Stories are and have always been an excellent teaching tool.
Stories provide context. Language needs context.

Also, stories are just really fun - for storyteller and listeners.
With a fun story, new words can sometimes be easier to remember.

I encourage students to be creative and to use their imaginations - especially when it comes to hands-on activities and projects.

Not every student can express their thoughts with words, and they learn better through visual means.
That's where Art comes in because Art is great for these students. 

Arts & Crafts allows students to be creative, imaginative, and emotionally expressive.
Every student can experience a sense of accomplishment in what they create,
a piece of art work made by every student which is just as unique as the student who made it. 

When students do writing activities, the words and spelling must come from their heads, not from a computer tool that can correct spelling for them.

Writing takes time, and students must take their time to do it.
If mistakes need correcting, the simple act of correcting the mistake by hand may help students better remember.

I try to do little writing activities outside of those in the textbook,
with the freedom for students to add some personal touches. 

Learning a new language is for the purpose of communication.
I like to show students how they can use the language they are learning in real life situations.

If students can experience the use of the English Language, they will see that grammar doesn't always matter as long as you can be understood when using the language you are learning. 

Learning should be an enjoyable experience.
It should also be a little fun.

When students are having fun in class while learning,
they are not even aware that they are learning.
It creates low-stress for language learning, and can encourage team competition.
Games can be rowdy and loud, or contemplative and quiet.

When it comes to puzzles, I encourage students to figure things out for themselves.
While I will guide students in helping them put pieces of information together,
I do not outright tell them an answer. I  encourage my students to think.

One of my favorite moments to witness is seeing a student light up when they understand.

Using elements of the Performing Arts in a classroom activity is a great way to create a low-stress learning environment while also allowing students to be a little creative and a lot energetic.

If we do dancing, it helps students connect words with actions to make remembering easier.
If we do singing, we will go through the lyrics line by line so that students understand what they are singing about in their performance.

Once students know the meaning of the song lyrics, oftentimes a creative spark follows.

I do not like students to use excessive or constant technology in a lesson because it can be distracting to students.

Some students who have trouble with paper quizzes seem to be able to respond more successfully when it is presented digitally. 

The majority of my lesson plans are presented through digital presentations.
However, I prefer a more low-tech classroom.

Cooking activities are a great hands-on activity for students to explore and create
something tangible while following procedural instructions.

Cooking activities are also great life lessons,
especially when things go a little wrong or unexpected.
Sometimes you need to make adjustments for timing and temperature fluctuations.
Cooking lessons teach students how to think quickly on their feet to fix a problem.
Just like life. 

I ask students for their opinions and often use open-ended questions.
There is not always only one answer to a problem or question,
therefore I encourage students to explain their answers and show their thought process.

As long as it makes sense,
then students' answers may simply just be a scenario of which I had not thought.