ESL Curriculum Map – Simplify Planning

 Planning ESL curriculum for the week, month or year can be overwhelming. Many of you have been asking me for my ESL/ELD curriculum map so here it is!

What Is Included in This Free K–5 ESL Curriculum Map

Overall, this K–5 ESL curriculum map, and pacing guide is a FREE year-long ELL tool you can use to plan ESL lessons and activities for all English language proficiency levels.

How This ESL / ELD Curriculum Map Is Organized

To further support your planning, this free year-long ESL-ELD curriculum map is organized week by week to help you confidently plan instruction for all three ELL language levels.

• Beginner/Early Intermediate
• Intermediate
• Early Advanced/Advanced

As a next step, this K–5 ESL curriculum map, lesson plans, and pacing guide free sample comes from our ESL Yearlong Bundle (HERE) , a comprehensive 2,600+ page resource designed to take you through the year—month by month—for English Newcomers to Early Advanced speakers. 

Why Teachers Love This Year-Long ESL Planning Tool

Firstly, planning an ESL curriculum for the entire year can feel overwhelming. However, if you’re looking for an ESL curriculum map that clearly guides you through the whole year, this resource is exactly what you need. Additionally, this freebie also includes a blank planner, giving you the flexibility to create a customized plan that works for your classroom.

As a result, this year-long ESL/ELD curriculum map, organized week by week, allows you to plan your entire year with ease while supporting all three language proficiency levels.

Language Levels Covered

✅ Beginner/early intermediate
📚 Intermediate
✅ Early Advanced/Advanced

In addition, each month, under each language level there are language components that I teach during that month. You more than likely have your own resources, activities, and curriculum to teach these components.

Use Your Own Resources—or Mine

♥If I have a product that contains all or parts of the language I teach during that month I have listed it. All resource images are clickable links for your convenience. Just click on the image you want to see and it will take you to my TPT store.♥

Furthermore, each month has a combination of ELD units and/or grammar components essential for English learners. Again choose some or all of what I have here. Feel free to mix it up to suit you!

Click Here to download from TPT!

Flexible ESL & ELD Units You Can Mix & Match In Your ESL Curriculum

Finally, every classroom is different! Every teacher teaches differently, and I tried to create this year’s curriculum map with many different types of classrooms and teachers in mind. I know you may need to tweak this to the needs of your students, classroom, and administration. That’s OK! For example, March is a testing month for me. If you need to switch months around to meet your testing time, that is just fine. Do what is best for your students in your classroom.

There is even a column for holidays, which you can use or not use, your choice. How awesome is that people? I mean the whole year is planned out for you.

Download the Free ESL Curriculum Map

Click here to download!

Happy Teaching!

Looking for time-saving tips and tricks for teaching math and ESL? Sign up for my email newsletter to get free teaching resources and helpful strategies right to your inbox! Click here to sign up.

Looking for a resource that’s truly ready to teach? Then check out my ESL Mega K–5 Bundle and breathe a sigh of relief!

FREE MATH LESSON - “Line Plots with Fractions Interactive Notes Activity”

by Love Learning
4th - 6th Grade

These line plots with fractions interactive notes are perfect for your 5th-grade math classroom! Students will learn how to read a line plot, display data on a line plot, and redistribute data on a line plot using guided math practice and real-world math examples.

Students will learn:

1. The definition of a line plot
2. How to create a line plot
3. Using fractions with unlike denominators in a line plot

This resource is INCLUDED in my Line Plots Unit

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Do you want your students to Love ❤️ Learning Math?

Check out these other resources:

• Whole Number Division (NBT Standards)

• Expressions, Variables, and Order of Operations (OA Standards)

• Coordinate Planes and Numerical Patterns (OA Standards)

• Adding and Subtracting Decimals

• Geometry (G Standards)

• Fractions Bundle

• Fifth Grade Constructed Response Sheets

Other 5th Grade Measurement Resources:

• Measurement Conversions Unit

• Measurement, Line Plots, and Volume Student Notes

• Volume of Composite Figures Practice

• Volume of Rectangular Prisms Unit

SAVE with Bundles:

• Math Interactive Notebook Bundle

• Math PowerPoint Lessons Bundle

• 5th Grade Math Units for the YEAR

⭐ Let's get to know each other! ⭐

1. Grab these FREE 5th Grade Word Problem Task Cards and get to know more about me by joining my email list!
2. Follow Me on Instagram or Facebook
3. If you have any questions, please email me: lovelearningtpt@gmail.com

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Line-Plots-with-Fractions-Interactive-Notes-Activity--2274989

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Building Strong Math Vocabulary in Elementary Classrooms (Especially for ELLs!)

Building Strong Math Vocabulary in Elementary Classrooms (Especially for ELLs!)If there’s one thing that can instantly boost student success in math, it’s a strong foundation in math vocabulary.

Words like array, sum, product, and partition appear throughout the curriculum, yet many students—especially English language learners—struggle with the language long before they struggle with the math. Fortunately, with the right instructional tools, math vocabulary doesn’t need to feel overwhelming for students or teachers.

Today, I’m sharing a simple, classroom-tested lesson structure that helps students understand, use, and internalize key math vocabulary every day. Even better, this routine works beautifully for multilingual learners and supports deep conceptual understanding.

Why Math Vocabulary Instruction Matters

Math vocabulary is more than a list of terms—it’s the language of reasoning and problem solving. When students understand the words, they are more likely to understand the concepts. However, because math vocabulary is often abstract and academic, ELLs benefit from deliberate, consistent exposure.

Additionally, vocabulary knowledge helps students:

• interpret word problems more accurately
• explain their thinking
• choose correct models
• make connections across math ideas

As you’ll see below, teaching vocabulary does not require a long, complicated block of time. Instead, it can be woven seamlessly into the start of your math lesson.

Step 1: Warm Up With Intentional Math Vocabulary Practice

Begin by selecting 4–6 vocabulary cards that connect to your math skill. Then, display the cards on the board or in a pocket chart. This creates an instant visual reference for students.

Next, use this simple and effective routine:

Say It – Show It – Use It

1. Say It: Students repeat the term aloud.
2. Show It: Students act it out, point to an example, or sketch it.
3. Use It: Students create a sentence using the term.

This quick warm-up builds confidence, reinforces correct pronunciation, and allows ELLs to pair the word with meaning.

Additionally, short games like “I Know It / I’m Learning It” or quick card sorting activities help students interact with math vocabulary in low-pressure, high-engagement ways.

Step 2: Transition Into a Whole-Group Mini Lesson

After warming up, move into your mini lesson. To support math vocabulary development, incorporate the words intentionally as you model the day’s skill.

For example:

• “This array shows 3 rows of 4. What does that tell us about the factors?”
• “I know this is a rectangle because it has four right angles.”

Furthermore, sentence frames give ELLs a structure for mathematical language:

• “An example of ___ is…”
• “I know this is a ___ because…”

This step bridges language and content, making math more accessible for everyone.

Step 3: Strengthen Understanding of Math Vocabulary Through Guided Practice

Next, move students into partner or small-group work. This is where the magic happens. When students talk about math vocabulary with each other, they internalize the words through real use.

Here’s how to build this into practice:

• Place vocabulary cards in the center of the table.
• Ask students to use two or more math vocabulary terms as they explain their process.
• Encourage partner talk and shared explanations.

ELLs especially benefit from structured oral language practice. Partner conversations reduce anxiety and increase opportunities for meaningful repetition.

Step 4: Support Independent Practice With Vocabulary Tools

As students work independently, continue supporting them with math vocabulary tools such as:

• word banks
• sentence starters
• labeled visuals
• vocabulary cards at desks

This scaffolding helps students access the language they need while working independently.

Moreover, teachers can listen for vocabulary use to address misunderstandings in real time.

Step 5: End With a Quick Vocabulary-Based Exit Ticket

To wrap up the lesson, ask students to complete one short task:

• Circle the math vocabulary word they used the most and explain why
  or
• Draw an example of one math vocabulary term

These quick checks give you insight into students’ language development and identify who may need more support the next day.

Why This Lesson Routine Works for Math Vocabulary—and for ELLs

This approach is powerful because it:

✔ embeds vocabulary throughout the entire math block
✅supports ELLs with visuals, gestures, partner talk, and sentence frames
✔helps all students connect vocabulary to models and strategies
✅ builds confidence by making vocabulary predictable and replicable
✔ promotes conceptual understanding, not just memorization

Most importantly, students begin using the vocabulary for the concept naturally and correctly—because they have meaningful opportunities to practice.

Ready to Try It?

If you’re looking for ready-made cards and games to support this routine, the Math Vocabulary Games, Cards & Activities resource pairs perfectly with every step of this lesson plan.

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It’s especially effective for ELLs and teachers who want a simple, consistent way to reinforce math vocabulary.

Have a great week!

Let’s Teach!
Lori

Happy Teaching

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL OUR MULTIPLICATION RESOURCES, GAMES AND ACTIVITIES!

Looking for time-saving tips and tricks for teaching math and ESL? Sign up for my email newsletter to get free teaching resources and helpful strategies right in your inbox! Click here to sign up.

Check out my TPT store for some great
math vocabulary products, too!  Click here!

FREE MISC. LESSON - “How to Prepare BOOM Card Decks for Sale on TpT”

by Mathy Techy
Pre-Kindergarten - 12th Grade

Do you need help with listing your awesome BOOM Card decks for sale on TpT? I have created this short guide with the steps you'll need to do it!

I have included a sample of one of my free BOOM Card decks PDF files. This is for reference purposes ONLY. I am by no means an amazing graphic designer, use your skills to make your download PDF files the way you like them. My sample is to show a way to use the links provided by boomlearning.com.

Here are some links that show how the PREVIEW URL could be used for a BOOM Cards Deck:

EQUIVALENT FRACTIONS PREVIEW

MIXED AND IMPROPER FRACTIONS PREVIEW

CONVERTING FRACTIONS DECIMALS AND PERCENTS PREVIEW

**NEW**
Instructions for making bundles of BOOM card products on TPT now included!

I hope this guide proves to be helpful.

CHECK OUT SOME OF MY OTHER HOW-TO GUIDES:

How to include Unsupported file types with a TpT Online Resource

(****This guide is fantastic if you want to list Google Resources using TpT Online Resource tool, but also want to include file types that are not allowed***)

How to Prepare a Google Document for sale on TpT

How to PUBLISH a Google Slides Presentation That Cannot be Edited

How to Prepare BOOM Card Decks for Sale on TpT

Mathy Techy

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-to-Prepare-BOOM-Card-Decks-for-Sale-on-TpT-5598134

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