Question 1

What are graphic organizers and how do I use them?

Accepted Answer

Graphic organizers usually include boxes for writing information and pictures to help students organize information they read from a text. Below is a picture of a historical timeline which is a perfect example of a graphic organizer to help students organize important dates from a historical text.

![ESL-Teaching-Graphic-Organizers6.jpg](https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/VJjCVlXBck/resources/ZMOnaK5ADk/ESL-Teaching-Graphic-Organizers6.jpg)

Graphic organizers are incredibly helpful tools for organizing information, regardless of whether students are English learners or not.

For our English learners who are attempting to access grade-level materials, they can be crucial.

In the ESL Curriculum Membership, you can find a growing library of graphic organizers you can use to scaffold learning for your English learners.

[Click Here to Check Out the Graphic Organizers](https://kid-inspired.com/paths-to-fluency/graphic-organizers/)

Question 2

How do I assign materials online using Google Classroom?

Accepted Answer

## Using materials on-line in Google Classroom is simple. If you're already a member of the Kid-Inspired community, you can log in and take the course Engaging Learners Online! for lots more resources and strategies you can use while teaching online. **[Start the Course](https://kid-inspired.com/courses/engaging-learners-online/)** [Join the Membership](https://kid-inspired.com/esl-curriculum)

Question 3

What's the difference between Diphthongs, Blends, and Digraphs?

Accepted Answer

# Diphthongs, Blends & Digraphs

I had no idea what these were when I first began teaching phonics.

Not that I needed to know what these terms meant in order to teach phonics well, but it did help when it came to sorting out the different combinations in my head as I was teaching them.

**Here are the basic differences between Diphthongs, Blends, and Digraphs:**

* Blends - Consonant Blends include letter combinations like st, pr, and nk. You can hear the individual sounds even as you are blending them. 
* Digraphs - Digraphs include letter combinations like oo and ew. They only make one single sound when blended together.
* Diphthongs - Diphthongs include letter combinations like ai and oa. They make one sound that morphs into a second sound when blended together. (For example, "ai" sounds like "aaaeeee" if you say it really slowly, like a long a morphing into a long e sound 😁 .)

Question 4

I can't login! What do I do?

Accepted Answer

# Common Reasons Members Have Trouble Logging In

**If you have just signed up and haven't received your login credentials, there are a few options:**
* Double check your spam folder again to be sure.
* Get a text message (this doesn't work if you have logged in before) - You can find this option on the welcome page you arrived at after signing up.
* Contact John by email: accounts@kid-inspired.com
* [Contact John by Messenger](https://m.me/kidinspiredclassroom?ref=w11561334)

**If you have logged in before, but can't now, here are a few possible explanations:**
1. You are **logged in on too many devices**. You are allowed to be logged in on a maximum of 3 devices only. You can log out of a device or two in order to be able to log in on a new device. You may need to check that you aren't logged in on a tab in a web browser that you have forgotten about.

2. You may have **input or saved your password incorrectly**. You can reset your password by clicking on the Reset Password button on the Login screen or by sending an email **accounts@kid-inspired.com**

3. You **need to update payment information**. If your account has fallen into arrears, you will lose access to the membership. You can remedy this by sending an email to **accounts@kid-inspired.com** for assistance.

I'm always happy to help so just send an email to accounts@kid-inspired.com with any questions and we'll get it figured out!

Question 5

Are there leveled readers in the membership?

Accepted Answer

**If you're in need of reading passages, I've got you covered. **

There are tons of literacy lessons inside the ESL Curriculum Membership each with an engaging, original reading passage that your students will love.

There are also fun phonics and Dolche Sight Word reading passages that you can use for extra reading practice at any level depending on students' reading needs.

Sign up for the [ESL Curriculum Membership here](https://kid-inspired.com/esl-curriculum).

Question 6

Do you provide refunds?

Accepted Answer

If, for any reason, you don't absolutely love all the time you save using the ESL Curriculum Membership, you can get a full refund anytime within the first 14 days after your initial purchase. To request a refund, please contact accounts@kid-inspired.com or click the bubble at the bottom right hand corner of the screen and click "Get in touch."

If you have any issues, I'm here for you. I want you to have the absolute best possible experience. I started the Kid-Inspired Classroom to make a difference in teachers' lives and, if I don't succeed in that, I don't want your money.

Question 7

What grade levels is the Kid-Inspired ESL Curriculum appropriate for?

Accepted Answer

If you teach K-7, you will find engaging, effective teaching materials for your students.

Since every teacher's situation is different, there are a variety of ways for you to find what you need inside of the membership.

You can read more about finding materials by [following this link](https://kid-inspired-classroom.malcolm.support/faqs/how-do-i-find-materials).

You can sign up for the [Kid-Inspired ESL Curriculum Membership here.](https://kid-inspired.com/esl-curriculum)

Question 8

How long does a level in the ESL Curriculum Membership generally take to complete?

Accepted Answer

# How long does a level in the ESL Curriculum Membership take to complete?

**The time it takes to complete a level varies based on a number of factors.**

1. **Number of Classes a Week** - with classes every day you would move significantly faster through the material than only having classes 2-3 times a week.
2. **Length of Classes** - 1/2 hour, 1 hour, 1 and 1/2 hour classes, the length of classes affects how long a level takes.
3. **Homework** - How much practice your students would be doing outside of class on their own.
4. **Goals** - How quickly you and your students want to make progress. If you skip certain pages or even certain units, you can progress more quickly but with not as much depth. If you work through all of the materials and take your time with it, you can get a lot of depth but progress much more slowly. One option is to discuss with students what goals they’d like to set for themselves each week or month. 
5. **Motivation** - Every class of students is different, just as how every teacher teaches is different. If you have an energetic, focused and motivated class, you will likely be able to work quickly through the materials. If you have a group of students who are discouraged, unmotivated and drag their feet, you will likely need to spend as much time on relationship and trust building as you do on the curriculum which would slow you down significantly.

At the school where we developed the curriculum, we generally take a semester (about 4 months) to go through a level with a group of 10-12 students, 2 days a week each, class being 2 hours and 15 minutes.

In the summer, we sometimes do more concentrated versions of a level where students come to class every day for 2 hours and finish a level in a month.

If you'd like to discuss your particular needs, contact John at john.carlson@kid-inspired.com

Question 9

Why do phonics lists in the beginners levels have so few words?

Accepted Answer

Here is a picture of one of the phonics practice pages from Beginners 3.

![Kid-Inspired ELL Beginners book 3 (full color)35.png](https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/VJjCVlXBck/resources/RhCsjSmhWs/Kid-Inspired%20ELL%20Beginners%20book%203%20%28full%20color%2935.png)

The lists on these pages are quite short.

I learned this the hard way, through experimenting with lots of students over a lot of years.

**Longer lists of words are fine for stronger students, but weaker students feel overwhelmed when looking at them.**

Also, stronger students who can read all the words on a simple list are probably ready for simple texts instead of lists.

Use the short lists to help students master a new sound.

Once they have mastered that new sound, you can have them try longer lists of words, but they are probably going to be more motivated to reaad simple texts instead.

Question 10

Is the Kid-Inspired ESL Curriculum differentiated by grade level?

Accepted Answer

**The curriculum is differentiated by grade level and proficiency level.**

Because teachers' goals for their students as well as students' situations vary greatly from school to school, I've provided numerous ways to sort through a wide variety of resources and tools inside the membership.

You can learn more about [finding materials inside the membership here](https://kid-inspired-classroom.malcolm.support/faqs/how-do-i-find-materials).

There are also lots of supporting materials to help your students access grade-level material from their gen ed classes if needed.

I add new materials monthly, so if you ever need anything, let me know!

You can sign up for the [Kid-Inspired ESL Curriculum Membership here.](https://kid-inspired.com/esl-curriculum)

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