Are you wondering how to incorporate mandated SEL in the Spanish classroom? Social and Emotional Learning doesn’t seem to be a trend that is going away anytime soon in my district. Year after year, we work to try to get things right in this domain. We have special lessons that take place during our homeroom periods, yet I think that SEL that resonates with students happens every day in small ways.
SEL in the Spanish Classroom = Relationships
One of the biggest challenges that high school teachers face is the sheer number of students we have. I imagine it might be easier to develop meaningful relationships with each student if you only had one class and were with those students all day.
But when we have 100 + students, we need strategies to build relationships. This is done by using SEL in the Spanish classroom. It’s about strategies!
How can you make connections and build trust with your students? We know why we need to, but how to do it??
Ask Questions
Last year I made a simple shift. Every Friday, the warm-up for the day was a question for my students. I had them write the answer, and I collected them. I made at least 5 minutes in my busy day to actually read them. Some answers were generic or predictable. But some were more interesting, some were concerning, and sometimes they were shocking!
I began to write a little comment back to them. Sometimes what they told me really had to be acknowledged. Sometimes it was just a smiley face that I drew on. But I passed these back to the students, and each one knew I had read what they told me.
By midway through the year, I was getting feedback. One of the common themes was that students felt like I really knew them and cared about them. It was true- I did know this group of students better than the group I had the year before. I did care about them, and it made me feel good to know that this simple move for SEL in the Spanish classroom was having an impact.
What Questions Should I Ask?
The types of questions you could ask to encourage SEL if the Spanish classroom depend on your groups. I often invite them to tell me about things that are important to them. Sometimes, you get the IDK responses. But a lot of times, students will tell you what’s on their mind!
What was something that went well for you this week? (There are lots of versions of this question.)
What are you looking forward to? What made you smile today?
What’s something that surprised you this week?
What stresses you out? What was something that didn’t go as planned? Tell me something that frustrates you.
Is it OK to Use English?
If you are prioritizing building relationships with your students, it’s my opinion that English is ok. At least in my school, in Spanish 1, 2 and 3, it would be hard for students to express themselves fully and honestly in Spanish. Over the years, I have learned that strong relationships with students, built by letting students feel seen and heard, helps me take them much further with Spanish!
So for me, if that means they get to answer a personal question once a week in English, it’s worth it!
Creating the Routine for SEL in the Spanish Classroom
Every teacher is different, and we all have different ways of connecting with our students. The important thing is that it needs to be a regular affair.
For me, one question every Friday is an easy way to make sure I’m checking in with each student, each week. And in my experience, the fact that they are asked regularly about how they are feeling gives them the sense that their teacher cares about them as people, not just as students in that class!
Resources You May Like
Spanish Expression of the Week Posters & Magic Passwords
Spanish Back To School Student Getting to Know You Questions Spanish & English
Spanish Task Cards The Four Seasons Bundle
