Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The first week of school is all about setting the tone—especially for ESL students who may feel nervous, overwhelmed, or unsure of what to expect. I always want my students to feel safe, seen, and proud of who they are. That’s why this back to school ESL writing prompt is one of my favorites.
It’s not just a writing activity—it’s a confidence builder, a conversation starter, and a classroom community moment all rolled into one.
Let me show you how I use the “Where I’m From” Identity Poem with ESL teens during the first week of school—and why I’ll never start the year without it again.
Why I Choose This Writing Prompt Every Year
During the first week, many ESL students are still finding their voice. Some are new to the school (or even the country). Others are coming back after summer feeling unsure of their English skills.
This poem project gives them the perfect way to say, “This is who I am.”
Based on the famous poem “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon, students write their own identity poem using memories, details, and sensory language to describe their background, culture, and personal experience.
But don’t worry—they’re not doing it alone.
It’s Scaffolded for ESL Success
This isn’t a blank-page writing assignment. Every step of the way, students have visual supports, sentence frames, and bilingual checklists to guide them.
Here’s what’s included in the lesson:
- A student-friendly brainstorm worksheet
- Sensory language highlighting page
- Sentence-stem poem writing template
- Peer feedback form
- English & Spanish revision checklists
- Final draft publishing page
- Real student samples (so they can see what success looks like!)
All the writing is printable and designed for handwriting, which means no one’s running off to ask ChatGPT for help —and students stay engaged in a genuine, personal process.
Why It Works (Even With Shy Students)
I’ve used this prompt with all levels—from confident intermediate speakers to newcomers with very limited English. And every time, it works.
Why?
Because students get to talk about themselves, and that instantly builds buy-in. Even students who usually don’t speak much are willing to share a few lines or talk about one thing from their poem.
I’ve seen it lead to:
- Students discovering shared hometowns
- Sweet nods to family and food
- A few proud tears (from them and me)
- And some really amazing hallway displays
Yes, There’s Spanish Support
If your students are Spanish speakers, you’ll love this: the sentence frames and revision checklist are translated to help them understand the assignment in both languages.
It doesn’t make the task “easier,” but it makes it accessible—and gives students the chance to write authentically with less language stress.
How I Use It During the First Week
Here’s my usual flow:
Day 1: Introduce the mentor poem (via QR code link) and complete the brainstorm
Day 2: Highlight sensory language and start writing using the sentence stems
Day 3: Peer feedback + revision checklist (Spanish or English)
Day 4: Final draft + optional Vocaroo recording (QR codes on their final copy!)
By the end, you’ll have beautiful, personal poems ready to display for Open House or your classroom bulletin board.
Want to Try It?
You can get the full resource here:
It’s designed for CEFR A2–B1 level ESL students and includes everything you need to make this a meaningful, low-stress, high-impact writing project.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a back to school ESL writing prompt—it’s a way to open the door for real connection, creative expression, and a sense of belonging.
If you’re looking for a first week activity that your ESL students will remember and take pride in, give this one a try. It’s been one of the most powerful pieces of my first-week routine for years, and I can’t wait for you to see the magic in your own classroom too.
Let me know how it goes!
