Outdoor Geography Games for Spanish Class
When it's hot and motivation is low, take learning outside! My students use sidewalk chalk to draw giant regional maps of the Spanish-speaking world—then compete in fast-paced games that bring geography to life. It’s active, memorable, and the perfect end-of-year refresh.
Should I Assess Culture in the Target Language?
Not always—and that’s okay. While we aim to maximize TL use, deep cultural reflection often requires the clarity of a student’s first language. I use a hybrid approach: Spanish for products and practices, English for perspectives. The result? More meaningful connections, better empathy, and stronger intercultural skills.
Cultivating a Love for Reading: Introducing Free Reading to Middle School Students
In this blog post, we’ll explore a twist on introducing Free Reading through book “speed dating” with middle school students. Learn how to guide students through a process of book selection, assessment, and reflection, and help to cultivate essential reading habits while igniting a passion for literature. From building reading stamina to fostering autonomy in book selection, this method offers a dynamic way to nurture lifelong readers in the classroom.
Getting Started with Stories: How to Create Compelling CI Stories Based on your World Language Curriculum
Want to Start Storytelling with CI—But Have a Required Curriculum?
Good news: you can do both! This post offers five easy strategies for weaving compelling, vocabulary-rich stories into your existing units. From anchor charts and cliffhangers to re-reading games and animated slides, these ideas keep students engaged while reinforcing key grammar and vocab naturally—no major overhaul needed.
A Simple Twist to Gamify “Write and Discuss”
Write and Discuss is our favorite low-prep CI strategy—it’s quick, effective, and easy to implement in Spanish or French classes. Students help create 3–5 sentences using target language structures, then read and analyze them together. Want to boost engagement? Try our Write and Discuss Bingo twist to make it fun and keep kids engaged.
How to: 3 Reading Strategies for Novices
I always struggle with how to get my novice learners reading with texts they can comprehend. Here are my top three reading strategies that I use with my Novice Elementary and Middle School students.
¡Quince! Race to 15 in This Quick Dice Game for Spanish Class
I needed to get them re-reading the text - I just didn’t have time to keep creating new input! In a moment of inspiration, I created this re-reading race - I called it ¡Agarra el Número! It’s SO easy to play, low-prep, and has the bonus effect of reviewing numbers.
Tic-Tac-Número - Group Reading and Listening Game for Spanish Class
I needed to get them re-reading the text - I just didn’t have time to keep creating new input! In a moment of inspiration, I created this re-reading race - I called it ¡Agarra el Número! It’s SO easy to play, low-prep, and has the bonus effect of reviewing numbers.
How to Engage Students with Scholastic Magazines in Spanish Class
Spanish sub plans, Scholastic magazine graphic organizer
Agarra el Número - a World Language Reading Game!
I needed to get them re-reading the text - I just didn’t have time to keep creating new input! In a moment of inspiration, I created this re-reading race - I called it ¡Agarra el Número! It’s SO easy to play, low-prep, and has the bonus effect of reviewing numbers.
Top 3 Comprehensible Activities for Teaching about Las Posadas
Teach about Las Posadas with a slideshow story, a scavenger hunt, and a bingo game - all in comprehensible language even level 1 students can find successful!
How to Unlock the Power of Chat Mats to Support Conversation and Comprehension
I could see it in their eyes. Confusion, boredom, and a slight hint of ‘when does this class end’. My heart beat a too-fast rhythm as I struggled to ask questions my students would understand about Thanksgiving foods and activities. How would I get through this?
How the FLIPPED Running Dictation Saved My Formal Observation Crisis
What’s a FLIPPED Running Dictation?
Essentially, instead of putting clues or images around the room “scavenger-hunt style” for kids to dictate and translate, I put QUESTIONS about they text! They then had to search inside the text for the answers. Read more to see how I do it!
Top 3 Creative and Comprehensible Día de los Muertos Classroom Activities
What sounds better for Day of the Dead than a scavenger hunt, sugar skull reading project, and a bingo game - all in comprehensible language even level 1 students can find successful!
Unleashing Reading Comprehension Magic with Highlighters: An Unforgettable Classroom Adventure
A magical activity to practice reading comprehension strategies in the target language
Sick? These Sub-Plans Will Save your Sanity
It’s 3 am and I can’t sleep. My throat burns, my head throbs and in 4 hours I’ll be trying to corral 25 eighth-graders with a box of Kleenex in one hand and a bottle of Advil in the other. Panic overwhelms me as I realize I have no sub plans ready! Do I call out? What if I’m still sick tomorrow?
Categories
- Assessment 3
- Chat Mats 1
- Classroom Set-up 8
- Classroom management 2
- Community Building 2
- Comprehensible Input 32
- Culture 17
- Día de los Muertos 1
- Encouragement 1
- Flipped Running Dictation 1
- Games 19
- Grammar 1
- Holidays 4
- How to 5
- Lessons 4
- Movie Talks 1
- No Prep 2
- October Classroom Ideas 2
- Organization 1
- Planning 1
- Reading 20
- Resource Round Up 1
- Review 1
- Speaking 3
- Stories 1
- Sub Plans 6
- Technology 2
- Thanksgiving 1
- Using a Required Textbook 1
- Vocabulary Activities 2
- behavior management 2
- classroom community building 4
- teacher sanity 2