Having a routine in place to start each day is so important for classroom management! Students know what to expect and appreciate the structure in place. I have daily routines I use in class that change for each day of the week, but we start every day the same way! Using these routines is a great way to build relationships with your students and within your classroom.
Check-In
The first slide I have projected is to check in with them on how their day is going! I ask them as they come in or just circulate around the room checking in with them. Now that we’ve been doing it for a while, they kind of circulate and chat with each other too before the period starts!
Once the period starts, the expectation is that they’re in their seats, then I ask a few of the class members I didn’t get to during the passing period or the last few students who came in. Some days I poll the class and have them raise their hands to show how they feel.
Depending on how responsive they are, sometimes we take turns asking and answering in a circle as a class, although we didn’t start this until it had been several weeks so everyone was pretty comfortable with the answers!
We’re not limited to the feelings on the slide – we’ve definitely been using “cansado/a” and “enfermo/a” more as we have gotten further into the school year. Students also add descriptors like “muy” and “un poco” depending on how they feel!
We also add in “¿Por qué?” to talk about things a little more in-depth, again, all varying depending on how it seems like the student is feeling. Sometimes they’re open to sharing, other times not so much!
Calendar Talk
After we check in, we do a quick Calendar Talk! What day is today? What day was yesterday? What day is tomorrow? Then we talk about the date- today’s date, yesterday’s date, tomorrow’s date. Date, date, date.
Ohhhh is today’s date special for anyone? How? If it’s their birthday we talk about that, how old they are, and if they’re going to celebrate. Sometimes it’s their friend’s birthday, or their cousin’s. Whatever reason it’s special, if they want to share, we’ll talk about it! Sometimes it’s special because there’s a game or a concert. Sometimes it’s special because it’s Persona Especial!
I’ve heard a lot of great things about using passwords to have students enter the classroom. I think that would be a great way to build classroom community, but I travel between classrooms and I often don’t beat the kids into the room!
Weather “Report”
After we’ve checked in and talked about our days, we do a quick discussion of the weather! In the beginning of the year with Spanish 1, I keep this really simple, like the Slide you can see above! Is it nice out, or not? As the year progresses, we add in more specifics and talk in more detail. Plus, the weather changes as we go through the year so we naturally add in more of the weather vocab!
Resources to Help You Get Started
This routine is a great one to implement every day to build your classroom community, practice emotions, dates, weather, and more! You’d be surprised at the kind of discussions you’ll have with your students as you just talk with them about their lives. It’s really a great way to make connections with your students. Check out my Start of Class Routine Slides here to help you get started using this in your own classroom!
If you’re teaching during distance learning or just want another option to change things up, check out this resource for Start of Class Routine Google Forms!
Your Turn
How do you like to start your classes? Comment below and let me know, or tag me on Instagram @Srta_Spanish!
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I use a question of the day. It varies depending on topic we are reviewing or currently studying.
Especially at the beginning of the year, during the check-in when they don’t have much vocabulary, if you ask ¿Por qué? – do the students answer in English and then you follow up with the Spanish?
It kind of depends on their answer! Often I try to rephrase and restate what they’ve said in a sentence they can understand (“Oh, hay un examen en la clase de matemáticas?”) but some scenarios are more complex and in those cases I choose to grow the relationship with the student by listening and asking questions to understand. The language will come!
I want to try to add this to all my classes. Little nerves to do so –
….silly question, do you and your students just “talk” or do you have then write it on notebook/google. I’m full in person with just 5 students distance learning ( middle school).
I just talk! The only time I have my students write it out is if the class is needing some “feels like school” time. Sometimes the class benefits from a little reset and refocus, but I generally don’t have them record this – we just enjoy the time talking together!