Schoolyard English Teaching Resources

Click here to download Looking for a fun, thoughtful way to introduce classroom behavior expectations and respectful language? This Piggie and Gerald -inspired mini-lesson is the perfect first week of school activity — or an easy, low-prep substitute plan that encourages discussion, empathy, and community building from day one. In this engaging story, Piggie discovers a mysterious new word… but it turns out to be an inappropriate one! With the help of Gerald (and your students!), Piggie learns about how words make others feel — and what to do when we make a mistake. This resource includes: ✅ A ready-to-use lesson plan ✅ Guided discussion questions on language, feelings, and school-appropriate words ✅ Creative student writing and role-play activity options ✅ Optional extension ideas for building a “Respect Wall” ✅ A great opportunity to establish your classroom norms in a non-judgmental, playful way 🧠 Ideal for the first week of school, SEL time, or whenever you need to reinfor...

Make phonics fun and interactive with this  Long and Short Vowel Animal Game !  This game is my students´f avorite phonics activity ! This game combines phonics and vocab for my ESL students perfectly. Students review vowel sounds by matching animal names to long and short vowels as they move around the board. The kids get a little crazy with this game. One of the things I love about it is that it words a different part of the brain than writing activities do. Normally my best students on paper aren´t the best students in this game. I like it when all of my students can have success in my classroom! How to Play: Hand out the animal cards  so each student (or team) gets the  same number of cards . Place  one game piece  on the START square. Players take turns rolling a die and moving the  shared game piece  around the board. When the piece lands on a vowel sound (e.g.,  “Short E” ,  “Long A” ), players check their cards. (The vowel you ar...

  Make your classroom pop with this   Barbie-themed bulletin board set   featuring the fun phrase   “My job is just Teach”   in bold pink style from the Barbie Movie! Perfect for   back to school , this editable display includes   easy-cut circle name tags   for student names, plus a   smaller version for classroom doors . I don´t know why I love this pun from the Barbie Movie but I do!! I like this bulletin board design because it´s nice for older kids with the black, magenta and dark blue theme. Simple and fun, what more could you want for your back to school decor? ⭐  What’s included: Full-size bulletin board display Editable name tags in 4 colors Smaller version for doors or narrow spaces Link to free Barbie-style font This display is perfect for  young and older students  and adds that extra sparkle to your classroom décor! Great for  first day of school, open house, or meet the teacher .

  link here to shop Welcome students and families in style with this personalized  colorful and bilingual classroom poster  featuring a fun wreath of school supplies! Perfect for  back-to-school displays, classroom decor, Meet the Teacher night, or door signs , this resource highlights essential school tools in  both English and Spanish . What's Included: A printable PDF with illustrations of school supplies like  pencil, paper, glue, clip, sharpener, computer, highlighter, and more English version  (Mrs. Smith's Class) Spanish version  (La clase de Sra. Smith) A  creative circular design —like a wreath!—made from labeled supplies Two editable versions:  "Mrs. Smith"  and  "Sra. Smith"  with stylized headings Fun phrases like  "Bienvenidos a mi clase"  to welcome students in Spanish

  Link here Teach classroom rules with these printable coloring posters featuring poems about scissors, pencils, glue, crayons, and more! PDF includes 2 of each page so you can print 2 per page to save paper — perfect for classroom routines, supply rules, and anchor charts. Use as coloring pages, mini posters, or supply station visuals to build responsibility and reinforce expectations! This is a really cute way to teach the students how to treat their materials whether they are shared or personal. I can´t wait to pu these Posters up in my classroom this fall!

  Looking for a fun and meaningful way to kick off the school year and get families involved? This "Guess Who?" Back-to-School Writing Activity is the perfect icebreaker that helps build classroom community — and gets parents smiling and engaged on Open House night! What Is the “Guess Who?” Activity? Each student fills out a short, engaging questionnaire with fun facts about themselves — their favorite food, hobbies, talents, dreams, and more. On the back of the page, they draw a self-portrait and (optionally) write their name. Here’s the twist: the pages are folded in half before they’re displayed , so only the clues are visible. During Open House or Back-to-School Night, parents walk around the room and try to guess which mystery card belongs to their child. Once they’ve made their guess, they lift the flap to reveal the drawing and see if they got it right! It’s fun, it’s interactive, and it sparks great conversations. Why Teachers Love This Activity

  ✨ Welcome! Fun, Practical Resources for ESL and Elementary Teachers Hi there, and welcome to my blog! I’m so happy you’re here. My name is Kate, and I’m an American teacher living in Spain , where I run my own English academy . I specialize in creating fun, practical resources for ESL learners and elementary-aged students. Whether you're a classroom teacher, ESL specialist, or tutor, you’ll find resources here to save you time and spark your students’ curiosity. Why I Started This Blog As a teacher working in a bilingual environment, I know how important it is to have engaging, easy-to-use materials — especially when you're supporting English language learners. I created this blog to share my favorite teaching ideas, printable resources, and classroom tips that work in real ESL settings , both in schools and private academies. Here, you’ll find: Creative lesson ideas for ESL and young learners Free printables and sneak peeks from my TPT store Tips for teachin...