These lesson plans were created by students at Brigham Young University (BYU) studying early childhood education, elementary education, special education, and communication disorders, under the direction of Dr. Tina Taylor, professor of special education and U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Thailand. The plans were developed and refined while teaching children at the National Institute for Child and Family Development at Mahidol University, Thailand, ensuring they meet the needs of young learners.
About Our Lessons
Our lessons are designed for teachers, parents, and anyone supporting English Language Learners, young children, or children with disabilities. They focus on vocabulary development as a supplement to existing curricula.
Each lesson uses a picture book as the foundation for vocabulary instruction, making learning engaging, fun, and imaginative. If a book isn’t available, we provide links to online read-alouds. The lessons incorporate evidence-based practices, including the Total Response Method, which combines movement and verbal input to mirror how children naturally learn their first language. See examples of TPR here:
Every plan includes:
- Topic of instruction (e.g., emotions, colors, animals)
- Information about the picture book
- Clear objectives by skill level (Level 1: imitation, Level 2: receptive language, Level 3: expressive language)
- Key vocabulary lists with images and translations
- Pre-reading, reading, and post-reading activities
- Extension activities for extra practice
- Supplemental materials such as flashcards, matching games, and coloring pages
Our goal is to help you spark joy in language learning, build students’ confidence, and strengthen their communication skills so they can connect with others in their communities and throughout the world while they grow as lifelong learners.
These lessons are offered free of charge with support from the BYU McKay School of Education. We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Barbara Culatta, Dr. Juan Freire, and Dr. Grant Eckstein for sharing their expertise in teaching English to diverse populations.
How It Works
