
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
The ESL / ELL Teacher's Survival Guide: Ready-to-Use Strategies, Tools, and Activities for Teaching English Language Learners of All Levels 1st Edition
- ISBN-101118095677
- ISBN-13978-1118095676
- Edition1st
- PublisherJohn Wiley And Sons Inc
- Publication dateAugust 6, 2012
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions8.5 x 0.7 x 10.8 inches
- Print length336 pages
There is a newer edition of this item:
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Editorial Reviews
From the Inside Flap
The ESL/ELL Teacher's SURVIVAL GUIDE
The ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide offers educators practical strategies for setting up an ESL-friendly classroom, motivating and interacting with students, communicating with parents of English learners, and navigating the challenges inherent in teaching ESL students.
The book's lessons are designed to connect with core standard and technology applications and include a wealth of research-based instructional techniques which have proven effective with English learners at all proficiency levels. The ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide offers help for building a positive and effective learning environment in the classroom and includes the key elements of a curriculum for beginning and intermediate ELLs from daily instruction plans to a year-long schedule. The authors offer ideas for student reflection, appropriate homework assignments, targeted field trips, and assessing student performance. They also discuss handling difficult situations like error correction, multilevel classes, limited access to technology, classroom management, and more. The free online materials accompanying this book include interactive exercises, rubrics, test-prep strategies, and up-to-date information on Common Core standards for ELLs.
The ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide offers thematic units complete with reproducible forms and worksheets, sample lesson plans, and student samples. This hands-on resource will give teachers at all levels the information they need to be effective ESL instructors.
"An engaging, practical, and highly accessible book… The authors share strategies that have been proven effective through research as well as their own practice. There is truly something valuable for any teacher, even those who have extensive experience with ESL classes."
PIA WONG, professor, Bilingual/Multicultural Education, California State University, Sacramento
"This is an invaluable resource for all new and experienced teachers who desire to see their language learning students thrive and achieve at high levels."
DANA DUSBIBER, classroom teacher with over 20 years of experience working with ELLs
From the Back Cover
The ESL/ELL Teacher's SURVIVAL GUIDE
The ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide offers educators practical strategies for setting up an ESL-friendly classroom, motivating and interacting with students, communicating with parents of English learners, and navigating the challenges inherent in teaching ESL students.
The book's lessons are designed to connect with core standard and technology applications and include a wealth of research-based instructional techniques which have proven effective with English learners at all proficiency levels. The ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide offers help for building a positive and effective learning environment in the classroom and includes the key elements of a curriculum for beginning and intermediate ELLs from daily instruction plans to a year-long schedule. The authors offer ideas for student reflection, appropriate homework assignments, targeted field trips, and assessing student performance. They also discuss handling difficult situations like error correction, multilevel classes, limited access to technology, classroom management, and more. The free online materials accompanying this book include interactive exercises, rubrics, test-prep strategies, and up-to-date information on Common Core standards for ELLs.
The ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide offers thematic units complete with reproducible forms and worksheets, sample lesson plans, and student samples. This hands-on resource will give teachers at all levels the information they need to be effective ESL instructors.
"An engaging, practical, and highly accessible book… The authors share strategies that have been proven effective through research as well as their own practice. There is truly something valuable for any teacher, even those who have extensive experience with ESL classes."
PIA WONG, professor, Bilingual/Multicultural Education, California State University, Sacramento
"This is an invaluable resource for all new and experienced teachers who desire to see their language learning students thrive and achieve at high levels."
DANA DUSBIBER, classroom teacher with over 20 years of experience working with ELLs
About the Author
LARRY FERLAZZO is the author of "Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day" (http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org), the popular blog for teachers of English Language Learners and one of the most popular education blogs for all teachers. He teaches English at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California.
KATIE HULL SYPNIESKI teaches English at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California, serves as a teaching consultant with the Area 3 Writing Project at University of California, Davis, and is a lead trainer for the WRITE Institute (Writing Reform Institute for Teaching Excellence).
Product details
- Publisher : John Wiley And Sons Inc; 1st edition (August 6, 2012)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1118095677
- ISBN-13 : 978-1118095676
- Item Weight : 1.75 pounds
- Dimensions : 8.5 x 0.7 x 10.8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #275,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

I teach English, Social Studies and International Baccalaureate classes to English Language Learners and English-proficient students at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California.
I've written or edited thirteen books on education: The ELL Teacher's Toolbox (with co-author Katie Hull Sypnieski); Navigating The Common Core With English Language Learners (with co-author Katie Hull Sypnieski); Building A Community Of Self-Motivated Learners: Strategies To Help Students Thrive In School and Beyond; Classroom Management Q&As: Expert Strategies for Teaching; Self-Driven Learning: Teaching Strategies For Student Motivation; The ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide (with co-author Katie Hull Sypnieski); Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Challenges; English Language Learners: Teaching Strategies That Work; and Building Parent Engagement In Schools (with co-author Lorie Hammond). Katie Hull and I also edited a series of books on Math, Science and Social Studies that are modeled on our ELL Teacher's Toolbox. A second edition of the ESL/ELL Teacher's Survival Guide was recently published. The Student Motivation Handbook is my newest book.
My other writing includes a popular education blog at http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/ , a weekly teacher advice column for Education Week Teacher and a series of posts for The New York Times. My articles on education policy regularly appear in the Washington Post. In addition, my articles have appeared in publications such as ASCD Educational Leadership, Social Policy, and Language Magazine.
I've won several awards, including the Leadership For A Changing World Award from the Ford Foundation, and was the Grand Prize Winner of the International Reading Association Award for Technology and Reading.
You can check out three hundred radio show segments I've done on BAM! Education Radio.
I was a community organizer for nineteen years prior to becoming a public school teacher.
In the personal area, I'm married and have three children and four grandchildren.
A basketball team I play for has come in last place every year since 2014, so I should not give up my day job for a career in sports.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book a valuable resource for ESL teachers. They appreciate the practical recommendations and ideas for teaching. The book provides them with a variety of activities and resources. Readers describe the writing as clear, easy to read, and a text to revisit frequently.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book useful and helpful for beginning ESL teachers. They appreciate the practical recommendations and descriptions of classroom routines. The book is described as a handy tool for ESL teachers, with an emphasis on fill-in-the-blank teaching.
"...is the FIRST ESL resource book I've come across that aligns with the teaching methodology I'm learning in Graduate School and actually makes sense...." Read more
"...This is a great text to have near you while lesson-planning, at hand during peer-to-peer / staff committee meetings, a text to revisit..." Read more
"...Even though it's written for secondary school, I find I can use a lot of the ideas, as they are researched and tested in classrooms...." Read more
"...Content does seem useful and good." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's ideas. They find it user-friendly, with a good variety of ideas at their fingertips. The book offers inspiration and helpful activities and resources for teaching and building relationships.
"...Even though it wasn't a fit for me, I was still able to pull some useful ideas." Read more
"...taken to design the book so any busy teacher could find help and inspiration easily...." Read more
"...It is full of things I have done and more ideas for me to implement in the future." Read more
"...There are a number of helpful game ideas, unit plans, and even relationship-building and classroom-management tips that I hope will prove highly..." Read more
Customers find the book clear and easy to read. They appreciate the larger font choice and consider it a text to revisit frequently. The content may be good, but they mention routines and how they use lists of sentences about a topic (called Text Sets) to have students.
"...at hand during peer-to-peer / staff committee meetings, a text to revisit frequently. Holly" Read more
"...The content may be good. However, I paid full price for a new book. I received a scratched and slightly tattered book...." Read more
"...the description of the classroom routines and how they use lists of sentences about a topic (called Text Sets) to have students categorize and think..." Read more
"This ESL/ELL book is help me a lot for my course. Very clear and have a very powerful techniques. Thanks!" Read more
Reviews with images

Received damaged product.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2014This book looked as though it would be great for a room full of students, but it was impractical for me, because I am only teaching a single person. If you are an educated, degreed teacher in a classroom, then this book will most likely be very helpful to you. Even though it wasn't a fit for me, I was still able to pull some useful ideas.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2016I'm a new ESL teacher and this is the FIRST ESL resource book I've come across that aligns with the teaching methodology I'm learning in Graduate School and actually makes sense. I'm about halfway through at this point and the insight I've gained thus fair is invaluable. I can't get through a single page without highlighting the hell out of key points and making notes in the margins. This book is a must if you're teaching ESL, especially in a school system, although the strategies and tactics can be applied to adults as well.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2012First impression: I like the larger, easy-to-read font choice. Thank you!
So far, the "I am" Project (page 21), Chapter 3, pages 198, 199, Chapter 11 = are those that have the most penciled in margin notes and/or post-it reference tabs.
It is one of those books that even a very experienced ESL / ESOL / ELL / EFL (whatever acronym you use) teacher/facilitator will be likely to find useful to review, even if just to be reminded of a few tricks that she or he has not used in awhile, to become more aware of research supporting the "why we do and try to do what we do and try to do."
As someone who has been a fan of Larry Ferlazzo and his prolific blogging and tweeting for years, I felt I owed it to him -- and to visitors to my bookshelves -- to purchase a copy of this text. As an adult ELL educator, even though the book is marked for Grades 4 -12, many chapters and much of the information has relevancy.
This is a text that is not likely to overwhelm newbies and/or classroom volunteers -- a quick flip-though may well lead to a careful reading of the Contents pages, and then to self-selected study.
The Afterword is well chosen.
The Notes section will make you wish for access to a hyper-linked copy of same!
This is a great text to have near you while lesson-planning, at hand during peer-to-peer / staff committee meetings, a text to revisit frequently.
Holly
- Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2013This is the best resource book I've got for teaching ESL. Even though it's written for secondary school, I find I can use a lot of the ideas, as they are researched and tested in classrooms. Want to improve your own teaching and the learning environment in your classroom? Want to foster an environment of active learning in the classroom? Get this book and begin implementing a lot of the learning activities. You won't be disappointed.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2020This review is mainly for how I received the product.
The content may be good. However, I paid full price for a new book. I received a scratched and slightly tattered book. This should have been better packaged. I am disappointed in the state of arrival. I'm considering returning.
I could have paid for "used " and receives the book in similar conditions.
Content does seem useful and good.
3.0 out of 5 starsThis review is mainly for how I received the product.Received damaged product.
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2020
The content may be good. However, I paid full price for a new book. I received a scratched and slightly tattered book. This should have been better packaged. I am disappointed in the state of arrival. I'm considering returning.
I could have paid for "used " and receives the book in similar conditions.
Content does seem useful and good.
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2012I think this really is a survival guide for ESL/ELL teachers. So much care was taken to design the book so any busy teacher could find help and inspiration easily. I would recommend this for any teacher who has one or many children in her class who speak different home languages. The strategies and activities are valid, valuable and easy to use.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2013This books shows that this is for upper grades. I bought it for my 1st grade ELL/ELD class because there was nothing listed for elementary. I use many of the suggested tech places listed. The information provided is very valuable and useful for my elementary class. I highly recommend this book for any grade level. Awesome resource!
- Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2013The books is exactly how it was described. I have been looking for something to use and be a little guide and this book is that. It is full of things I have done and more ideas for me to implement in the future.
Top reviews from other countries
-
GilsonReviewed in Brazil on May 27, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom!
As práticas e dicas no livro são muito boas e realmente ajudam nas aulas.
- RazeelaReviewed in India on August 23, 2020
1.0 out of 5 stars Bad experience
So bad.we didn't get this book. instead of this we got accounting manual
- Adam J.Reviewed in France on February 6, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Well made, excellent book
Excellent book, plenty of useful tools for aspiring teachers. A must buy
- kemoReviewed in Germany on June 17, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars great buy
great for any teacher, new or old. provides great tips/ ideas for esl students
-
CReviewed in Spain on September 22, 2017
3.0 out of 5 stars No está mal
No está mal. No era como esperaba, ni daba tantas ideas como parecía, es más bien para la reflexión y que cada uno aplique como quiera.