Cartoon Movement

Cartoon Movement is a global online platform dedicated to editorial cartoons and comics journalism. Founded in 2010, it's based in the Netherlands and was created by Thomas Loudon and Arend Jan van den Beld, supported initially by cartoonist Tjeerd Royaards. It hosts a diverse community: over 500 freelancers from more than 80 countries contribute regularly. Carton Movement promotes editorial cartooning as a form of journalism and defends freedom of expression.

Cartoon Movement is a powerful resource for teaching English because it combines visual storytelling, current events, and critical thinking, all of which are excellent tools for language learning.

You can use editorial cartoons to introduce or reinforce vocabulary related to politics, social issues, culture, or international affairs, use cartoons as prompts for debate, discussion, or opinion writing, ask students to describe the cartoon in detail, interpret the symbolism, or explain the message in English, teach idioms and figurative language, and encourage creative production.

Find Cartoon Movement on:

https://www.cartoonmovement.com/

How Is Plain Language Used In Government Documents?

In this insightful video, the concept of plain language in public administration is explored with clarity and relevance. It explains how governments use simple, accessible language to communicate with citizens effectively, highlighting why avoiding legalese and technical jargon matters.

The video covers the purpose and importance of plain language for transparency and citizen understanding, and gives examples of how official documents have been simplified and redesigned.

Perfect for educators in language, civic education, or communication studies, this video offers a compelling case for teaching practical writing and clear communication. It also serves as an excellent conversation starter for students to analyze and design simpler versions of complex documents.

La enseñanza del inglés en el siglo XXI: Una mirada integradora y multimodal

Libro en abierto de Antonio Jesús Tinedo Rodríguez. En él se presenta una perspectiva actual e inclusiva sobre la enseñanza del inglés en el contexto del siglo XXI. Mediante un enfoque multimodal, se analizan metodologías activas, herramientas digitales y estrategias didácticas diseñadas para responder a los retos educativos contemporáneos. 

El autor plantea un modelo pedagógico que integra teoría y práctica, con una marcada orientación hacia la inclusión, la digitalización y la comunicación efectiva.

Tinedo Rodríguez, A. J. (2022). La enseñanza del inglés en el siglo XXI: Una mirada integradora y multimodal. Sindéresis.

https://helvia.uco.es/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10396/33145/la-ensenanza-del-ingles-en-el-siglo-xxi-gaqeut%20%281%29.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

AI resources for English teachers

This webpage from teachingenglish.org.uk provides a pathway of resources for teachers to integrate AI into their language teaching. The resources, which include webinars, articles, podcasts, and lesson plans, are designed to help teachers understand AI applications for lesson planning, assessment, and supporting learners, as well as to consider ethical issues like bias and privacy.

You can find it on the following website:

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/professional-development-pathways/pathways-ai-language-teaching

Globalgoals.com

GlobalGoals.org is the official educational and advocacy platform for the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — a global framework launched in 2015 to address urgent challenges like poverty, inequality, climate catastrophe, peace, and justice by 2030.

What you can explore on the site:

1. The 17 goals explained. Explore each goal—from ending poverty (Goal 1) and hunger (Goal 2) to gender equality (Goal 5), climate action (Goal 13), and global partnerships (Goal 17)—with clear descriptions, targets, and visual icons ([sdgs.un.org][2]).

2. Resources & teaching materials. Access downloadable teaching tools like lesson plans, infographics, and toolkits, designed for schools worldwide to integrate SDGs into curricula and inspire student action.

3. News, campaigns & calls to action. Stay updated with global campaigns, as well as stories highlighting youth leaders, activists, and policy updates from around the world.

4. Community & partnership engagement. Learn about the Global Goals community, an international network for educators, civil society, businesses, and youth to collaborate on sustainability efforts. The platform shares success stories, virtual events, and professional development opportunities.

5. Call-to-action tools. The site encourages individual and collective action—whether by signing open letters to global leaders, promoting social change campaigns, or embedding goal badges on your school website for awareness.

This site provides a comprehensive yet accessible entry point to the global SDG agenda. It offers ready-to-use tools aligned with curriculum standards and sustainability education, and encourages active citizenship, empowering both teachers and students to engage meaningfully with local and global challenges.

Find it on:

https://globalgoals.org/

Strategies for Essay Writing

For educators looking to strengthen their students’ academic writing skills, the Harvard College Writing Center’s “Strategies for Essay Writing” offers a clear, concise, and practical guide that covers the entire writing process. Hosted on the official website of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, this resource is ideal for high school and university-level instruction, especially in English language and humanities classrooms.

The site features a series of short, accessible articles that address key aspects of writing an academic essay, including:

• Understanding the assignment
• Developing a thesis
• Organizing arguments
• Counterargument strategies
• Transitions and coherence
• Revising and editing effectively

Each article presents concrete strategies and questions students can ask themselves to improve clarity, argumentation, and structure in their writing. There are also links to additional guidance on grammar, style, and discipline-specific expectations.

Find this amazing resource on:

https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/strategies-essay-writing

Most Americans love reading aloud to children, survey finds

A recent YouGov survey reveals that 53% of U.S. adults say they love reading to children, with another 14% doing so very frequently. The findings highlight the continued value placed on shared reading experiences, especially when books are fun, visually engaging, and educational.

What kinds of books are most enjoyed?

Picture books top the list, with 50% saying they “love” them and 34% saying they “like” them.

Books with rhyming text and educational content are also well-received.

While chapter books are slightly less popular, they still hold a strong place in read-aloud routines.

The survey also shows what adults prioritize when choosing read-aloud books:

They should be entertaining (64% rated this as very important).

Have appealing illustrations (57%).

Offer a valuable message or lesson (51%).

Interestingly, 18% of respondents say they “always” use different voices for characters, while over 60% do so at least occasionally — a simple yet powerful strategy to spark imagination and hold children's attention.

This data reinforces the importance of reading aloud as an educational and emotional tool. Teachers and families alike can enrich storytime by selecting fun, visual, and meaningful books, and bringing characters to life with voice variations. It’s not just about reading — it’s about creating a moment of connection and curiosity.

Source: 

https://today.yougov.com/society/articles/52531-most-americans-say-they-love-reading-to-children

80 Sponge Activities by whatihavelearnedteaching.com

Coined by Madeline Hunter, sponge activities are short, low-preparation exercises used to turn downtime into productive learning moments. These activities reinforce vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, etc., in small bursts, keep learners mentally active and focused even during unexpected pauses, and provide variety and fun, increasing motivation and classroom energy.

Short
Practice existing material
On‑their‑own or with peers
No new content introduced
Groups engaged
Elicit immediate responses

This resource is a collection of 80 short, ready-to-go classroom activities designed to fill those spare minutes—at the beginning, end, or during transitions—with meaningful practice. These “sponge” tasks include:

- Quick challenges like vocabulary scrambles, mini-dictations, word formation, or listing words by category.

- Games such as 20 Questions, flashcard races, or storytelling starters.

- Collaborative prompts—group questions, drawing tasks from oral descriptions, or quick debates—easy to launch and wrap up in a few minutes.

Find them on:

https://whatihavelearnedteaching.com/80-sponge-activities/

People on the Move

World Population Day, celebrated on July 11, is a global observance that highlights pressing demographic issues like migration, fertility, and urbanization. Focusing on migration fits perfectly with the day’s mission to deepen public understanding of how population changes shape societies and economies.

This resource for grades 6-8 provides a comprehensive, classroom-ready unit on human migration, covering:

- Key definitions (e.g., migrant, refugee, internally displaced person)

- Global data and trends on population movement

- Illustrated case studies that examine causes and challenges of migration

- Engaging activities, including readings, data interpretation, graphic organizers, and writing prompts

It encourages cross-disciplinary learning by integrating geography, social studies, and language arts, all while focusing on English vocabulary and comprehension.

Find it on:

https://populationeducation.org/resource/people-on-the-move/

Taller de competencia oral en inglés

Taller de competencia oral en inglés dirigido a profesorado de EOI, y también de Secundaria y Primaria. Se realizará en el IES Las Lagunas de Torrevieja los jueves 16, 23, 30 de octubre y 6 de noviembre, de 17 a 19.30 horas.

El taller cuenta con 12 plazas y se requiere un nivel mínimo C1, ya que el objetivo principal es mejorar la expresión oral en inglés. El taller será impartido por la profesora Helen Fazackerley.

https://cefire.edu.gva.es/sfp/index.php?seccion=edicion&id=12679158

English Phonetics (nivell B2)

L'Escola Oficial d'Idiomes d'Alacant posa en marxa nous cursos d'oferta formativa complementària A DISTÀNCIA en l'idioma anglés, amb una duració de 60 hores anuals o 30 hores anuals, segons el curs.

Entre els cursos oferits, destaquem el curs de English Phonetics (nivell B2), dirigit exclusivament al professorat d'àmbits no lingüístics.

Període d'inscripció: del 4 al 20 de juliol

La inscripció es realitzarà a través del següent enllaç al formulari d'inscripció:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=FBHdc33vx0CGaVadMufimx6gEiqgeg5CjPLnvVuSRndUQTIxRFNQR1hRWFZORkdMVUJQUzI3RTJNUi4u&route=shorturl

Canadian Pride Historical Society, Educational Resources

The Canadian Pride Historical Society (CPHS) offers a robust collection of free educational resources designed for K–12 educators who want to bring LGBTQ+ history and perspectives into their classrooms. These resources aim to help students understand the historical struggles, achievements, and resilience of Pride communities in Canada. Through thoughtfully designed lesson plans, multimedia content, and activities, teachers can spark meaningful conversations around identity, equity, and social change, all while meeting curriculum outcomes.

From lessons on the history of Pride flags and drag culture to explorations of events like the Stonewall Riots and the Toronto bathhouse raids, CPHS resources cover a wide range of topics in an age-appropriate and inclusive manner. The materials are organized by grade level and theme, making it easy for teachers to find content that fits their students' needs and learning goals. These lessons are rooted in real stories and lived experiences, encouraging empathy, critical thinking, and historical awareness.

Find it on:

https://cphs.ca/for-teachers/education-resources/

LGBTQ Youth Resources

Lambert House, established in 1981, is a non-profit community center in Seattle dedicated exclusively to LGBTQ+ youth aged 10-22.This resource is a comprehensive page on the Lambert House site dedicated to helping LGBTQ+ youth and their families in Seattle and King County.  It offers carefully curated links to local support networks, including school programs, peer groups, arts initiatives, and scholarship opportunities—all designed to build community, promote mental health, and foster resilience. 

Lambert House also highlights its own specialized services, such as the David Bohnett CyberCenter—a tech hub providing computers, high-speed internet, software tools, printing, and mentoring to at-risk youth.

https://www.lamberthouse.org/resources

Ambiente Virtual de Idiomas #UNAM #English

This resource is part of the Ambiente Virtual de Idiomas (AVI) created by UNAM, a major university in Mexico. It is a free online platform that helps anyone practice and improve their English skills, even if they are not students at UNAM. 

The “Practice” section includes lots of lessons and interactive activities organized by levels (from beginner A1 to upper-intermediate B2), based on international language standards. You can practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking with guided exercises.

Each unit includes clear explanations, audio clips, quizzes, and sometimes even speaking exercises where you can record yourself. You don’t need to create an account or log in — you can just visit the site and start learning. It’s great for people who want to study English at their own pace, whether they’re just starting or want to improve their grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation. The design is simple, so it’s easy to use, even for beginners.

https://avi.cuaed.unam.mx/practica-ingles.html

YouGlish

YouGlish is an online tool that helps users improve their pronunciation and understanding of English (and some other languages) by providing video examples of real-life usage of words and phrases.

You can use YouGlish to improve pronunciation by hearing native speakers, to learn natural usage of vocabulary and phrases, to train your ear to different English accents, and to supplement language learning in a fun, real-world way.

Visit:

https://es.youglish.com/

Historical Tech Tree (thanks to @NaoCasanova)

Historical Tech Tree is an interactive, visual “tech tree” that traces the development of human technology from prehistory (3 million years ago) to the present. Created by Étienne Fortier‑Dubois, it maps nearly 1,839 distinct technologies and over 2,100 connections showing how each invention builds upon previous ones.

You can explore individual technologies, view their dates, and trace lines showing their prerequisites. Unlike simplified tech trees in video games, this tool attempts historical accuracy. While tech trees in games are artful and often deterministic, this one emphasizes the complex, branching, and sometimes non-linear nature of technological evolution.

The database continues to grow. It’s continually augmented with new technologies and validated through community and academic sources.

A valuable tool for teachers, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding the evolution of ideas and innovation pathways.

Find it on:

https://www.historicaltechtree.com/

Timeline of women's rights from 1848 to 2025

This resource found in the UN Women article "Never Backing Down: Women March Forward for Equal Rights" details the ongoing struggle of women for equal rights, opportunities, and freedom.

The content covers historical progress (the advancements made by women over centuries, from suffragists to digital activists, in breaking down barriers and demanding action), current state of equality, equality commitments, and a timeline of women's rights from 1848 to 2025.

Visit:

https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/timeline/never-backing-down-women-march-forward-for-equal-rights

NCTE's Comprehensive Resources for Navigating Complex Classroom Discussions

In today's diverse and dynamic educational landscape, fostering open and thoughtful discussions on complex topics is more crucial than ever. The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) recognizes this need and offers a wealth of resources designed to support educators in facilitating meaningful conversations that promote critical thinking and civic engagement. 

NCTE provides an extensive collection of web-based materials aimed at equipping teachers with the tools necessary to address challenging subjects effectively. Find them on:

https://ncte.org/resources/

A Deep Dive into Learning for Justice's Educator Resources

In today's diverse educational landscape, fostering an inclusive and equitable classroom environment is more crucial than ever. Learning for Justice (LFJ) offers a comprehensive suite of free resources designed to support educators in this mission, providing tools that integrate social justice principles into everyday teaching.

At the heart of LFJ's offerings are the Social Justice Standards, a framework that guides educators in cultivating anti-bias learning environments. These standards are organized into four key domains: Identity, Diversity, Justice, and Action. They serve as a roadmap for embedding social-emotional learning and critical thinking into curricula across all grade levels.

LFJ's resources are designed not only to educate but also to empower. By integrating these materials into the classroom, educators can facilitate meaningful conversations around identity, diversity, and justice, encouraging students to become active participants in creating an inclusive society.

Educators can explore and implement these tools to enrich their teaching practices and promote a more just and equitable learning environment. All resources are freely accessible on:

https://www.learningforjustice.org/classroom-resources

#WorldEnvironmentDay

World Environment Day is celebrated every June 5th to raise global awareness and inspire action to protect the environment. Established by the UN in 1972 and led by UNEP, it focuses on a specific theme each year. World Environment Day 2025 calls for collective action to tackle plastic pollution and is hosted by a different country. It encourages individuals, communities, and governments to take part through activities like clean-ups, tree planting, and awareness campaigns.

Here you can find a collection of useful resources if you want to bring this celebration into your classrooms.

https://trello.com/b/RcB4ftxn/world-environment-day-2025