Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Feed the Dingo - A Fun Game About a Desert Ecosyst...

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Feed the Dingo - A Fun Game About a Desert Ecosyst...: Feed the Dingo is a fun game about the importance of creating and maintaining a balanced desert ecosystem. Students have to add animals ...

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Video Gaming and Education

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Video Gaming and Education: From www.wallstreetotc.com/ Is video gaming a passing fashion? Is it only useful at home for entertainment? Have video games a more impl...

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: The Times in Plain English

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: The Times in Plain English: I have just discovered this resource and it is simply GREAT! I've been trying to read English newspapers for a long time feeling a ...

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: A New Architecture of Project Based Learning?

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: A New Architecture of Project Based Learning?:



During this school year I have been developing a new architecture roadmap to implement project working in my esl classes. Some thing...

Lateral Thinking Stories for the ESL Class

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Lateral Thinking Stories for the ESL Class: What is lateral thinking?  In 1973 Edward De Bono developed the term “ Lateral Thinking ”. Lateral thinking involves looking at a situati...





In ESL, Lateral Thinking Puzzles are a great resource for thinking, speaking and writing because they are often strange situations which require an explanation.

Teaching Art through English or Teaching English t...

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Teaching Art through English or Teaching English through Art? CLIL!



This is an old post that has been revisited. All links have been checked and I included the following paper about some things you can do...

Teaching English Creatively

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Teaching English Creatively: 10 creative ways to teach English that deliver outstanding results is an article that Anna Warren published in The Guardian ...

As a ferver defender of project working and open curriculums, I really like the idea of teaching Language through arts: through painting, music composition, a film project, in role drama or sculpture, always having a real purpose in mind. I was happy to find such a clear article like this because some of the approaches are right now in my teaching portfolio.

Blended Learning

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Blended Learning:



“We’re currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist... using technologies that have not been invented... in order to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet". Watch the video and reflect about it!

Teaching Maths Through English or English Through Maths: A CLIL approach

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Teaching Maths Through English or English Through ...:



Are you thinking in doing some CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) next year? Is Maths your favourite subject to do it but the staff of your school thinks that this is a too tough for to be taught in English? Need some good reasons to convince parents and teachers? Or, are you not sure about some "language" issues when teaching maths...?

Here you are some good "references" may help you!

Mind Mapping for Helping Natural Language: Tools

I have been fascinated with mind mapping since I first read  Tony Buzan's   book on this topic many years ago.  

This is a strategy that helps students quickly relate a central word or concept. The mind forms associations almost instantaneously and 'mapping' allows them to write their ideas quicker, using only words or phrases.


Read more about at Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Mind Mapping for Helping Natural Language

Online Authentic Videos for meaningful ESL learnin...

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Online Authentic Videos for meaningful ESL learning:

One of the most difficult issues to work without published English course books is to find good videos (and listenings) adapted for the ESL ...

With the help of my colleague Patricia Meneses, an awesome Art CLIL teacher and teacher trainer, we did a research in Internet on web pages, You Tube channels or Vimeo channels with videos, short films or commercials suitable to be used in the class with elementary, pre-intermediate and intermediate students.

Is there any Difference Between Doing Projects and Project Based Learning?

I’ve been posting a lot about PBL (Project Based Learning) and Teaching English as a Second Language: 

But there is a big difference between doing projects in the class and learning through projects. The main goal of a project is the final product, while project-based learning main goal is the process.

Read more about at Cockroaches and Ladybugs blog.  

Games about Dinosaurs, Birds and Mammals...

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Games about Dinosaurs, Birds and Mammals...:

Some days ago I was surfing the net in search of some information for a project about dinosaurs we are planning in the school. I landed in...

How do cultural differences affect the English Language Learners Ability to Succeed in School?..

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: How do cultural differences affect the English Language Learners ...:

I’ve been teaching in a CAEP School* for two years and primary ELL’s show cultural differences that really affects how they respond, act and...


"People's cultures are a huge part of their life. It has a huge effect on how they see the world, and how they do activities and work in their life".

Is that CLIL or what?

I have received some comments and questions about what’s CLIL and what’s not and, especially about the definition of "language showers"...  it seems to me that this is an aspect not clearn enough!

Is teaching a subject in a foreign language CLIL? Are immersion programmesCLIL? Are “language showers” CLIL? Are “workshops” or modulesCLIL?

Have a look at the following article and decide by yourself if you are doing CLIL or not!

Cockroaches and Ladybugs Blog

Web 2.0 tools... How to choose the right one?

Start working with Web 2.0 tools in the classroom can be a hard and painful process that can lead to throw in the towel, before getting some...

How to build our “Web 2.0 Tool Kit”? You won't want to teach a lesson with a technology part if you don't feel confident using technology.

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Web 2.0 tools... How to choose the right one?:

Thinking Global, Being Global

"By introducing children early on to concepts of globalization, we stand a greater chance of the next generation utilizing technology and creativity to create a healthier and happier world"

Have you ever visited the pyramids? Do you like sushi? Can you say “hello” in Swahili? Discover what it means to be global in this sweet and lighthearted book and iPad app.

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Thinking Global, Being Global:

Some Ideas for the ESL class (or for any class!)

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: Some Ideas for the ESL class (or for any class!):

ESL Ideas is a Pinterest Board, compiled by Amanda Avens with lots and lots of resources, tips and ideas for the teaching of English as a Second Language


I will try them in my class this school year, for sure!

GETTING TO KNOW YOU:Classroom Activities for Starting off the School Year

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: GETTING TO KNOW YOU:

As a new school year begins, teachers and students renew relationships after the long summer break, see new faces, and establish their routines for the year.

The importance of a personalised English room

Cockroaches and Ladybugs: 

The importance of a personalised English room

From time to time The Guardian Teacher Network prepares a list of the best Top Ten Resources for any purpose related to school and teaching...