Ideas and Resources for Spanish Teachers
Have you heard of using a special phrase, or Spanish Class Password, for students to gain entry into the classroom? It’s something new I’m trying this year, and I really like it! Here is my experience- hope some of you will find it fun and helpful too!
In my humble opinion, the secret to a good school year lies with class routines. Each teacher and each course has unique parts, and Spanish classes are no exception. Having good routines sets your students, and you, as the teacher, up for success. Routines add predictability and boundaries, and they maximize time on task. So what class routines should you have in your Spanish class?
Now that school is fully underway, it’s assessment season! Benchmarks, Interim, Summative, Quizzes and other types of assessments are practically a daily experience for our students. Test-taking anxiety is real for many students, so here are some test-taking anxiety busters for Spanish class!
In order to optimize the learning time we have with our students, we have to have a classroom management system. Classroom management for Spanish teachers, in specific at the high school levels, can take many forms. Here are some of the most basic things that work for me, and I hope that some will help you too!
Teachers grow when they are reflective. This is drilled into us in our teacher preparation! Learning how to get students feedback in Spanish class is one way to reflect on your teaching practice so that you know what to keep and what to improve!
It started during Covid. I noticed that more and more students were chronically absent. Now that we are back in the classroom and operating in a “normal” way, student absences are still high. So how to handle absences in Spanish class? I have some ideas about how to handle absences in Spanish class without having the teacher lose his/her/their marbles!
How do you start your Spanish classes? This year we have a new school-wide initiative to do bell-ringers, or do-nows, or schema activators or warm-ups… there are so many names for them! Research shows that if you have an academic routine to start each class, it increases time on task and readiness for new learning! If having students self-start each class, while you take attendance, check homework and help the new kid sound good to you, bell-ringer activities for Spanish class are for you!
Not sure how to start your Spanish classes each day? Try one of these three routines that will help you use every precious minute of class time to get your students engaged and participating actively in their Spanish learning!
I have bad news. Young or older, veteran teacher or newbie, all of us will encounter difficult parents. Unfortunately, I don’t know any colleague who has never had a sleepless night because of an issue with a student’s parent or guardian. But the good news is that over the years, I have gained some insight and wisdom, and I have a few tips to share with you about how to handle these unpleasant situations.
Using manipulatives with students is often thought of as an elementary school activity. However, I have found manipulatives, both physical and digital, to be highly engaging and helpful for secondary students as well! Read on to learn some of the fun ways you can use and re-use the same manipulatives with your Spanish students!