A panoply of teaching resources.
Helping English instructors teach better, plan faster and work smarter.
Helping students learn English vocabulary is part of the writing teacher’s job. That’s especially true for young learners.
One strategy to help students learn new words is constant exposure. Some experts say students need to see a word at least ten times before they really learn it. Maybe more.
Every teacher needs an ESL creative writing activity that builds strong writing habits without overwhelming students. Six Sentences is a short, high-impact ESL writing lesson that trains learners to focus on clarity, word choice, and narrative flow. Because students must work within a tight structure, this activity encourages careful thinking, richer vocabulary, and stronger control of English grammar. It also works well with creative ESL prompts, ESL classroom activities, and even conditional writing practice if you choose to extend the task.
If you want an ESL creative writing activity that builds confidence, encourages original ideas, and works in almost any classroom setting, then you should teach list poems. This simple poetry format gives students room to experiment while still offering structure. It’s a perfect balance for an ESL writing lesson. Even better, it naturally supports creative ESL prompts, ESL writing practice, and flexible levels of scaffolding for high-beginner to advanced learners.
This article walks you through why list poems work so well, how to teach the activity step by step, and optional extensions for learners who need more challenge or repetition.
If you want an ESL creative writing activity that strengthens student skills and fits neatly into a short class period, the 100 Word Stories challenge is a classroom gem. This compact writing task works beautifully as an ESL writing lesson, a warm-up for essay units, or a quick confidence booster for hesitant writers. It also gives teachers an easy way to introduce creative ESL prompts, narrative structure, and focused ESL writing practice without overwhelming learners.