Teaching and writing materials for migrant learners in Australia
2025 Nov 04

Decodable readers for adult and young adult learners

Intro pic for decodable readers from ESL Reads

Decodable readers for adult (or young adult) multilingual learners, anyone? It sounds like an obvious part of a literacy program, but they are SO hard to write as relatable stories, with meaningful context. (I say that as someone who has tried – and given up!) So it was wonderful to discover that someone else has persisted – Lauren Piovesan, from … Continue reading

2025 Oct 16

Beach Safety: An updated ESOL resource list

Beach Safety resources Australia

Counting down to the release of the first four books in the new Read about Australia series, including one on Beach Icons… and it made me realise that it’s been a while since I looked at resources that focus on beach fun and beach safety. In fact, last time was in February 2018, so here’s my update. I’d love to … Continue reading

2025 Mar 19

Tabletop English: a video ‘look-inside’

An introduction to Tabletop English video cover

Practical issues with printable resources A couple of weeks ago, I showed the new Tabletop English resources to a wonderfully enthusiastic librarian (who will also be storing the printed resources for teachers).  This experience reminded me that there is a LOT there. Of course, there’s no need to print and laminate everything at once, or at all. (If you don’t … Continue reading

2024 Nov 27

Writing from your own migrant heritage: thoughts and tips from Lauren Piovesan

Introduction to article

I interviewed Lauren Piovesan about her ESL Reads project back in 2022 and 2023.  As always, it’s so exciting to have Australian resources written for multilingual learners. However, this time I wanted to talk about how her own family’s migrant experience had informed her writing of EAL/D resources – like her latest reading book, ‘Linda’s Busy Week’. I also asked … Continue reading

2024 Oct 04

Authentic cross-cultural stories for English language learners: an interview with Claire Kamber

Claire Kamber from Milpera Publishing

I’m always excited to see reading books that reflect the real-life experience of multilingual learners here in Australia. These stories for high school and young adult students are all about settling in, living a new life in a different environment, while missing parts of the old life…how to find a new sense of belonging. I hadn’t heard of Milpera Publishing, … Continue reading

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