Find quick links to each episode of the Teacher Think-Aloud podcast, hosted by Shélynn Riel and Anna Ciriani-Dean and sponsored by Ellii.  

Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast

In&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5B4RIMKW51deYzrbDr9DIy?si=66A1yllIRT6d4kebFtp4oA" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Episode 78</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, co-hosts Sh&eacute; and Anna talk with Dr. Tabitha Kidwell, faculty member in TESOL at American University and longtime teacher educator, about how teacher trainers themselves learn to lead professional development. Drawing on her recent research, Tabitha discusses the surprising reality that most trainers receive little formal preparation&mdash;often describing their first experiences as &ldquo;being thrown into the fire.&rdquo;

<blockquote>&ldquo;Teacher education is not something that you can read in a book. It&#39;s something that you really have to develop in collaboration with others and through your own personal growth and professional growth.&rdquo;&nbsp; &mdash; Tabitha Kidwell</blockquote>

Together, we explore what makes teacher training truly effective: contextual awareness, adult-learning theory, active facilitation, and continuous reflection. Tabitha highlights the need for structured Training of Trainers (ToT) programs, purposeful mentoring, and professional learning networks that help teacher educators thrive. The episode also unpacks the parallels between learning to teach and learning to train, emphasizing that good teachers aren&rsquo;t automatically good trainers without intentional support.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone leading&mdash;or aspiring to lead&mdash;professional learning in ELT. Gain insight into how intentional mentorship, structured preparation, and reflective networks can transform teacher development for the better.

 
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RK5dEG8AA6w?si=s4vt-HbA13Wh940U" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> 
🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2zv5mVNpSqkDNiNbQlnm7B" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-teacher-think-aloud-podcast/id1629819608" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

🔗&nbsp;Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teacherthinkaloud" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thinkaloud_pod/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thinkaloudpod.bsky.social" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/teacher-think-aloud/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li>
</ul>

Get featured on the podcast! 🎙️

<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/">The&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>&nbsp;is looking for contributions to their annual Friends of the Podcast episode, in which they feature voices from teachers around the world. In past years, these episodes have focused on&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/6XfSr9oolcE?si=DR_JsVtLKImIXxio" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">teaching contexts around the world</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/Gh7SQJbEEmQ?si=UT3ZIxht0mQOECSu" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">AI for ELT</a>. This year, they&#39;re asking contributors to get back to basics and reflect on what areas they want to work on in their teaching practice.&nbsp;

Getting featured is easy!&nbsp;

1️⃣ Reflect on these questions:

<ul>
	<li>What is one thing that you want to work on in your teaching practice? Why?</li>
	<li>What is one step that you&rsquo;ll take to start working towards your goal?</li>
</ul>

2️⃣ Record a 60-second voice memo answering them

Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/backtobasics26" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/backtobasics26</a>.

<ul>
	<li>Listen to the prompt.</li>
	<li>Record your audio response with one easy click.</li>
</ul>

Training the Trainers: Developing the Next Generation of Teacher Educators

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Learn how to make the most of your Ellii subscription with tips from our publishing team.

Teaching with Ellii

In Episode 77 of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, Sh&eacute; sits down with Ben Buckwold (Founder &amp; CEO of Ellii) and Tara Benwell (VP of Publishing at Ellii) to explore the story behind one of Ellii&rsquo;s most creative classroom tools: <a href="https://app.ellii.com/gather/dilemmas" target="_blank">Ellii Dilemmas</a>. Born, quite literally, on a cocktail napkin, this interactive activity invites students to wrestle with moral and everyday dilemmas through authentic dialogue, reflection, and debate.

Ben and Tara share how Ellii Dilemmas grew from a moment of procrastination into one of the platform&rsquo;s fastest-growing features&nbsp;with thousands of teachers already using it worldwide. The conversation covers the tool&rsquo;s pedagogical design, from its built-in discussion scaffolds and &ldquo;Speak Up&rdquo; feature to the way it fosters empathy, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning.&nbsp;

Together, we unpack how moving from debate to dialogue can transform speaking practice into something deeply human and reflective.

<blockquote>&ldquo; It&rsquo;s a way for students to engage, have a conversation, a debate, a discussion, a dialogue, and to just really get into it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &mdash; Ben Buckwold</blockquote>

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JNk03oadJgI?si=jxGkKYLzZJPsqhKM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Get featured on the podcast! 
The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>&nbsp;is looking for contributions to their annual Friends of the Podcast episode&nbsp;in which they feature voices from teachers around the world. In past years, these episodes have focused on&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/6XfSr9oolcE?si=DR_JsVtLKImIXxio" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">teaching contexts around the world</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/Gh7SQJbEEmQ?si=UT3ZIxht0mQOECSu" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">AI in ELT</a>. This year, they&#39;re asking contributors to get back to basics and reflect on what areas they want to work on in their teaching practice.&nbsp;

Participating is easy: all you need to do is listen to a short prompt and leave a voice memo at&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/backtobasics26" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/backtobasics26</a>.&nbsp;The deadline to participate is December 15, 2025.

🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2zv5mVNpSqkDNiNbQlnm7B" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-teacher-think-aloud-podcast/id1629819608" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

🔗&nbsp;Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teacherthinkaloud" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thinkaloud_pod/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thinkaloudpod.bsky.social" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/teacher-think-aloud/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li>
</ul>

Ellii Dilemmas: Sparking Real Dialogue in the ELT Classroom (with Ben Buckwold & Tara Benwell)

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These posts are written for learners of English themselves. Find learning tips and ideas for learning English.

For Students

Did you know that the writers who create Ellii lessons and resources are all English teachers or former teachers?

That&#39;s just one of the reasons we love receiving poetry, stories, and paragraphs&nbsp;that students write while doing Ellii lessons.&nbsp;

In our <a href="https://ellii.com/courses/93/lessons/1885" target="_blank">Remembrance Day / Veterans Day lesson</a>, we challenge students to write acrostic poetry and share it with our team. Check out this year&#39;s submissions as well as the poems from years past.

<h2>2025 Student Poetry&nbsp;</h2>

This year&#39;s submission is from Eyerusalem Hailu at the Bickford Centre in Alison Clarke&#39;s class: Essential Skills Upgrading program,&nbsp;Toronto District School Board

<blockquote>
Remember the brave who gave their lives. 
Every moment was unforgettable. 
Memory and admiration bring tears. 
Energy for us to go forward. 
Meaningful for everyone of us. 
Recall again and again their sacrifice. 
Admire the people who sacrificed their lives. 
Never forget what they did for us. 
Celebrate every year on November 11th. 
Excited to be a part of this incredible Day. 
&nbsp;
</blockquote>

<h2>2024 Student Poetry</h2>

Here is a new poem submitted by Bryna Gerakos, an ESL Instructor at Hudson Adult Learning Center

<blockquote>
Veterans, we are 
Eternally grateful 
To you 
Excellent service 
Remembering and honoring you 
And we will 
Never forget you 
So, thank you very much!

By Gabriela Sanchez, Johanna Ortega, Dunia Caal, and Lin Yangzheng.
</blockquote>

&nbsp;

<h2>2023 Student Poetry</h2>

Here is a new poem that was submitted by Ms. Anderson&#39;s 4th Period Intermediate ELD Class:

<blockquote>
Memories of Silence for Their Sacrifice 

Remember the lives of soldiers

Everything stops for

Memories of silence

Enormous Alliance

Moments before disaster

Bullet dodging when Death calls your name

Remember the lives of the soldiers who sacrificed

Anniversary of the soldiers who fought for peace

November 11th is the Day of Remembrance

Color of poppies reminds &quot;we kept this promise&quot;

Everything for peace
</blockquote>

<hr />
And here is a poem that was submitted by Ms. Anderson&#39;s 6th Period Intermediate ELD Class:

<blockquote>
 
Peace for Veterans 

Represents all the soldiers globally

Every soldier that fought in War

Memories of lost ones

Event for remembering the veterans that fought for peace

Memorial is a way to remember someone

Be polite to Veterans

Remembering our loved ones

Allied forces fought for our peace

No veterans should be disrespected

Celebrate memories with loved ones

End war
</blockquote>

<h2>2022 Student Poetry</h2>

We love these moving acrostic poems we received&nbsp;from Betul Ozer Budak&#39;s LBS (Literacy and Basic Skills)&nbsp;class.

<h3>Poem #1</h3>

<blockquote>
Veterans Day...

Every November, we remember.

Trumpets play &quot;Last Post&quot; ...

Eleven o&#39;clock: a moment of silence ...

Red poppies people wear

After the war, people were happy but

Never forget the soldiers who died

Soldiers who fight ...

By Asmae Dadi, Ebtesam Rashed, and&nbsp;Helen Ada
</blockquote>

<h3>Poem #2</h3>

<blockquote>
Poppies everywhere

On our hearts

People&#39;s stories

Poppies everywhere

Yesterday&#39;s memories

By&nbsp;Ebtesam Rashed and&nbsp;Helen Ada
</blockquote>

<h3>Poem #3</h3>

<blockquote>
Remembrance

Every year we remember them.

Many soldiers died in the war.

Every 11 November is Remembrance Day.

Many people have a ceremony.

Birds of peace carrying olive branches

Remind us the young soldiers.

At 11 o&#39;clock the war ended but

Nobody forgot the soldiers.

Ceremonies we have for them;

Each of us is proud of them...

By&nbsp;Aisha Ankaa,&nbsp;Cuc Thi Nguyen, and&nbsp;Ebtesam Rashed
</blockquote>

Here are a few wonderful Remembrance Day poems from Kosta Stojanovic&#39;s LINC 4/5 class at Coll&egrave;ge Bor&eacute;al in Toronto, Canada.

<h3>Poem #4</h3>

<blockquote>
Red poppies bloom on each breast

Earth remembers it&#39;s heroes

Many great-grandparents were there

Every soldier lives to wonder why

Memories of War that never stray

But someone is shooting again and again

Remembrance poppies are red, not signifying blood of soldiers

And their stories never see the light of day

Need of peace is worldwide

Children want to live in love

Every day can be better,&nbsp;if everyone has remembrance

By Elvira Shootca
</blockquote>

<h3>Poem #5</h3>

<blockquote>
Raise your head off the ground

Everyone is proud of you

My heart is like a galaxy

Even though you&#39;re not here I feel you

My heart belongs to you

Breathe in the morning of victory

Raging about war

Army protect the people

Never make me feel sad

Ceremony for your courage

Everyone will always remember

By Mandana Hodhodynejad
</blockquote>

<h3>Poem #6</h3>

<blockquote>
Rmember our soldiers

Enlist the soldiers

Making our world into peace

Everyone who died in the wars

Memorial never forget

Brothers who bled just

Respect our fallen soldiers

Armistice day

November 11th armed weapons fall silent

Celebrate the soldiers

Enjoy freedom in happiness and peace

By Dilek Tas
</blockquote>

<h2>2021 Student Poetry</h2>

<h3>Poem #1</h3>

This beautiful acrostic poem was sent in by Sherry and&nbsp;Kathleen&#39;s class:&nbsp;

<blockquote>
Vests of soldiers carry valued human beings

Emotions of appreciation echo when we commemorate every year on November 11

Treasures you have done for us are countless as we are free

Echos of your contributions are hard to describe out loud.

Remembering you veterans

Appreciating your efforts

Nations will never forget you for

Sacrificing your lives to give us freedom.

By Antonio, Cecilia, Huda, Jingyuan, and Yunyi
</blockquote>

<h3>Poem #2</h3>

Here&#39;s another poem that was submitted by an intermediate LINC class.

<img alt="Remembrance Day Poem by LINC students" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1879/content_Remembrance-Day-Poem.jpg" />

<h2>2020 Student Poetry</h2>

Here are some poetry submissions we received in November 2020 from a low-intermediate&nbsp;LINC class in Toronto, Ontario. Thank you to Kosta and his class for sharing this writing with us!

<h3>Poem #1</h3>

<blockquote>
<h3>Remembrance Day</h3>

Essential day

Many people lost a loved one

Ended of the war must be done

Be peaceful, remember the war

Against the war, no more the war

Celebrate the peace

Everyone will be happy

By Momoko, Anibal and Zhi Sheng
</blockquote>

<h3>Poem #2&nbsp;</h3>

<blockquote>
<h3>Very important</h3>

Eating and drinking

Tomorrow it&#39;ll&nbsp;be coming

Email to me

Remember it

Answer and reply

Notice it on your calendar

Send it to me

By Coco
</blockquote>

<h3>Poem #3</h3>

<blockquote>
<h3>Remembering our veterans</h3>

Enormous respect

Many left behind the family who were

Eager to see them again

More peace, no war

By wearing the poppy we remember,

Each that fell

Rising like the sun every day

Don&#39;t forget them

Anually we honour the past

Yesterday is not forgotten

By Milena Nessi
</blockquote>

<h2>Poem #4</h2>

<blockquote>
Red color

Email me

May I have&nbsp;

Enough for me

Many years

Best of luck

Raise your hand

At a time

Never mind

Call me

Excellent place

By Israt, Alice, and Coco
</blockquote>

<h2>Poem #5</h2>

<blockquote>
Voters are protesting

Eat your food

Trumpet is a bass horn

End your day in a happy way

Remembrance Day is a poppy day

Are you okay

No one here

Can you hear?

By Rania, Gadha, and Milena
</blockquote>

<h2>Pronunciation Work</h2>

Here is some pronunciation work these writers did while working on their poetry from our <a href="https://ellii.com/courses/93/lessons">Holidays &amp; Events</a> lesson. We&#39;re so happy to see students working with <a href="https://ellii.com/courses/130/lessons/3352">pronunciation symbols</a>. We&nbsp;hope you&#39;re enjoying our <a href="https://ellii.com/courses/130/lessons">Pronunciation</a> lessons, too.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<img alt="" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/1070/content_Screen_Shot_2020-11-26_at_4.22.13_PM.png" />

Keep up the great work, LINC class! And most importantly, thank you for remembering our veterans.

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

Student Poetry for Remembrance Day / Veterans Day

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Discover what's new or coming soon, including upcoming lessons and resources and product feature updates. 

Announcements

Are you teaching US history and government and&nbsp;preparing students for the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test? You are changing lives, and Ellii wants to help!

<blockquote>
Yes! Ellii is developing test prep materials for the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test.
</blockquote>

We began working on new content as soon as the notice went out about the new test (Sep&nbsp;18, 2025). If your students are preparing for the naturalization test, you&nbsp;can expect plenty of new content on Ellii in the next few months. We&#39;ll be updating this post as new content is available.&nbsp;

<h3>What has changed with the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test?&nbsp;</h3>

<ul>
	<li>If applicants applied before or within 30 days of the notice (Sep&nbsp;18, 2025), they take the 2008 test.</li>
	<li>If applicants&nbsp;applied 30 days or more after this notice (Sep&nbsp;18, 2025), they take the 2025 test.</li>
	<li>On the new (2025) test, the&nbsp;USCIS officer will ask applicants to answer up to 20 out of&nbsp;128 civics test questions&nbsp;to prove their&nbsp;knowledge of&nbsp;US&nbsp;history and government.</li>
	<li>USCIS officers will&nbsp;stop&nbsp;after the&nbsp;applicant answers&nbsp;12 questions correctly OR misses 9 questions.</li>
</ul>

Note: Scroll down for useful external links to resources regarding these updates.&nbsp;

<h2>Ellii&#39;s Media Gallery</h2>

Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;new <a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/us-civics-test-prep" target="_blank">US Civics &amp; Test Prep</a> videos build history and government knowledge while offering practical test-taking tips. Choose from short, digestible clips or full-length video lessons with chapter divisions.&nbsp;

<a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/us-civics-test-prep/colonial-period-independence" target="_blank"><img alt="US Civics Test Prep videos" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5010/content_Civics-Video-Colonial-Period-and-Independence_OG-play.png" /></a>

The first 18 <a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/us-civics-test-prep" rel="noopener" target="_blank">US Civics &amp; Test Prep videos</a> are available now!&nbsp;

<a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/us-civics-test-prep/the-1800s" target="_blank"><img alt="https://ellii.com/media/videos/us-civics-test-prep/the-1800s" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5011/content_Civics-Video-1800s_OG-play.png" /></a>

Videos include a real teacher from Ellii, real&nbsp;photographs, useful drawings, and real questions and possible answers from the test.

<a href="https://ellii.com/video/recent-american-history" target="_blank"><img alt="Recent US History video " src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5055/content_Screen_Shot_2025-11-19_at_3.11.32_PM.png" /></a>

More videos are coming soon.&nbsp;

<h2>Ellii&#39;s Study Packs</h2>

Ellii Study Packs allow you to assign your students bundled content easily with one click. Visit our <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/?category=45&amp;page=1" target="_blank">US Civics</a> category in Courses &amp; Packs&nbsp;and watch this content&nbsp;grow. 
 
If you and your students like Ellii&#39;s test prep videos, you&#39;ll love the NEW study packs. Each video lesson comes with practice tasks, including vocabulary review, comprehension, and speaking practice. In our first release, <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/colonial-period-independence/materials" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Colonial Period &amp; Independence</a>, students practice questions 73&ndash;89 of the civics test.

<a href="https://ellii.com/packs/colonial-period-independence/materials" target="_blank"><img alt="Colonial Period &amp; Independence Study Pack on Ellii " src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5012/content_US-Civics-Test-Prep-Colonial-Period-and-Independence_OG.png" /></a>

This follow-up pack on <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/the-1800s/materials" target="_blank">The 1800s</a>&nbsp;features video lessons and practice about western expansion and the Civil War. Students practice questions 90&ndash;99 of the civics test. Expand your students&#39;&nbsp;knowledge with related lessons from our library, such as lessons on historic figures from this period, including <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3185-harriet-tubman" target="_blank">Harriet Tubman</a>, <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3473-frederick-douglass" target="_blank">Frederick Douglass</a>, and <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2881-susan-b-anthony" target="_blank">Susan B. Anthony</a>.

<a href="https://ellii.com/packs/the-1800s/materials" target="_blank"><img alt="The 1800s US Civics Test Prep Study Pack on Ellii " src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5013/content_US-Civics-1800s_OG.png" /></a>

The third&nbsp;pack features video lessons and practice about conflict and change in <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/recent-american-history/materials" target="_blank">Recent US History</a> (the 1900s and early 2000s). Students practice questions 100&ndash;118&nbsp;of the civics test. Expand your students&#39;&nbsp;knowledge with related lessons from our library, such as lessons on historic figures from this period, including <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1535-franklin-d-roosevelt" target="_blank">Franklin Roosevelt</a>, the <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2856-the-vietnam-war" target="_blank">Vietnam War,</a> and <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1466-september-11th" target="_blank">September 11th</a>.

<a href="https://ellii.com/packs/recent-american-history/materials" target="_blank"><img alt="Recent US History US Civics Test Prep Study Pack: The 1900s and early 2000s" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5054/content_US-Civics-Recent-US-History_OG.png" /></a>

You can also send content individually to just the students who are studying for the test&nbsp;(NEW feature).

<a href="https://ellii.com/blog/introducing-individual-student-assignments" target="_blank"><img alt="individual assignments on Ellii " src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5014/content_Screen_Shot_2025-11-14_at_11.12.24_AM.png" /></a>

We have six more packs in the works&nbsp;and will be releasing the videos and lessons as they are ready!

<h2>Ellii&#39;s Collections</h2>

<h3><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics" target="_blank">US Citizenship &amp; Naturalization</a></h3>

This collection category offers six ready-made collections of EL Civics content focusing on US law, government, history, and culture. This content will help prepare ELLs for life and citizenship in the United States.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lessons/american-presidents" target="_blank">American Presidents&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics/american-institutions" target="_blank">American Institutions</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics/american-trailblazers" target="_blank">American Trailblazers</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics/american-holidays" target="_blank">American Holidays</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics/us-history" target="_blank">American History</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics/us-landmarks" target="_blank">American Landmarks</a></li>
</ul>

<h3><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/el-civics" target="_blank">EL Civics</a></h3>

This collection category features curated content for pre-approved civics objectives (COAAPs) selected by California agencies supporting adult ed. Search for content that is specifically related to the needs assessment of your students and use this content toward&nbsp;the 30 hours of instruction your learners need before doing related assessments.

<h3><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/nations-regions/americana" target="_blank">The United States</a></h3>

Our content library is full of lessons about American facts, figures, and firsts. This collection highlights some of our most popular lesson content related to the US, including presidents, famous people, and holidays.

<h2>Popular Ellii Lessons</h2>

Use the Search field on Ellii to find lessons on topics you are covering, and reach out to us if you can&#39;t find what you&#39;re looking for. Here are some popular US civics lessons:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5757-us-immigration-rights" target="_blank">US Immigration Rights</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2277-american-citizenship" target="_blank">American Citizenship</a> (in editing)</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3836-n-400-vocabulary" target="_blank">N-400 Vocabulary</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2676-the-united-states" target="_blank">The United States </a>(Listening in English)</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2263-map-of-the-us" target="_blank">Map of the US</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1505-george-washington" target="_blank">George Washington</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2779-trail-of-tears" target="_blank">The Trail of Tears</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3172-the-us-constitution" target="_blank">The US Constitution</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5636-the-bill-of-rights" target="_blank">The Bill of Rights</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4037-the-declaration-of-independence" target="_blank">The Declaration of Independence</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2764-the-supreme-court-us" target="_blank">The Supreme Court</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3381-election-day-us" target="_blank">Election Day</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/video/republicans-democrats" target="_blank">Republicans Vs. Democrats</a> (explainer video)</li>
</ul>

<h3>Coming Soon on Ellii&nbsp;</h3>

<ul>
	<li>30 + more videos</li>
	<li>Six + US Test Prep Study Packs</li>
	<li>NEW comprehensive civics&nbsp;lessons focused on US History &amp; Government&nbsp;</li>
	<li>US Test Prep Speaking Practice Tests</li>
</ul>

<h3>Useful External Resources for 2025 Updates</h3>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/18/2025-18050/notice-of-implementation-of-2025-naturalization-civics-test" target="_blank">Notice of Implementation of 2025 Naturalization Civics Test </a>(09.18.2025)</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/brochures/USCIS-2025-Civics-Test-Study-Guide.pdf" target="_blank">One Nation, One People Study Guide (2025)</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-Civics-Test-128-Questions-and-Answers-09.15.2025.pdf" target="_blank">128 Civics Questions (2025)</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources/check-for-test-updates" target="_blank">USCIS Comparison of 2008 / 2025 Test</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5n2h5rdfojhykxegok15a/Natz_Test_Comparison_A_2008-2025.pdf?rlkey=47rpmtohvcrqazh1uf17h8o7k&amp;e=1&amp;st=r1lxr88r&amp;dl=0" target="_blank">Bill Bliss&#39;s Comparison chart of 2008 / 2025 Test</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship" target="_blank">USCIS Citizenship Resource Center</a></li>
</ul>

2025 US Naturalization Civics Test Prep Now on Ellii

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<section>
In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Episode 76</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, co-hosts Sh&eacute; and Anna sit down with teacher trainer and host of&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everything-efl/id1494494153" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Everything EFL</a>,&nbsp;Erin O&rsquo;Byrne, to explore how the&nbsp;Lexical Approach&nbsp;can transform both teaching and learning in the English language classroom.

Erin shares how her journey&mdash;from pandemic boredom to professional epiphany&mdash;led her to embrace the Lexical Approach as a practical, empowering methodology that just&nbsp;makes sense.&nbsp;She explains how shifting from teaching individual words to teaching&nbsp;chunks of language&nbsp;helps students process meaning faster, use real-world English, and become more confident, autonomous speakers.

<blockquote>&ldquo; You are giving them real-world language. The lexical approach is very much conversation driven. They recognize things. They notice things faster.&rdquo;&nbsp; &mdash; Erin O&rsquo;Byrn</blockquote>

From corpus linguistics to classroom spontaneity, this episode explores how teachers can &ldquo;learn it loose,&rdquo; noticing and recycling meaningful phrases that actually appear in authentic communication. Erin also unpacks&nbsp;emergent language&nbsp;and how creating space for student-led noticing can reduce prep time, prevent burnout, and spark creativity for both learners and teachers.

Whether you&rsquo;re new to the Lexical Approach or looking to refresh your teaching, this conversation is packed with ready-to-use ideas and reflective insights on how to move from&nbsp;rules to real language.
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mw2DSqH6-fI?si=FBuk8_xdjCXI2c1N" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

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	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2zv5mVNpSqkDNiNbQlnm7B" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-teacher-think-aloud-podcast/id1629819608" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

🔗&nbsp;Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:

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	<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teacherthinkaloud" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
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</ul>
</section>

Empowering Learners & Teachers with the Lexical Approach

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In Episode 75 of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, co-hosts Anna and Sh&eacute; explore the transformative potential of AI in the classroom with guest Sara Davila, a self-described &ldquo;learning alchemist&rdquo; who excels in transforming theoretical research into actionable strategies for educators. Sara provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of large language models (LLMs), tracing back to early AI research, and highlights their contemporary applications in education. The discussion emphasizes frameworks for teachers&rsquo; AI use and AI&#39;s potential to enhance teaching while preserving an essential human touch.

<blockquote>&ldquo;AI is a tool created by human beings to be used by human beings for the improvement of human beings. It&#39;s not about replacing humans.&rdquo;&nbsp; &mdash;Sara Davila</blockquote>

Sara encourages educators to experiment with AI, suggesting that beginning with familiar, low-stakes activities can boost confidence and illuminate AI&rsquo;s educational benefits. This episode serves as both a guide and an inspiration for teachers looking to embrace AI&#39;s educational potential.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nZAkl6A-QZg?si=u4elGdSwNcnvzVAj" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
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	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2zv5mVNpSqkDNiNbQlnm7B" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-teacher-think-aloud-podcast/id1629819608" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

🔗&nbsp;Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:

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A Teacher’s Guide to Large Language Models

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Reflection is a powerful tool for English language teachers. In Part 2 of their collaboration with the&nbsp;<a href="https://diesol.org/welcome-to-the-diesol-podcast/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">DIESOL Podcast</a>&nbsp;team, Sh&eacute; and Anna of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>&nbsp;pick up their conversation with Brent Warner and Ixchell Reyes and explore the nuances of reflective practice, moving beyond foundational theories to actionable steps. From unexpected &quot;golden moments&quot; of inspiration during a dream or a walk&nbsp;to the more structured approaches of journaling and goal-setting, the hosts and guests share personal experiences and insights on making reflection a meaningful part of a teacher&#39;s professional life.

<blockquote>&quot;Reflection doesn&rsquo;t have to be polished. It just has to be honest&mdash;that&rsquo;s how you&rsquo;re going to get the most out of it!&quot; &mdash;Sh&eacute;lynn Riel</blockquote>

The episode emphasizes that reflection doesn&#39;t have to be a daunting task. It can be iterative, allowing teachers to discover what works best for them without the pressure of perfection. The discussion highlights the importance of carving out dedicated time for reflection, even if it&#39;s just a few minutes, to foster professional growth and prevent burnout. They introduce the concept of &quot;Reflection for Action,&quot; where insights from past experiences guide future planning and long-term professional development goals.

The team also dives into innovative tech tools that can enhance reflective practice, such as &quot;Future Me&quot; for sending future self-emails, Marco Polo for asynchronous video conversations, video recordings for self-observation, and&nbsp;AI chatbots as reflective partners. The episode also underscores the invaluable role of accountability partners and professional learning networks. If you&#39;re looking to transform your teaching practice and discover new ways to reflect, tune into the full episode for a rich and inspiring discussion!

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FhXN052zZJg?si=rmttQhbKpVECJA74" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> 
🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2zv5mVNpSqkDNiNbQlnm7B" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-teacher-think-aloud-podcast/id1629819608" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

🔗&nbsp;Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teacherthinkaloud" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
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Reflection for Action: Unlocking Professional Growth in English Language Teaching

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<section>
In this special crossover episode of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, Sh&eacute; and Anna team up with Brent Warner and Ixchell Reyes of the&nbsp;<a href="https://diesol.org/welcome-to-the-diesol-podcast/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">DIESOL Podcast</a>&nbsp;(Developing Innovation in English as a Second or Other Language) for a lively conversation about reflective practice&mdash;the foundation of our podcast and a shared passion between both shows.

<blockquote>Being a reflective educator is really a commitment to a growth mindset and to this idea of continual growth and transformation. &mdash;Anna Ciriani-Dean</blockquote>

Instead of Sh&eacute; and Anna&rsquo;s usual narrative format, you&rsquo;ll hear the DIESOL style: less commentary, more conversation, and plenty of banter among all four hosts.

In Part 1, the group explores the why of reflective pedagogy and its core principles, beginning with a shared understanding of what reflective practice really means in the context of English language teaching. Reflection, as discussed, is not just about looking back on a lesson, but it also includes intentionally engaging with our teaching to uncover insights, strengthen our practice, and align our work with our values. The group examines why reflection matters&mdash;not only for teachers&rsquo; professional growth but also for students&rsquo; learning and classroom equity&mdash;emphasizing that intentional reflection can transform teaching from a routine into a meaningful practice. Finally, the conversation moves toward how teachers can move from superficial reflection, such as simply noting what went well or poorly, to deeper engagement through descriptive, conceptual, and even critical reflection that challenges assumptions and considers broader systemic and cultural dynamics.

This episode offers both philosophical grounding and practical inspiration, setting the stage for Part 2, where the conversation will dig more into actionable strategies for bringing reflection into the classroom.

🎧 Tune in to hear how reflective practice can empower teachers, shape learning experiences, and sustain professional joy&mdash;while enjoying the energy of four educators learning from each other.

Make sure to subscribe to The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast so you don&rsquo;t miss out on the Part 2 drop!
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SSQHZMXlWgs?si=KMgJVPTaG2FO7N_V" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2zv5mVNpSqkDNiNbQlnm7B" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-teacher-think-aloud-podcast/id1629819608" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

🔗&nbsp;Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teacherthinkaloud" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
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</ul>
</section>

The Reflective Educator: A Conversation on Growth & Transformation

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<section>
In the latest episode of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, hosts Sh&eacute; and Anna are joined by Harry Waters, a global ELT educator, teacher trainer, and climate activist behind&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-waters/?originalSubdomain=es">Renewable English</a>. Together, they explore how sustainability can become a consistent, student-driven context in the English language classroom&mdash;not just a one-off Earth Day activity. 
&nbsp;

<blockquote>We&rsquo;re not just teaching nouns and verbs. We&rsquo;re helping students find their voice in a noisy world.</blockquote>

From student-led recycling campaigns to eco-themed grammar activities, Harry shares practical ways to embed environmental awareness into your teaching&mdash;without overhauling your curriculum. His strategies include small but powerful shifts, like ending a lesson with &ldquo;How does today&rsquo;s topic connect to the planet?&rdquo; or reframing the second conditional to ask, &ldquo;If our school planted 1,000 trees&hellip;&rdquo;.

But this episode goes deeper. Harry also tackles the tough questions&mdash;what happens when student projects fail? How do we keep going when change feels slow? And how can we empower students to lead, even when systems resist?

🎧 Tune in for honest insights, tangible ideas, and the reminder that every lesson is a chance to model agency, connection, and care for the world we share.
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_CwkBAl6tEk?si=e015Uo2loTQO9-Os" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
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	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2zv5mVNpSqkDNiNbQlnm7B" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-teacher-think-aloud-podcast/id1629819608" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

🔗&nbsp;Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:

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</section>

Greening ELT: Addressing Sustainability in the English Language Classroom

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In the latest episode of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, hosts Sh&eacute; and Anna are joined by Sharon Tjaden-Burkes, a former English language educator who successfully transitioned into instructional design (ID). Sharon shares her deeply personal and practical story of leaving adjunct teaching behind to pursue a more sustainable, fulfilling path in learning and development.

<blockquote>We all have one life. Choose something you&#39;d want to do during the day. &nbsp;&mdash;Sharon&nbsp;Tjaden-Burkes</blockquote>

From battling burnout while raising two young kids to upskilling through a graduate certificate and hobby projects, Sharon offers both encouragement and concrete advice for educators who are ready for change&mdash;but unsure where to begin. Her journey speaks to the realities many teachers face: invisible labor, limited growth opportunities, and the pressure to do it all alone. Through candid storytelling, Sharon helps listeners see how their classroom experience is not just transferable&mdash;it&rsquo;s transformational.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FNNR9ImkRMo?si=vALU92iAfUXehv2j" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
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</ul>

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From the Classroom to the Design Desk: Transitioning from ELT to Instructional Design

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In the latest episode of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, hosts Anna and Sh&eacute; share a curated list of&nbsp;13 impactful reads&nbsp;perfect for educators navigating language, identity, and culture in the English language classroom. They warn that these are not light summer reads&mdash;they are powerful stories that explore migration, memory, and belonging, offering teachers new ways to connect with students across borders.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PUaTsFhfWhk?si=VmYpuQPphFWx6mhU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The episode features titles like&nbsp;Solito&nbsp;by Javier Zamora,&nbsp;Beautiful Country&nbsp;by Qian Julie Wang,&nbsp;Homegoing&nbsp;by Yaa Gyasi, and&nbsp;Airplane Mode&nbsp;by Shahnaz Habib&mdash;books that dive deep into lived experiences of displacement, resistance, and the search for home. Some titles, like&nbsp;The Covenant of Water&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, offer immersive, intergenerational narratives rooted in specific places, while others like&nbsp;The Penguin Book of Migration Literature&nbsp;present a range of voices and journeys from around the globe.

Anna and Sh&eacute; reflect on how these stories inform their teaching and inspire classroom activities. Some of the&nbsp;literature-based strategies&nbsp;they discuss for bringing these stories into ELT contexts, from leveraging memoirs for&nbsp;personal storytelling&nbsp;to&nbsp;practicing perspective-taking&nbsp;and rewriting stories through a different lens.&nbsp;

<blockquote>&ldquo;Wherever you are right now&mdash;in a hammock, on a long train ride, or just taking a few minutes between lesson prep for the upcoming school year&mdash;we hope these stories find you well. And we hope they leave you changed, just a little. Because the best stories do.&rdquo; - Sh&eacute; and Anna</blockquote>

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Stories That Cross Borders: A Summer Reading Special for ELT Educators

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