E79 — 2026 Friends of the Podcast: Back to Basics

On this episode, co-hosts Shé and Anna take us back to the roots of the podcast: reflection. The episode integrates the voices of teachers around the world, who reflect on their teaching goals for the new year—from addressing student motivation and needs assessments to integrating AI tools and promoting trauma-informed teaching. Each contributor offers a unique insight, making this episode a treasure trove of practical advice and inspiration for educators seeking to enhance their teaching practice in 2026. Happy New Year and happy teaching!💡 Reflect with us: What are your teaching goals for 2026? Leave us a comment!🎧 Further listening: E7 – Building Rapport on Day 1 E73 – Foundations of Reflective Practice, with the DIESOL PodE78 – Training the Trainers, with Tabitha Kidwell 2024 Friends of the Podcast: AI in ELT E34 – Trauma-sensitive teaching, with Sherry MacKay 🎙 This episode is sponsored by Ellii Use code THINKALOUD for 15% off your first membership term. Admins can also request a two-month free trial to pilot Ellii for your program.📚 Chapters:00:00 Sponsor Message from Ellii00:57 Introduction to the Episode01:27 Reflective Practice and Voice Memos02:39 Michelle Land on Individualizing Lessons for SLIFE Students04:30 Lauren Johnson on Needs Assessments in Business Tutoring08:06 Andrea's Mission: Lifelong Learning and AI Integration10:31 Stephanie Hanson on Teaching with AI12:08 Tabitha Kidwell on Supporting Full Class Discussions13:58 Luz María Parra on Student Motivation in K-12 Classrooms16:03 Sherry MacKay on Trauma-Informed Teaching17:32 Lorena Ojeda on Mindfulness and Universal Design for Learning21:06 Lewis on Lesson Planning Post-Master's22:48 Joel Tillman on Building a Resource Library24:45 Conclusion and Listener Engagement#TeacherThinkAloud #TeachingGoals #NewYearsReflection #ReflectivePractice #TeacherGrowth #AIinEducation #TraumaInformedTeaching #SLIFEstudents #NeedsAssessment #UDL #MindfulnessInTeaching y #LessonPlanning #ELTcommunity #TESOL #EFLteachers #ESLteachers #ReflectivePractice #Reflection #GoalSetting