The Best Way to Use Foldables in the ESL Classroom

What are foldables?

Foldables are versatile tools that can be used to support a variety of content areas and topics in the ESL classroom. When used correctly, foldables can provide a concrete and visual way for students to organize and interact with new information. Additionally, foldables can be used to assess student understanding of content and serve as a reminder for future reference.

There are many benefits to using foldables in the ESL classroom. They can be used to help students learn new vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation. Foldables can also be used to practice reading and writing.Foldables can help students organize information, activate prior knowledge, and make connections between new and old information. They are also a great way to provide a hands-on approach to learning.


Here are some tips on how to use foldables in the ESL classroom:

Choose a topic that you want to focus on. This could be a grammar point, vocabulary, or a cultural topic.

Decide what information you want to include on the foldable. This could be a list of words, definitions, example sentences, or pictures.

Create the foldable.

There are many ways to incorporate foldables into an ESL classroom. Here are a few ideas:

-Use foldables to introduce new vocabulary words. Write the word on the front of the foldable, and then write the definition and an example sentence on the inside. Students can keep these foldables in their notebooks to refer back to when they need a reminder.

-Use foldables to teach grammar concepts. For example, you could create a foldable to teach verb tenses. On the front, write the name of the tense, and then on the inside write an explanation and examples.

-Use foldables to teach students how to organize information. For example, you could create a foldable to help students learn about writing steps.

More ideas:

• To provide visual support for new vocabulary
• To provide extra practice with grammar concepts
• To help students organize information
• As a assessment tool
• To provide an outline for a writing assignment
• As a way to introduce a new topic
• To provide practice with listening comprehension
• To review for a test
• To provide extra speaking practiceTo create a mini-book for vocabulary review
• For a quick and easy way to assess student understanding
• To make a reader's theatre script
• To provide extra listening practice
• As a way to introduce a new topic
• To provide extra practice with a difficult concept
• To create a timeline of events
• To illustrate cause and effect
• To compare and contrast two things
• To provide extra practice with a certain grammar point

grab your free copy here

Overall, foldables are a great way to engage ESL students in their learning. They can be used to review vocabulary, grammar, and even culture. If you’re looking for a fun and interactive way to liven up your ESL classroom, give foldables a try!