Episode 172. Why Your EL Lessons Feel Scattered (and How Backward Design Fixes It)

In this episode, I’m diving into lesson planning and introducing a process called backward design, which is a truly great way to plan for our English Learner (EL) students. You will hear how backward design differs from the traditional, “build-as-you-go” approach that often leaves lessons feeling scattered and disconnected. I also share how I applied this powerful framework to update my EL newcomer curriculum guide, transforming it from an activity generator into a clear, coherent language acquisition journey.Here is What You Will Hear in This Episode:My real-life example of teaching a newcomer student using a traditional planning approach and the key realization that the lesson lacked a clear ultimate goal.1A breakdown of the steps for both traditional lesson planning and backward design, which was originally developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe in Understanding by Design.1A detailed comparison of the pros and cons for both traditional lesson planning (e.g., easier for quick lessons, but often scattered) and backward design (e.g., clear learning goals, but requires more upfront time).1How I used the backward design process—starting with "what do we want our newcomers to know," moving to "performance tasks," and ending with a sequenced learning experience—to update the EL newcomer curriculum guide.Join me for The First 30 Days with EL Newcomers, which will be held LIVE on April 1, 2026, where you’ll  learn:  what to teach first, how to structure those early weeks, how to build language routines, and how to plan lessons that support students who are just beginning their English learning journey.EL Newcomer curriculum guides: The EL Newcomer Teaching Compass - curriculum guide for grades 6-12EL Newcomer Compass: Little Learners Edition - curriculum guide for grades K-2Take the next step: Book The Inner Classroom™ Clarity SessionSupport the time, effort and costs that go into bringing you The ESL Teaching Podcast episodes each week - consider making a small donation—whatever feels right for you. Thank you so much! https://www.paypal.biz/simplyieva Related episodes: 4 Easy Ways to Differentiate the Same LessonThe Ultimate Planning Framework for ELL TeachersThe First 7 Minutes: Why Your Class Needs a Better Beginning (Not a Better Lesson)Let’s connect!Follow me on InstagramFollow me on Facebook Follow me on LinkedInSupport the show