In this powerful episode of the Equipping ELLs podcast, host Beth Vaucher (formerly Boche), founder of Inspiring Young Learners, dives deep into one of the most pressing challenges facing educators today—supporting newcomer English Language Learners (ELLs) in the classroom. As classrooms across the country see a rising number of newcomer students, many educators feel overwhelmed and unsure where to begin. In Episode 11, Beth shares a step-by-step roadmap to scaffold lessons effectively so newcomers feel supported, engaged, and empowered from day one.

This episode goes beyond the basics of welcoming newcomers and focuses on actionable strategies to make instruction accessible, even when students enter with little or no English or native-language literacy. Beth explains why understanding a student’s literacy background in their first language (L1) is essential and how it informs your approach to lesson planning. She breaks down five simple, yet powerful scaffolding strategies you can start using this week—from using visuals and QR codes for listening comprehension to incorporating cognates and sentence starters.

Drawing from her personal experience teaching abroad in Panama during the pandemic, Beth offers insight into why today’s newcomers may have drastically different needs than those from pre-pandemic years. With many having experienced years of interrupted or nonexistent schooling, educators need practical tools more than ever to bridge the gaps in foundational learning.

Whether you’re a homeroom teacher or an ESL specialist, Beth emphasizes the critical importance of collaboration between both roles to see real progress in your newcomer students. She provides real-life classroom examples, reflective questions, and helpful analogies (like learning about the solar system in a language you don't speak!) to inspire confidence in teachers who may feel underprepared.

Tune in to hear how you can blend foundational language instruction with content-area learning, all while making students feel safe and successful. Plus, Beth shares how small, intentional efforts—like slowing your rate of speech or providing picture-supported vocabulary—can make a huge difference in helping newcomers thrive.

Finally, Beth invites educators to join the Equipping ELLs membership, where they can access done-for-you lesson plans, coaching, and a community of passionate teachers ready to support each other. If you’re looking to grow your confidence and capacity when working with newcomer ELLs, this episode is a must-listen.

Links and Resources:

• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store
• [FREEBIE] Newcomer Welcome Kit
• [FREEBIE] Newcomers Scope & Sequence
• Ready for more? Grab our best-selling Newcomer Yearlong Bundle

Frustrated with keeping your ELL students engaged? Or struggling to give everyone the chance for output in a short amount of time?

In this episode of the Equipping ELLs Podcast, we dive into 4 practical Kagan Cooperative Learning strategies that will help you keep every student participating. Boost engagement, scaffold activities, and empower your students to take the lead in their learning journey. Join us for insights that'll make your teaching life easier and your classroom time more productive!

• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership (Everything you need for your school year!)
• Shop our TpT Store
• Sign Up for the FREE Webinar
• FREEBIE: Using Cooperative Learning Strategies with ELLs

In this high-impact episode of the Equipping ELLs Podcast, Beth Boche dives deep into one of the most loved topics by the community: teaching vocabulary that sticks. With a countdown to the 200th episode underway, we're celebrating by revisiting this listener favorite that’s packed with actionable strategies for vocabulary instruction using a tiered approach. If you've ever wondered how to move beyond flashcards and truly empower your English Language Learners (ELLs) to use vocabulary with confidence, this episode is your roadmap.

Beth begins by exploring the three tiers of vocabulary—Tier 1 (basic words), Tier 2 (cross-domain academic vocabulary), and Tier 3 (domain-specific terms)—and explains how each tier plays a unique role in language acquisition. Through relatable examples and practical classroom scenarios, she highlights how Tier 2 vocabulary is the sweet spot for focused instruction that leads to lasting learning.

Listeners will gain insight into how to strategically plan vocabulary instruction that’s rooted in context, culturally responsive, and scaffolded by language proficiency levels. Beth also shares a 5-step planning framework to help teachers pre-select and teach vocabulary words effectively. From choosing 6–8 high-impact words per unit to creating visual supports like anchor charts and flashcards, you’ll walk away with tools you can implement right away.

One powerful takeaway is the emphasis on "shades of meaning"—teaching synonyms and related terms based on a student’s language level to reinforce vocabulary in meaningful ways. Beth also reminds educators to consider the cognitive load of learners, especially newcomers, and encourages keeping vocabulary instruction simple, targeted, and rich with repetition and context.

Whether you're a new ELL teacher or a veteran looking to refine your vocabulary approach, this episode offers a fresh perspective rooted in real classroom experience and research-backed strategies. Beth shares her own story of learning Spanish and uses it to emphasize the importance of learning vocabulary in real-life situations—not just through memorization.

Don't forget to enter our celebration giveaway by leaving a review, taking a screenshot, and sending it to us via Instagram (@equippingELLs) or email (hello@equippingells.com). Weekly winners receive a $20 Teachers Pay Teachers gift card and are entered into the grand prize drawing for a $200 Amazon gift card!

Make sure to follow along on Instagram and subscribe so you don’t miss the remaining episodes in our Top 5 Countdown. For even more support and ready-made resources for your ELL students, visit inspiringyounglearners.com.

• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store