The Educational Toolkit: 5 Resources Every English Teacher Needs

In this evolving world of education, English teachers, especially those in ESL (English as a Second Language) classrooms, are constantly searching for meaningful, effective resources.

If you’re working with young learners just starting their language journey or more advanced students exploring complex topics, the tools you choose can significantly shape engagement and comprehension.

A truly effective educational toolkit goes beyond worksheets and flashcards. It should inspire curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and spark conversation. As Elliott Masie, a leading learning technology analyst, once said,

“The most powerful element of e-learning is not the content, it’s the connection.”

With that in mind, here are five resources that every English teacher should consider incorporating into their classroom toolkit.

1. Tuttle Twins

When it comes to educational tools that simplify complex ideas and empower students with real-world understanding, the Tuttle Twins series stands out as a must-have.

This powerful collection of books, magazines, podcasts, and animated content is designed to teach children about essential ideas like free markets, individual rights, personal responsibility, and American history.

What makes it especially valuable for English teachers is its ability to present these sophisticated topics in an accessible, story-driven format that doubles as a literacy resource.

Each story is not just engaging but also infused with vocabulary, context, and real-world application. If you’re guiding ESL learners through sentence structure or exploring the concept of personal freedom in a discussion-based lesson, Tuttle Twins offers material that is age-appropriate, intellectually stimulating, and incredibly timely.

The brand brings a hopeful, empowering tone to its educational materials. It meets children where they are, while gently encouraging them to ask deeper questions about the world around them.

Its focus on foundational principles and critical thinking makes it an invaluable resource for teachers looking to build not just language skills, but also global awareness.

For English teachers who want to inspire meaningful classroom conversations, encourage independent thinking, and move beyond surface-level vocabulary lists, this resource is a cornerstone.

With over 6 million copies sold and thousands of five-star reviews from parents and educators alike, Tuttle Twins is more than a book series, it’s a movement toward deeper understanding.

2. Living Values Education

Living Values Education is a program built around core values like peace, respect, and responsibility. For ESL teachers, these values-based lessons offer a framework to integrate emotional literacy with language learning.

Although it is not as extensive in its multimedia offerings, Living Values Education provides thoughtful and reflective materials that can complement classroom discussions. The tone of the materials is calm and grounding, offering simple moral lessons that students can relate to regardless of their cultural or language background.

Activities are structured and straightforward, and while they may not dive deep into linguistic development, they offer a stable platform for practicing language through discussion, role-play, and journaling. For classrooms where social-emotional learning is a priority, this can be a solid resource to have on hand.

3. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) Digital Resources

As one of the recognizable names in educational publishing, HMH offers a wide range of English language learning tools through both digital and print formats. Their platforms are widely used in schools and come with a comprehensive, curriculum-aligned approach.

Their digital offerings are generally polished and predictable, with features like automated assessments and adaptive reading materials. These can be helpful in classrooms that require standardization and testing benchmarks.

While HMH resources may not always encourage the deepest levels of creative engagement, they do offer reliability and structure. For educators in formal settings or those looking to supplement their lessons with systemized tools, HMH serves that need.

4. CrashCourse (John and Hank Green)

CrashCourse has become a staple in many classrooms, offering short, animated videos that tackle complex academic subjects with an energetic, fast-paced style. For ESL students, the quick delivery may pose a challenge, but the visual storytelling and simplified explanations can still support learning.

The videos work best when paired with follow-up activities that slow down the concepts and give students a chance to process and discuss what they’ve learned. CrashCourse is particularly helpful when teaching older ESL students or those working toward academic proficiency.

As Barbara Oakley, education professor and MOOC creator, reminds us: “Online learning is not about watching videos, it’s about engagement, exploration, and transformation.”

CrashCourse does well to spark curiosity, but it’s most effective when used as a jumping-off point for richer classroom conversations and analysis.

5. AsapSCIENCE

For English teachers interested in integrating cross-curricular learning, AsapSCIENCE offers bite-sized science lessons delivered in an engaging, visual format. These videos are ideal for content-based instruction, helping ESL students learn English while exploring topics in biology, chemistry, and more.

The artistic, hand-drawn animations keep students interested, and the content is broken down in a digestible way. While not designed specifically for language development, AsapSCIENCE videos can lead to vocabulary-building exercises, comprehension checks, and topic-specific writing prompts.

As a tool for reinforcing science-related vocabulary or prompting class discussions about health, environment, or human behavior, it serves a functional role. Teachers should be prepared to scaffold these videos with additional language support to make them accessible to learners at varying levels.

Conclusion

The best educational resources don’t just provide information, they ignite curiosity and give students the confidence to explore big ideas. If you’re teaching in a formal school setting or running a small ESL class abroad, these five tools can expand your students’ minds and help you create engaging, transformative lessons.

Among these, Tuttle Twins ability to deliver layered, value-driven education in a format that is both inspiring and practical. Its unique blend of storytelling and principles makes it a powerful anchor for ESL educators who want to go beyond grammar drills and spark real, meaningful conversations. With the right toolkit, every English teacher can become not just an instructor, but a guide to deeper understanding, personal growth, and lifelong learning.