Hi, I’m Sunshine—A High School ESL Teacher and Resource Creator

Welcome! I teach English to high school multilingual learners and design engaging ESL resources to make language learning fun and practical.

My Journey as a High School ESL Teacher

About Me | High School ESL Teacher

Teaching Background

I am a high school ESL teacher with more than 13 years of experience teaching English I & II ESL, ELDA I & II, and ESL Reading. Over the years, I have worked with students at varying proficiency levels while supporting both language development and academic growth.

In addition to classroom experience, I hold certifications in English Language Arts and Reading (grades 4–12) as well as English as a Second Language (grades 4–12). I also earned a master’s degree in Education Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Bilingual Education, along with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing.

How I Found My Path in ESL

Originally, I planned to teach traditional English courses. However, after stepping into my first ESL classroom, my professional direction quickly changed. Working with multilingual learners brought new challenges, deeper purpose, and a greater sense of impact than I had ever experienced before.

Over time, I discovered that helping students build confidence in a new language was just as important as teaching academic skills. As a result, ESL became the place where my passion and strengths aligned most naturally.

A Defining Classroom Experience

One experience in particular shaped my teaching philosophy. A student who had struggled with English for several years returned as a senior speaking fluently after gaining confidence through consistent exposure and daily interaction. Because of that experience, I now place strong emphasis on meaningful communication and authentic language use.

Why I Create ESL Resources

As my teaching evolved, I noticed a lack of age-appropriate and engaging ESL materials for secondary classrooms. For that reason, I began creating my own resources in March 2025. What started as a solution for my students gradually grew into a way to support other educators working with multilingual learners.

Today, I design classroom-tested materials that help teachers save time, support language development, and maintain high expectations for all students.

Explore My ESL Resources

If you’re looking for practical, ready-to-use ESL resources created by a fellow high school teacher, you’re in the right place. You can explore my full collection on Teachers Pay Teachers or browse ideas and strategies throughout this website.

Sunshine Castro M.Ed.

High School ESL Teacher & Curriculum Creator

Join me for practical strategies and resources for teaching ESL teens.

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What I Offer to Teachers & Students

Grammar & Writing

Targeted task cards and scaffolded activities that make grammar practice engaging and accessible for multilingual teens.

Reading & Literature

CEFR-leveled texts and comprehension questions that challenge students while respecting their diverse backgrounds.

Speaking & Listening

Games, conversation cards, and listening tasks that build confidence and real-world communication skills.

Vocabulary Development

Interactive sorts, themed word lists, and visuals that expand academic vocabulary and support rigorous content.

Teacher Tools & Freebies

Editable organizers, classroom management aids, and free resources to simplify your planning.

What Teachers are Saying

My EB Newcomer students enjoyed these activities. Thanks for a great resource!

It is clear to me that this resource was created with thoughtful intention and is an excellent tool for my online education practice. I really appreciate this fantastic free resource!

This was a great supplement for individual students to practice.

I used this with my middle and high school ELD classes so that they understood why we have no school on Veterans Day. I especially like the breakdown of the constructed response for my Beginners.

I started back with ESL at a different district after teaching Spanish for a while. So, I needed a lot of new materials that were ready made. This Back to School bundle was super helpful - especially the command and routine posters. They both have eye catching visuals and they helped me to teach expectations and routines to my students. Also, the editable syllabus is perfect for the Open House at my high school - I only need to type in my info and the formatting is all done for me!

This resource is amazing! Bright and detailed. The students are very entertained with Word Dash! I highly recommend this game! This product also helps my EB students practice their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.