The first week of Spanish class is crucial for setting the tone for the rest of the year. Here are some activities and strategies you can use to engage your students and establish a productive learning environment:
Day 1: Getting to Know Each Other
- Introductions: Have students introduce themselves in Spanish if they can, or at least say their names.
- Icebreaker Games: Play games that encourage students to speak and interact, such as “Find Someone Who” with simple Spanish phrases. Kids need a little push the first week and Icebreakers are ideal. Search icebreakers for Spanish class or download my free one.
- Class Expectations: Clearly outline your expectations, classroom rules, and the syllabus. Always discuss the expectations so that there are no surprises.
Day 2: Basic Spanish and Classroom Phrases
- Classroom Commands: Teach essential classroom commands in Spanish (e.g., “Escucha,” “Repite,” “Escribe”). Go over the basic commands that will be essential for your class. For example I teach students how to sign- restroom that way they don’t make it a habit of shouting rather they just sign at any time.
- Essential Vocabulary: Introduce basic vocabulary related to the classroom, such as items, actions, and polite phrases. Don’t introduce any new vocabulary from the unit, but words like Escritorio or Maestra that will be used often in the classroom.
- Interactive Activities: Make sure you give them the opportunity to pair up with different students. Try buying a deck of playing cards and given them to students to find their peer. There are many other ways to do this but this one is cheap and effective.
Day 3: Introduction to Spanish-Speaking Cultures
- Cultural Exploration: Introduce students to different Spanish-speaking countries, focusing on interesting facts, traditions, and famous landmarks. If your classroom is big on culture let them know and hype them up for upcoming projects or events!
- Visual Aids: Show videos, images, or slideshows to make the cultural content engaging. Make a short video and add it to your introduction presentation (Meet the teacher).
- Discussion: Have students share what they know or would like to learn about Spanish-speaking cultures. Always ask students what they like to learn and how they learn best. Giving students this opportunity creates a strong relationship from the start.
Day 4: Fun Review and Reflection
- Review Game: Play a review game, such as a quiz or interactive online game, to reinforce what has been learned during the week. Test out all the technology you like to use in class and have students provide you with feedback on how they feel about this new software or if they are already familiar with it. This will also help you grasp how much technology coaching will be needed before any big activity.
- Goal Setting: Have students set personal goals for their Spanish learning journey. I have created these bilingual goal sheets that leave ample room for students to reflect. It also includes a page for the parents to fill-out.
- Have students fill-out an all about me page. Why is this important? Helps build a personal connection between the teacher and each student, fostering a positive classroom environment.
Before students arrive to your class make sure you:
Decorate your classroom with Spanish posters, maps, and student work to create a welcoming and exciting environment.
Tips:
- Integrate Technology: Use language learning apps, online games, and interactive websites to enhance learning.
- Use Visuals and Gestures: Incorporate visual aids and gestures to support comprehension, especially for beginners.
These activities will help you build a positive classroom community, introduce foundational Spanish skills, and spark students’ interest in the language and its cultures.
Looking for a creative craft for the first weeks of Spanish class?
