Teaching Guides

Practical guides for ESL teachers — how to teach specific grammar points, understand CEFR levels, and run better classroom activities.

7 min read How to Learn English Irregular Verbs by Pattern (Not the Alphabet) 129 English irregular verbs sorted into 4 patterns instead of the alphabet, with the sub-patterns that make them stick — plus a free printable reference list. 6 min read How to Sequence an English Topic: Grammar, Reading, Writing, Quiz A practical order for teaching any English topic across several lessons — one skill at a time — and how Workshido's worksheet "sets" are built to follow it. 7 min read How to Teach Present Simple: A Complete Guide for A1-A2 Classes A practical, step-by-step guide to teaching present simple to A1-A2 ESL students, with common mistakes, warm-up ideas, and free printable worksheets. 8 min read CEFR Levels Explained: A1 to B2 — Which Worksheets to Use A plain-English guide to the CEFR levels A1, A2, B1 and B2 for English teachers: what students can do at each level and how to pick the right worksheet. 5 min read 10 Quick ESL Warm-Up Activities (5-10 Minutes, No Prep) 10 fast, low-prep warm-up activities for ESL classes, organized by CEFR level, to get students speaking English in the first five minutes of class. 6 min read How to Teach Past Simple: Regular and Irregular Verbs for A1-A2 A practical guide to teaching past simple to A1-A2 ESL students — how to sequence regular and irregular verbs, the -ed pronunciation rule, and common mistakes. 8 min read How to Teach Present Perfect: A Practical Guide for A2-B1 Classes How to teach the present perfect: why it confuses students, how to sequence for/since and just/already/yet, and how to contrast it with past simple. 6 min read How to Teach Present Continuous (Present Progressive) for A2 Classes A practical guide to teaching present continuous — the -ing spelling rules, stative verbs that break the pattern, and how to contrast it with present simple. 6 min read How to Teach Comparative and Superlative Adjectives for A1-A2 A practical guide to teaching comparative and superlative adjectives — the syllable-counting rule, irregular forms, and the most common student mistakes. 7 min read How to Teach Reported Speech for B1 Classes How to teach reported speech step by step: tense backshift, then pronoun changes, then reported questions and commands, instead of all at once. 6 min read How to Teach Verb To Be: A Complete Guide for A1 Classes A practical guide to teaching the verb to be (am/is/are) to absolute beginners — the sequence that avoids the most common day-one mistakes and contractions. 6 min read How to Teach Possessive Adjectives for A1 Classes A practical guide to teaching possessive adjectives — how to prevent the his/her mix-up and the it's/its confusion. 6 min read How to Teach Future Forms: Going To vs. Will for A1-A2 A practical guide to teaching future forms — why going to and will should never be taught as interchangeable, and how to sequence them. 8 min read How to Teach the Passive Voice: A Step-by-Step Guide for B1 Teach the passive voice at B1: why we use it, be + past participle across tenses, when to add "by", common mistakes and free printable worksheets. 8 min read How to Teach Phrasal Verbs: A Practical Guide for B1 Classes Teach phrasal verbs by topic, not alphabet: meaning in context, separable vs. inseparable (pick it up, look after him), common mistakes and free worksheets. 7 min read How to Teach Used To: Past Habits and States for B1 Classes Teach used to for past habits and states: didn't use to, questions, used to vs. past simple vs. be used to, common mistakes and free B1 worksheets. 8 min read How to Teach the Past Perfect: A Clear Guide for B1 Classes Teach the past perfect with timelines: had + past participle, "the earlier past", when you don't need it, common mistakes and free B1 worksheets. 8 min read How to Teach Linking Words: Although, However, Therefore and Whereas Teach linking words by function: because, so, therefore, although, however, while, whereas — with punctuation rules, mistakes and free B1 worksheets. 6 min read How to Teach Functional English — and Why It Has No Grammar Worksheet Why functional English topics like complaints, opinions and invitations have reading, practice and writing worksheets but no grammar sheet, and how to teach them. 7 min read How to Teach Conditionals: Zero, First, and Second for A2-B1 A practical guide to teaching zero, first, and second conditionals in sequence — the will-in-the-if-clause trap and tense matching. 7 min read How to Teach Modal Verbs: Must, Have To, and Should for A2-B1 A practical guide to teaching obligation and advice modals — why must and have to aren't interchangeable, and the mustn't vs. don't have to trap.

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