RELO Russia

🔥 Teaching Tip Thursday: Boost Communication with Think-Pair-Share Remix! 🔥

Encourage your students to:
1️⃣ Think – Take a moment to silently reflect on a question or prompt to organize their thoughts. 2️⃣ Pair – Share their ideas with a partner, practicing active listening and building confidence. 3️⃣ Remix – Switch partners and repeat the sharing to refine and expand their ideas.
This simple strategy helps students build fluency through repetition, encourages elaboration, and promotes active peer interaction — perfect for any English classroom!

🎓 Professional Development for English Teachers

Ready to make English your students’ favorite class?

Join Empowering Educators to Motivate Students with Donita Grissom — a practice-oriented, research-based course designed to help you:
✔️ Motivate students effectively ✔️ Support social-emotional learning (SEL) ✔️ Manage mixed-ability classrooms with ease ✔️ Create engaging, low-anxiety learning environments
Each session offers ready-to-use activities, templates, and a clear “use it Monday” plan to transform your teaching from day one.

🔗 Register here: https://amc.timepad.ru/event/3573682/

🏛️ Constitution Day: Creating a Class Constitution

September 17 is Constitution Day in the United States, marking the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. It's a day to reflect on democracy, rights, and civic responsibility—making it a meaningful theme for the English language classroom.
This free, adaptable lesson plan invites students to create their own Class Constitution, encouraging them to think about what they want their classroom to look like (actions), sound like (words), and feel like (values).

Students will:
✅ Explore the purpose of a constitution ✅ Learn and use vocabulary related to rights and responsibilities ✅ Collaborate through speaking and writing ✅ Build a positive, inclusive classroom environment

This activity is ideal for building both language skills and a positive classroom community.

🌟 Happening TODAY at 16:00 MSK! 🌟

Join the RELO Fall Webinar — an amazing opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with fellow educators.

✅ Meet the RELO Team – get to know the people behind the programs and how we can support your teaching journey.
✅ Explore Professional Development Opportunities – discover events, courses, and resources to boost your skills and classroom impact.
✅ Learn About Exciting Programs – hear about new initiatives that can benefit you and your students.
✅ Live Q&A Session – ask your questions, share your ideas, and get real-time answers.

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/45yg449

🌟 Join the RELO Fall Webinar – TOMORROW at 16:00 MSK! 🌟

Are you looking to connect with fellow educators? Don’t miss our upcoming RELO Fall Webinar — a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow, and engage!

 ✅ Meet the RELO Team — get to know the people behind the programs and how we can support your teaching journey. ✅ Explore Professional Development Opportunities — discover events, courses, and resources designed to help you advance your skills and classroom impact. ✅ Learn About Exciting Programs — find out about new initiatives and projects that can benefit you and your students. ✅ Live Q&A Session — Have questions? Get real-time answers and share your ideas.

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/45yg449

🗣️🛠️ Materials Monday: What tools do you use to prompt students to speak?

Looking for creative ways to encourage oral output?

Try these engaging activities:

• Elicitation Vocabulary Games — A student or group elicits a list of words from others based on a title concept, encouraging active participation and vocabulary recall.
• Riddle Schmooze — “Schmooze” means to chat informally. A gapped schmooze activity gives students pieces to complete a communicative exchange, sparking natural conversation.
• Monster Madness — Students draw monsters using only geometric shapes, then pair up, sit back-to-back, and describe their monsters to each other.

🔗 Learn more about these techniques and their advantages in this English Teaching Forum article: https://bit.ly/ToolsForActivatingMaterials 

Today, we pause to honor the memory of the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and the bravery of the first responders, service members, and civilians who answered the call to help. Let us reflect on the resilience and unity that emerged from this tragedy.

🚨 Join American English Live TODAY! 🌍📚

The American English Live Series 23 kicks off TODAY! Don’t miss out on the first of six FREE professional development webinars designed especially for English language teachers, focusing on classroom management strategies.
Topics include elicitation techniques, self-regulated learning, graph literacy, growth mindset, and effective course beginnings.

🗓 TODAY and every other Wednesday, Sept 10 – Nov 19
🕗 Sessions at 15:00 & 20:00 Moscow time

🔗 Join on Zoom here: https://zoom.us/j/96503218412

Participants who register in advance will also receive email reminders with links to pre-session readings and online discussions.

Register here: https://openenglishcommunity.org/page/registration 

Whether you want to refresh your teaching skills or connect with educators worldwide, this series is for you. See you there!

📢 TODAY is the LAST DAY to apply!

Don’t miss your chance to join the 21st Century Skills Exchange Program happening March 7–21, 2026.

If you’re an English language educator, teacher educator, or curriculum/content designer working in Russia, this immersive two-week program will deepen your understanding of 21st Century Skills — collaboration, communication, and creativity — and provide practical strategies for your teaching practice.

Participants will also visit American classrooms and connect with global peers at the TESOL International Convention in Salt Lake City!

👉 Apply by the end of today : https://forms.gle/tii1imFgc71sL2kc7

✨ Meet AE Live Webinar Presenter ✨

We are excited to welcome AE Live Webinar presenter, Heather Benucci! Heather has supported teacher education and outreach programs in Japan, the Balkans, Russia, and Brazil as an English Language Specialist.

Heather’s webinar, "Creative Grouping for Real Communication," will take place this week! Don’t miss the chance to learn strategies that make group work more purposeful, equitable, and effective.

🔗 Join on Zoom TOMORROW at 15:00 or 20:00 MSK here: https://zoom.us/j/96503218412
Participants who register in advance will also receive email reminders with links to pre-session readings and online discussions.

Register here: https://openenglishcommunity.org/page/registration

🎓 TeachingTipTuesday: Group Students with Purpose ✨

Make group work more effective and equitable with these intentional strategies:

• Group by Interest or Skill Match students based on shared interests or complementary abilities to increase engagement.
• Assign Clear Speaking Roles Define roles like facilitator, note-taker, or presenter to ensure balanced participation.
• Rotate Roles Regularly Give students the opportunity to build new skills and avoid fixed group dynamics.
• Plan Ahead, Stay Flexible Prepare your groupings in advance, but be ready to adjust based on student needs and classroom dynamics.
Why it matters: Purposeful grouping encourages students to participate more actively, collaborate more effectively, and take greater ownership of their learning. It helps ensure that every voice is heard and every student has a role to play—leading to stronger engagement and better academic outcomes.

Smart Grouping = Better Output

📚 Materials Monday with Molodets!

This week’s featured resource in our American Culture series is: “Walking Tours in Washington, D.C.” 🏛️👟

Take your students on a virtual stroll through the U.S. capital as they explore famous landmarks, learn key vocabulary, and reflect on how cities tell stories through public spaces.

🆓 Download this free resource from our website:
🔗 https://www.molodetsell.com/library
📂 Find it in Module 2, Unit 5
Perfect for cultural discussions, reading practice, and classroom exploration!

🌞 Culture Share Saturday: Labor Day – The Unofficial End of Summer in the U.S.! 🇺🇸

Labor Day is not just a holiday to honor workers—it’s also a special time when many Americans celebrate the unofficial end of summer!

Families and friends come together for backyard barbecues, picnics, beach trips, and fun community events like parades and festivals. It’s the last chance to enjoy warm weather before autumn arrives.

Teachers, this is a perfect moment to connect with your students about seasonal traditions and celebrations in different cultures. Ask them:

🍉 How do you celebrate the end of summer?
🔥 What activities or holidays mark this change in your community?

🌟 Join the RELO Fall Webinar – September 16 at 16:00 MSK! 🌟

Are you looking to connect with fellow educators? Don’t miss our upcoming RELO Fall Webinar — a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow, and engage!

What to expect:

✅ Meet the RELO Team — get to know the people behind the programs and how we can support your teaching journey.
✅ Explore Professional Development Opportunities — discover events, courses, and resources designed to help you advance your skills and classroom impact.
✅ Learn About Exciting Programs — find out about new initiatives and projects that can benefit you and your students.
✅ Live Q&A Session — Have questions? Get real-time answers and share your ideas.

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/45yg449

📢 Apply Now: 21st Century Skills Exchange Program

📅 March 7 – 21, 2026

Are you an English language educator, teacher educator, or curriculum/content designer working in Russia?

Apply for this immersive two-week exchange program designed to deepen your understanding of 21st Century Skills — collaboration, communication, and creativity— and gain practical strategies for your teaching practice.

Participants will also have the opportunity to visit American classrooms and connect with peers from around the world at the TESOL International Convention in Salt Lake City!

👉 Apply by September 10 here: https://forms.gle/tii1imFgc71sL2kc7 

Get Ready! One Week Until American English Live Series 23! 🌍📚

Join six FREE professional development webinars designed for English language teachers, focusing on topics related to classroom management! Topics include elicitation techniques, self-regulated learning, graph literacy, growth mindset, and effective course beginnings.

🗓 Every other Wednesday, Sept 10 – Nov 19
🕗 15.00 & 20.00 Moscow time
🔗 Join on Zoom here: https://zoom.us/j/96503218412

Participants who register in advance will also receive email reminders with links to pre-session readings and online discussions.
Register here: https://openenglishcommunity.org/page/registration 

Whether you're looking to refresh your teaching strategies or connect with a global community of educators, this series is for you!

Course Starts TODAY! 📚

In partnership with the American Center Moscow, the RELO Office is excited to offer an 8-week online English practice course designed for adult learners at A2–B1 levels. Encourage learners in your community to join!

✨ Course Highlights:
🔹 Grammar, listening, and speaking skills
🔹 Real-world English usage
🔹 Practice in a supportive environment

🌟 A great chance to boost English skills and confidence — from anywhere!

 Register here: https://amc.timepad.ru/event/3377448/

🌟 Labor Day: Honoring the Spirit of Work and Dedication 🌟

Labor Day, celebrated on the first Monday of September in the U.S., honors the contributions and achievements of workers who have built the nation’s strength and prosperity.
It’s a day to recognize hard work, fairness, and the progress made in labor rights.

For educators, it’s a meaningful reminder of the value of dedication, perseverance, and the ongoing journey to empower through knowledge.

To mark this important day, we’re sharing free teaching materials about Labor Day. Let’s celebrate together! 📚✨