The Intentional TESOL

I’m excited to refocus us on the joy of summer.  I want you to notice how you’re feeling with the end of the school year and beginning of summer.  You get to decide how you show up in the adventure that is your life! 

In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to share a wonderful conversation with Mike Duffy, Senior Supervisor of Professional Development for Erie 1 BOCES and former director of RBERN West. Mike’s passion for connecting, coordinating, and collaborating across professional development teams shines through as he advocates for culturally responsive and sustaining educational best practices. One key initiativ...

Today’s episode is a short, but powerful conversation with Ariana Harvin about the focus on language in math to increase comprehension and rigor. We have both attended the last two NYS TESOL conferences together and appreciate the collegial spirit of our profession as we think about small changes in instruction to be more focused on language that make a big impact in student success. I challenge y...

Today’s episode is an opportunity to slow down and reflect on what direction is best for you in 2025. Marzano’s research highlights the importance of teacher effectiveness on student success, so I challenge you to become more intentional by asking yourself two really great questions that will support student success and empowerment! THANKS to: RBERN West for sponsoring the Social & Emotional L...

Today’s episode is a reflection on the Keynote Speakers from the 54th Annual NYS TESOL Conference.  The theme, in my words, was disruption from current norms to be open to the gifts our students have. Remember by affirming our multilingual learners of English, you are allowing them to be their authentic selves, building their confidence, and fostering a sense of belonging that empowers them to thr...

Listen to this reenergizing episode on collaborative assessment with Drs. Margo Gottlieb and Andrea Honigsfeld on their newest text, Collaborative Assessment Practices for Multilingual Learners and Teachers: Pathways to Partnerships. Be inspired to support and affirm our multilingual learners of English as they show their knowledge as, for and of learning. LINKS Collaborative Assessment for Multil...

Today’s episode is an overview of giving a reading evaluation that includes both code based and meaning based components of assessment and some sticking points when assessing our multilingual learners of English.  If you already know something about running records, you can jump ahead to the 4 minute mark because that’s when I start talking about the nuances that come with assessing multilingual l...

Today’s episode is a conversation around vocabulary with Mike Ochs.  He is a curriculum designer and writer who is most well known for his vocabulary program, Word Love, based on the work of Beck and McKeown.  Today we talk about the essential components of studying vocabulary and how to go from basic knowledge to true acquisition through repeated exposures over time!  Truly, I don’t know if you’l...

Today’s episode is a conversation around engaging our ELLs with Dr. Heather Lyon.  She makes many thought provoking points about looking at engagement on a continuum like a dimmable light switch.  She encourages teachers to think deeply about how engagement manifests in a classroom, the enthusiasm that you bring, and the skill and will of students.  She asks educators consider the steps of the lea...

Mary Sandoval is a language and literacy specialist with 16 years of classroom experience.  Our conversation is about consistent, but flexible routines, that build on the academic language used by classroom teachers!  It is the start of a conversation about what intentionally integrated ENL could look like with the bottom line that learning should be fun!  Thanks for listening! LINKS: My Website ...

Today’s episode is focused on using the NYSESLAT performance level descriptors to set appropriate instructional goals based on students’ proficiency levels.  Thank you to my guest, Dr. Sandra Vargas, a NYC public school teacher and educational consultant as she helps us on our journey of meeting students where they’re at and temporarily supporting them with the appropriate scaffolds. It ends with...

Today’s episode is about asking for help!  I’m asking you to notice where you feel pain in your life… talk about it… brainstorm solutions…. Then figure out what works!  You’re going to be so satisfied with your progress when you’re done! Let’s work smarter, not harder together and I’ll show you how because I am the Intentional TESOL! LINK ⁠Brendon's 4 Core Desires⁠ LET'S CONNECT! ⁠⁠⁠⁠The I...

Today’s episode is a celebration!  I’m no longer “developing” in writing my objectives or at least that’s what my latest observation says!  I’m walking you through my past three teacher evaluations to show how I went from not meeting and assessing all my objectives, to figuring it out!  It’s a process of continual improvement!  One small thing at a time, after I dealt with the accompanying emotion...

Today’s episode is a moment for you to reflect on the past two episodes.  There were many great strategies in those episodes.  Now, I’m asking you to take a step back from new ideas and to go inward to focus specifically on your situation!  I’ve learned that no one size fits all.  I’ve learned what works for one, doesn’t necessarily work for others.  I’ve learned you have to do what works for you...

Today’s episode is an incredible conversation with Mike Fisher, a former teacher who is now a full-time educational consultant and instructional coach. He has worked with schools across the United States, as well as Canada, China, the Philippines, and Thailand.  In his book, Hacking the Common Core, he wrote a meaningful chapter called MOREcabulary. This conversation is an update on that informati...

Today’s episode focuses on the perspective of an ENL or ELD teacher in an integrated co-teaching setting.  In this conversation with Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld, the author of 29 books on these topics of which 9 are Corwin Press best sellers (Way to go!!!), we discuss how she got started and why she really focuses on the benefits of collaborative teaching!  Within that co-teaching, she explains three ar...

Today’s episode focuses on the end of 2023 and how fitting that it ends on episode 23!!!  I ask you to think about your values and what really matters to you!  Make sure the time you spend is matching your values!  I’m encouraging you to enjoy the quality time off from break focusing on what brings you joy and fulfillment there, so you can come back even stronger when school starts again in Januar...

Today’s episode focuses on designing instruction for our students by allowing variability and flow into our instruction.  In this conversation with Melissa Katz, the Director of the Collaborative for Inclusive Education in NYC, we discuss universal design and unnecessary barriers that might block ELLs from learning.  At the end, you will hear from a recent lesson how I tried to remove the barriers...

Today’s episode focuses on what NOT to do when co-teaching! Three tips and one activity for reflection to make the most of your synergy together as collaborative teachers!!!

Today’s episode focuses on vocabulary!  After a lot of contemplation this year about what’s most important for an ENL/ELD teacher … I’ve decided it comes down to vocabulary and how we use it!  Transferring it from home language(s) to English…understanding it through reading and listening…producing it through speaking and writing… and most importantly developing it when it isn’t there yet!  So, tha...

Today’s episode focuses on stories and experiences!  Here’s my story from attending NYS TESOL’s annual conference!  Stretch yourself!  Expand outside your comfort zone!  Don’t judge a book by its cover!  Get to know your students, colleagues and others that do the same work as you!  And most importantly… help others! LET'S CONNECT! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Intentional TESOL Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website

Today’s episode focuses on acceptance…there are many things outside of our control that we cannot change.  We need to acknowledge the situation, validate our feelings and give ourselves permission to accept that there’s so much outside of our control! (Thanks Dr. Becky for that reel!)  Focus on what you can control!  Make the best of that situation and take small steps in the right direction to se...

Today’s episode focuses on an ENL teacher as a teacher of language.  What materials do I use?  How do I integrate them from various resources?  What do I focus on?  And most importantly, how do I keep it all organized so that my life is easier later on? MATERIALS REFERNCED (in ABC order) Atomic Habits IRLA (from American Reading) Lazy Genius NYSED's Advanced Literacy Briefs ⁠Words Their Way (f...

Today’s episode is reflecting on the cycle of what to do, when things don’t go as you expect.  Watch out for the self-doubt and possible blame to sneak in (and acknowledge it if it does!) Nonetheless, know that there are ways to seek help!  To gain back that trust or self-confidence! So that you can lead with your heart to do what’s best for students.  LET'S CONNECT! ⁠⁠The Intentional TESOL Fa...

Today’s episode asks you to think about incorporating scaffolds into your planning process!  First, we want to make it easy, so that it’s done!  We do this while thinking about what matters and what doesn’t when it comes to instructing English language learners!  In this episode, we will be reflecting on chapter six of Honigsfeld and Dove’s text entitled Co-Planning and materials from the What Wor...