Communities of Practice
From A to Z: Middle School Memories (Members Only)
Dorothy Zemach
I've spent most of my teaching life in university classrooms, but I once spent a year in a private secondary school. After all, I reasoned, how hard could it be? ESL is ESL. These students would be just the same as the others, only shorter.

Out of the Box
Starting Conversations with Content Area Peers (Members Only)
Jenelle Reeves
Is the recitation of English language learner statistics a productive way to engage content-area peers? Not if it taps into a discourse of fear. If you open your conversations with content area peers in a positive way, it will set the tone for a harmonious, mutually beneficial relationship.

Portal
Online Partner Projects for Future Citizens of the World (Members Only)
Cheri Powell
Through online partner projects, students gain exposure to new ideas and new technology, learn how to handle frustration and solve problems, and see how they and their partner are different and how they are alike. In short, they take one step closer to becoming citizens of the world.

Home and Other Pages
Software Thumbnails: Speech Works (Members Only)
Trinity Software
Reviewed by Kaley Bierman
Speech Works is designed to help students modify and improve their English pronunciation. With the Teacher Version, you can personalize the lessons and interact with students.

President's Message, March 2006

From the Editor

About Essential Teacher (M)

Essential Teacher, which ceased publication in October 2009, offers columns by practitioners in various communities of practice; articles on teaching practices, reflections, and perspectives; material reviews; and association news. The archive is available online as a member resource.

The archive of Essential Teacher is a resource for language teachers and administrators in varied ESL and EFL workplaces, including pre-K-12, 2- and 4-year institutions of higher learning, and adult education. Each of these arenas has teachers with varied experience and expertise, making for a broad and diverse readership. Essential Teacher also offers guidance to mainstream teachers who work with students for whom English is an additional language.

Compleat Links is an online complement to Essential Teacher. This section offers original articles, interviews, and other content thematically linked to Essential Teacher.

Unfortunately, Essential Teacher is no longer accepting submissions. The farewell issue of ET was published in October of 2009.

However, you may be interested in submitting to TESOL Journal, which has replaced ET as a member benefit. You can find submission guidelines and details about the journal at www.tesol.org/tj, and you can submit electronically at www.editorialmanager.com/tj.

To read more about the changes to and benefits of TESOL Publications, click here.

Contents
In this issue, teachers talk with you on a wide range of topics from practical ideas for the classroom, to suggestions for improving your teaching, to advice for content teachers and school administrators.