Jamie Looking for ways to spice up your Spanish classroom? I notice that every time fall rolls around, I am once again excited to change my classroom from hospital room (i.e.. blah concrete walls) to vibrant Spanish classroom! Here are 3 ways to decorate your Spanish Classroom!
- Use your own photography!
Most of us Spanish teachers have studied abroad or done some traveling. Have you considered finding some of your cool shots and getting them printed out? 8 x 10 shots are a great way to make a bulletin board! I look for deals at local drug stores or the online photo storage sites and order prints when they offer a sale!
Even an image like this to show students what houses look like in Spain can be both interesting and beautiful!
2. Turn your clock into a Flower!
Number 2 of my 3 ways to decorate your Spanish classroom is to hang things that help students use the target language. One idea I found years ago on Pinterest was to make my wall clock into a flower. I cut out 12 petals and wrote the Spanish number on the petal. Es la una, Son las dos, etc. On the stem, I wrote the question “¿Qué hora es?“. On the leaves I wrote “menos cuarto and y cuarto”. It was a colorful and helpful way to brighten the room!
3. Display Expressions Posters!
My last idea is to display colorful posters that invite students to use the target language in a fun way! I use these Expression of the Week posters in my room. I print them out and laminate them. Each week I post a new poster on the whiteboard in front of my room, and I pose a challenge to all of my students to find a way to use it in their work. I often offer a small prize, like a few extra points or a free homework, or pick something from my prize box! This is great because these expressions are not always found in our vocab lists and curriculum, but they help students develop a broader range of vocabulary and cultural understanding!
I have these posters already made if you would like to take a look! There are 40 different expressions, each containing the translation and an example of how to use it or an explanation for how/why it’s used. There are 2 different color schemes and also a black and white version for those that don’t have access to a color printer! Check them out here!
Happy decorating everyone!
