort, and costs that go into bringing you these episodes each week, consider making a small donation—whatever feels right for you. Your support helps keep this podcast going and means the world to me! You can find the donation link below. Thank you so much! https://www.paypal.biz/simplyieva

Save time and build confidence in your EL teaching with these resources:

• Simply Ieva website
• EMBARK™ Newcomer Curriculum
• My TpT store
• Accommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin checklist

Related episodes:

• What to Do With a Newcomer in the First 30 Days
• Your First Year as an EL Teacher- What Matters Most

Let’s connect!

• Follow me on Instagram
• Follow me on LinkedIn
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group
• Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Support the show

Starting your first year as an EL teacher can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Especially if you're stepping into a new building, new subject, or working with newcomers for the first time. In this episode, I’m answering a listener question from a music teacher-turned-EL teacher who’s just beginning this journey. I’m walking you through five things that matter most in your first year as an EL teacher with concrete examples, approachable strategies, and encouragement. If you're a newer EL teacher (or just want a back-to-basics refresher), this episode will help you feel more grounded and prepared for the year ahead.

Show Notes:

• Episode 160 - Your First Year as an EL Teacher- What Matters Most

Simply Ieva Offers:
*** Your First 30 Days with EL Newcomers - online LIVE workshop on June 26, 2025***

• 1:1 EL Teacher Clarity Power-Up Session
• EL Newcomer Teaching Compass for grades 6-12 - curriculum guide created using backward design PLUS a year-long scope and sequence!
• EL Newcomer Compass: Little Learners’ Edition - a curriculum guide for grades k-2
• Essential Lesson Plan Bundle to help you feel organized and to keep your students engaged

If you find value in The ESL Teaching Podcast and want to support the time, effort, and costs that go into bringing you these episodes each week, consider making a small donation—whatever feels right for you. Your support helps keep this podcast going and means the world to me! You can find the donation link below. Thank you so much! https://www.paypal.biz/simplyieva

Save time and build confidence in your EL teaching with these resources:

• Simply Ieva website
• EMBARK™ Newcomer Curriculum
• The ESL Teaching Roadmap – EL curriculum and coaching membership for middle and high school ESL/ELL teachers.
• My TpT store
• Accommodate and Modify Your Lessons for ELs with Less than 1 Hour of Planning a Week - classroom teacher and admin checklist

Related episodes:

• What to Do With a Newcomer in the First 30 Days
• Beyond Buddies: How Peer Pairing Empowers ELs

Let’s connect!

• Follow me on Instagram
• Follow me on LinkedIn
• Join the Simply Ieva Facebook Group
• Record a comment for us - click HERE. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Support the show