Positive Spanish Class Community

By Allison Wienhold

June 17, 2024

Inside: Positive Spanish class community-building activities. How to build a positive Spanish classroom community.

Postive Classroom Community in Spanish Class from Mis Clases Locas

Spanish Classroom Community Spark

I published a new post about celebrating Birthdays in Spanish Class earlier this year.

Angie Trowbridge responded to my email about the new blog post with this question. “I would love to hear more about the different activities you did in the classroom to build community – other than today’s blog post, can you direct me to others about this?”

I responded with many ideas and thanked Angie for the great idea for a future blog post. This made me realize I have a TON of posts that focus on building a positive classroom community. Now I am finally expanding on the answers to the question about building classroom community in Spanish class. Save this information for planning for back to school.

Build Positive Classroom Community – Before School Starts

EXPECTATIONS – Set expectations at the start of the year & follow through. The expectation of a positive classroom community, no bullying accepted, etc. Post these expectations in your room as Posters with a Purpose.

Build Spanish Class Community with Expectations Shared by Mis Clases Locas

SYLLABUS – Create a clear Syllabus to communicate the expectation of a positive class community to students. I have a ready-to-go Editable Spanish Syllabus Template.

Positive Spanish Class Community Syllabus Shared by Mis Clases Locas

NEWSLETTER – Send out a Parent Newsletter to establish positive communication with all guardians before school starts.

Positive Spanish Classroom Community Week 1

NAME GAME SPEEDBALL – Play name game speedball day 1 to ensure everyone knows each other’s names. Even if you think everyone already knows each other in a small school. Still, play and blame it on the teacher wanting to learn names. I guarantee there will be names that are new to someone. Grab a name game speedball freebie at the bottom of this post.

Spanish Class Community with Name Game Speedball Day 1 Shared by Mis Clases Locas

PERSONA ESPECIAL – Use special person interviews to get to know each other. Day 2 of Spanish 1 I use these interviews as a part of my Super 7 Unit to Start Spanish 1. With upper levels use other tenses in your interviews like the imperfect for childhood or future plans.

Positive Spanish Class Community Persona Especial Shared by Mis Clases Locas

UPPER-LEVEL SPANISH BREAK CHAT – Besides learning names, have students get in the habit of asking and answering genuine questions about each other. In my 1st Day of Spanish 2, 3, 4 Plans students learn about each other and their past summer experiences. We continue this Positive Spanish class community using Spanish Question Cards.

Spanish Class Community All Year Long

POSITIVE ROUTINES – You know I love routines & Bell Ringers that build a community. This includes Música miércoles, music brackets, dancing, Jokes, weekend chat & more. You can also see more Positive Classroom Routines.
>>Get NEW Spanish Bell Ringers Para Empezar 2024 for a year of community-building bell ringers or the same Year of Starters on TPT.

Spanish Classroom Positive Community Routines Shared by Mis Clases Locas

WEEKEND CHAT – Even though I just mentioned Weekend Chat as a routine, it deserves its own spot. Making time to connect as humans every Monday is key to establishing a positive classroom community. You can use my ready-to-go Weekend Chat 2024.

Positive Spanish Class Community Weekend Chat Shared by Mis Clases Locas

CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS – Wishing someone a happy birthday is such a simple way to show you care. Try out singing different Happy Birthday Songs in Spanish.

FUN COLLABORATIVE GAMES & ACTIVITIES – Allow students to work together daily. This can be through activities like positive plates, running dictation, The Marker Game, 1, 2, 3, ¡SALTA! or a Vocab Game.

Fun Game to Build Positive Spanish Class Community Shared by Mis Clases Locas

SPEAKING ACTIVITIES – Instead of scripts have students use their Spanish & get to know each other. Activities like Find Someone Who & Café y Conversación help to build a positive Spanish class community.

GET OUTSIDE together – Volunteer, host a service day, service project, field trip, or do something together outside of the classroom. A positive Spanish class community often comes from working together for a common goal. Read this new post about field trips to learn more.

Building a positive class community in Spanish class is a daily task. It starts before students arrive. Then positive routines are set during week 1. Finally, just like anything, what you allow will continue.

Want to build a positive Spanish class community on day 1?

Grab these Name Game Speedball Slides.

>>Get NEW Spanish Bell Ringers Para Empezar 2024 or the same Year of Starters on TPT for a year of positive Spanish community-building bell ringers.

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Read more about: back to school, classroom management

Allison Wienhold

Allison Wienhold of Mis Clases Locas has a decade of experience as a #deptof1 secondary Spanish teacher in Iowa. She enjoys creating curricula using novels, films, and music. Allison provides professional development to World Language teachers, including being the keynote speaker at MALT and Comprehensible Iowa, and workshop presenter at dozens of state & regional organizations, school districts, AEAs, and virtual conferences.