English is such a crazy language!

Have you ever heard someone say that? 

Perhaps you’ve even thought it yourself when a student asked you why “said” isn’t spelled “sed” or why the first letter of “k

Last fall, we discussed five important aspects of culture, specifically those that are often invisible. It’s easy to see how people from various cultural backgrounds may behave differently, but it’s more dif

Two years ago this week, the Dear Dr. Mooney community was launched. Now that’s worth celebrating!

But here’s another:  Dr. Mooney published her 100th article last week as well.

No other achi

Whether you’re new to your role as an educator, or you have been in the classroom for a long time, we all need to reflect on our practice. What’s the purpose of reflecting, and how can we make sure it is use

Let’s take this single article and accomplish two goals together. How about it?

First, many of you asked for infographics to further explain concepts related to English Learners. It’s a fair request, and I

Because you are a member of the Dear Dr. Mooney community, you know I took a break in March. Like was probably true for many of you, the rest was a long time in coming. But the time off was well worth

Did you take some time off – or will you – for Spring Break?  

I hope you did. Everybody needs a break from time to time.

That is exactly what is happening here at Dear Dr. Mooney for the next few

When you speak or write, you are doing so much more than you think you are. ELs must interpret not only the words and syntax, but also the intended meaning. It’s no wonder they often feel lost when they l

Your Words Mean More Than You Think They Do All teachers of English learners teach word meaning, but what exactly does that mean? This article shares insights into what we know when we know a

Academic language is difficult for many ELs. It’s hard to argue with that statement. Often, syntax – not just vocabulary – makes it problematic. This week, I offer some key insights to help you better u

This month, we’re highlighting key aspects of the five areas of linguistics and why they are important to your teaching. We have already discussed phonology and a couple of reasons why hearing or producing t

Dear Dr. Mooney,

In my teacher preparation program, I studied about how children learn to speak their native language and how phonemes are an important part of sound symbol correspondences when learning to

During the winter break, I took some extra time to do something I love – read! 

In my undergraduate TESOL course, we spend about five weeks talking about culture. During that time, a major assignment is to

Many educators struggle with how to assess their English learners equitably. They understand that ELs need well-structured lessons and appropriate scaffolds to achieve the required standards, but they also

Your feedback on the first year of Dear Dr. Mooney – just one very long year ago – was very valuable as I considered the year ahead. Your input influenced the ideas included in the weekly articles, a stronger