Back to School Spanish Activities: The Ultimate Round-Up OF Ideas
Inside: Back to school Spanish activities and plans.
This post gather all kinds of ideas and activities for back-to-school in Spanish class from Spanish teachers, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
This is a big post! Here are the main topics to help you find exactly what you need (you can click to jump to those sections):
1. First Day Activities
2. Planning the First Weeks of Spanish Class
3. Decorating and Organizing Your Classroom
4. Classroom Management
5. Ideas for Setting up Interactive Notebooks
6. Building Relationships in Spanish Class
7. Staying in the Target Language from the Beginning
8. Teacher Self-Care and Prep
Related: Icebreakers for Spanish Class
BACK TO SCHOOL SPANISH ACTIVITIES: THE FIRST DAYS
I have a whole post just on First Day in Spanish Class lessons, but here are a few of my favorite first day activities!
Do a Meet the Teacher Presentation:
- Here’s an adorable template for First Day of School About the Teacher PPT Freebie from Fun for Spanish Teachers
- Here’s another get to know the teacher template from Creative Language Class.
Play a game to learn names:
- Card Talk Simple Activity and Slides from Palmyra Spanish. Have students write their names onto large cards (so you can start to learn them!) and they draw several things they like/don’t like. This is a great way to get to know your students, and quickly have simple conversation about their interests.
- With younger students, you can do something simple like tossing a ball to students and asking “Como te llamas?” You can use my free templates below for them to write their names and decorate them on the first day.
Start with a game or low-key icebreaker:
- Icebreakers for Spanish Class (with Distance-Friendly Ideas) If you have a returning Spanish 2 or 3 class, these are a fun way to dip their toes back into school and back into Spanish.
- Name Game Speedball is fun for learning names too!
BACK TO SCHOOL SPANISH PLANS: THE FIRST WEEKS
Beyond that important first day, what about your first unit? Take a look at what some other teachers have planned.
- First Two Weeks of Spanish 1, in the Proficiency-Based Classroom from Spanish Mama
- Maris Hawking shares how she sets up her first unit for Spanish 1.
- First Two Weeks Focused on High Frequency Verbs from Mis Clases Locas
- First Week Using Comprehensible Input from Mis Clases Locas
- Free Unit for Week 1 of Spanish 1 from The Comprehensible Classroom
I created a free unit for elementary and middle school that teaches classroom objects and tener. You can grab it here:
Creating Your SyllabUS
- I have a whole post going through each part of the Spanish class syllabus. I link to a Pinterest board as well with a ton of visual samples!
- Example Spanish syllabus from Maris Hawkins
If you need to create or tweak your scope and sequence, I also have a post with examples from preschool to high school, including both traditional setups and teachers who put together their own setup of novels, songs, culture, and self-created units.
DECORATING AND ORGANIZING Your Classroom
- Spanish Classroom Tours – A Huge Collection of Pictures from Everyday Teachers
- 7 Awesome Classroom Hacks from Secondary Spanish Space
- Organizational Lifesavers from Señora Chase
- Tips for Traveling Teachers from Fun for Spanish Teachers
- Tips if You Are on a Cart from Mundo de Pepita
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
First, see my big post on Spanish Classroom procedures! It’s a good one.
Here are some areas to think through and prepare before school starts.
- Do you have a list of Brain Breaks you like?
See this post with brain breaks for Spanish class, with a printable list to keep ready to go. - Do you have a call-and-response system in mind?
Here are a ton of ideas, from hola-hola-coca-cola, to many I’d never heard of before. - Do you have a seating plan ready?
Here’s a cool plan from Martina Bex.
General links for classroom management guidance:
- Here’s an overview of classroom management, with 14 keys to keep in mind.
- Does your school use the CHAMPS system? See this post on CHAMPS in the WL Classroom from Sra. Shaw
- Hand Signals for Classroom Management from Fun for Spanish Teachers
- Day One with La Libre Language Learning
- – I especially appreciated the tips on how to deal with your own nervousness and set up for a smooth day.
BACK TO SPANISH CLASS WITH INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOKS
Back-to-Spanish Class with Interactive Notebooks from Spanish Mama
Digital AP Notebooks from Aventuras Nuevas
Creating Digital Interactive Notebooks from Señora Jota Jota
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
- Creating Good Vibes in Spanish Class from Sol Azucar
- Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport from La Profesora Frida
- Establishing a Culture of Learning from La Profesora Frida
- First Days: Building Relationships from Sra. Cruz
- Building Relationships from Day 1 from Desk-Free Classroom
This is a really good episode from Growing with Proficiency, featuring Adriana Ramírez and Dahiana Castro, on starting the year strong with good classroom relatioships:
Free webinar on building a positive class environment during remote learning in Spanish class:
TARGET LANGUAGE
- Staying in the TL from Day 1 from Spanish Plans
- First Week of Staying in the TL from Señor Howard
Here are two excellent interviews (the first is with Alina Filipescu and Jason Fritze):
A conversation on staying in the TL with Rebecca Blouwolff, the NECTFL 2019 teacher of the year:
90% Target Language Use in the Elementary Classroom:
TEACHER SELF-CARE AND PREPARATION
- Back-to-Spanish Class: 9 Ways to be a Happier Teacher from Secondary Spanish Space
- Top Priorities for Day One from Secondary Spanish Space
- Advice for a First-Year Teacher from World Language Cafe
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