About Us.
We’re a team of passionate educators—National Board Certified Teachers, former Teachers of the Year, and proud members of the clinical faculty at William & Mary, where we also earned our Master’s in Education. With over three decades of combined experience, our journey has led us to structured literacy—an approach grounded in the science of reading. We are LETRS certified, trained in UFLI, and committed to evidence-based practices that work. By pairing systematic instruction with rich visuals and robust vocabulary support, we create truly transformative learning experiences for English learners.
After years of searching for high-quality, age-appropriate materials designed specifically for English learners—and aligned with the Science of Reading—we realized a gap existed. So we created our own. Through trial, testing, and refinement, ESL Word Nerds was born. When we implemented it with our 100+ ESL students, the results were undeniable: the number of students meeting their WIDA growth bands tripled, and our ESL exit rate doubled. We couldn’t believe the impact—and knew we had to share it. This is the niche the ESL world has been waiting for: structured literacy designed for multilingual learners, by educators FOR educators.
Big Ideas. Real Impact. The Data Speaks.
Since the 2021–2022 school year, our ESL team has intentionally implemented ESL Word Nerd strategies alongside a unified shift to structured literacy practices tailored specifically for multilingual learners. We serve approximately 120 students representing more than 14 languages and 19 home countries. Since adopting this approach, we have seen consistent and measurable student growth.
WIDA ACCESS data shows that the percentage of students meeting growth targets increased from 38% in 2022 to 58% in 2023 — a 20-point gain — and this performance has been sustained year over year. Program exit rates reflect similar progress, rising from 2% in 2022 to 15% in 2024, demonstrating a significant increase in students achieving English proficiency.
Student voice reinforces these results: 93% of LIEP students reported that ESL Word Nerd strategies had the greatest impact on their English learning and identified structured literacy as their favorite part of the day.
At ESL Word Nerds, our mission is to empower educators of multilingual learners with research-based, classroom-tested tools rooted in the science of reading. We believe every English learner deserves structured, visual, and vocabulary-rich instruction that makes language accessible, engaging, and meaningful. Through high-quality resources and practical strategies, we equip teachers to build confident, literate students—one word at a time.
At ESL Word Nerds, we share everything we’ve learned (and are still learning!) to equip educators with the tools, strategies, and confidence they need to help multilingual learners thrive. Whether you’re just beginning your teaching journey or looking to deepen your practice, you’ve found your people—and your toolkit.