Class Routines For Spanish Teachers

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?

What Class Routines Do I Need?

Every teacher is different, and each of us will focus on certain routines and not others. Choose what’s most important to you! Here is a list of potential things you could make into a class routine.

What students do when they enter the room
How you check and/or review homework
How papers are passed out
How you will transition from one activity to another
How you will move from one seating pattern to another
What is expected when students work in groups
How students will know who to work with during partner or group work
How homework is assigned
How late work is handled
When and how to address a student who is back from absence

How Do I Teach Class Routines?

First, it’s important to know that class routines will evolve with you. The more experience you have, the clearer things will be about what needs to be a routine, and which routines are most important.

The key to teaching class routines is to make them a priority. At the beginning of a new school year, create opportunities to practice the routines. For example, if you want your students to be able to move from rows to small groups quickly,

Create an activity that requires this class routine
Explain what you want them to do
Reward those who followed your instructions
Within a few classes, repeat something similar. Explain what you expect, and reward those who do it!
Within a few classes, repeat again. Students need to do things several times in a short period in order to remember what the routine is.

What Class Routines Are Specific To Spanish Class?

The list of possible routines above are good ideas for any classroom. But here are a few class routines that may be specific to Spanish classes!

1. Spanish-only time

2. When/How English may be used

3. When/How online dictionaries may be used

4. Expectations for participating with a partner in Spanish

Need More Specifics?

This post was meant to be an easy read, and to get teachers thinking about Class Routines. If you are interested in what, exactly, my class routines are, let me know! I’m happy to make more posts about this topic! I love routines! If you have good routines, you have a well-run class. Learning time is maximized and stress and frustration (for teachers and students) is minimized!