Welcome educators! Before we dive in, don't forget to check out the engaging ESL resources available at myadventuresinesl.com/store.

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Episode Overview

As we move closer to Winter Break, it's completely normal to feel the weight of the season — the planning, the paperwork, the constant juggling. In this episode, we explore a powerful mindset shift that can bring clarity, purpose, and even joy back into your weekly planning: seeing lesson planning not as a chore, but as an act of design.

This episode offers encouragement, practical strategies, and a refreshing way to approach planning so that it feels more intentional, creative, and energizing.

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In This Episode, We Explore:

✨ Why Planning Feels Heavy This Time of Year

• The pressure of ongoing lessons, deadlines, and constant demands

• How exhaustion and guilt creep in for many ESL teachers

• A reminder that you are doing meaningful, impactful work
  
  

✨ The Mindset Shift: Planning → Designing

• Learn how seeing yourself as an instructional designer changes everything:

• It reignites creativity

• Lessons feel more purposeful

• Students experience deeper engagement

• Planning becomes less overwhelming and more rewarding
  
  

✨ How This Shift Transforms Your Classroom

When planning becomes design, you:

• Make more intentional choices

• Build lessons that flow instead of disconnect

• Focus on experiences, not checklists

• Support language growth with more clarity and ease
  
  

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Key Strategies Covered

1. Start With the Student Experience

Instead of opening your template first, ask:
"What do I want my students to experience and feel during this lesson?"
This approach helps you design lessons that are meaningful and memorable.

2. Sketch the Student Journey

Map out what students are doing, saying, and thinking from warm-up to wrap-up.
Then layer in language objectives and scaffolds.

3. Create a Lesson Design Framework

Designers use frameworks — teachers can too.
Build a structure that includes:

• Your non-negotiables (language objectives, interaction, scaffolds)

• A consistent lesson flow

• Flexibility for different proficiency levels
  
  

This cuts planning time dramatically and brings consistency to your instruction.

4. Reflect Like a Designer

After each lesson, ask:

• What worked well?

• Where did students engage the most?

• What would I redesign next time?
  
  

Reflection keeps you intentional and growing.

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Encouragement for the Week

You don't have to reinvent your lessons every time.
You don't have to settle for planning that drains you.
You get to design experiences that help multilingual learners grow in extraordinary ways.

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Call to Action

This week, choose one upcoming lesson and redesign it through a designer's lens.
Start with the experience, build your support, and simplify the rest.

Share your reflection with me!
📩 Connect on Instagram: @myadventuresinesl

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Resources Mentioned

✨ Download ESL lessons and supports: myadventuresinesl.com/store
✨ Follow for planning ideas, strategies & inspiration: @myadventuresinesl