Must-Have Returning From Winter Break Activities

When returning from winter break, it is essential to ease students back into the school routine. Here are a few ideas of things you can do with your students when returning from winter break:

Have them share what they did over break. This is a great way to get them engaged and talking and writing in the target language right away.

A great tool for this is Book Creator, which offers fantastic features perfect for language teachers and their students. Check out 'Ways to Use Book Creator in Your World Language Classroom' below. If you enjoy this, explore the full course: How to Use Book Creator in Your World Language Classroom.

After a break, many students may need to remember previous material taught. As a result, I don’t recommend jumping into teaching new material. Instead, do a quick review of material they may have forgotten over the break. This will help get them up to speed and ready for new material.

Some great ways to review material are games like Gimkit.

Gimkit is an excellent tool for language teachers. It allows you to create custom games to help your students learn vocabulary and grammar. 

You can also use it to create quizzes and tests. Gimkit is a great way to help your students learn a new language.

Find out How to Skyrocket Student Engagement With Gimkit Here.

Another fun way to review and reinforce vocabulary is using a Digital Vocabulary Choice Board. Like Gimkit, this is an easy No-Prep activity your students will love!

Check out this No-Prep Digital Vocabulary Choice Board.

Do you want your language students to have a global experience without leaving the classroom?

The Amazing Race Cultual Activites can give them just that! These activities are designed to have your students experience different cultural locations and customs through these interactive WebQuests. 

You can check out the Amazing Race Activities here.

After about a day or two of review, now is a great time to introduce any new material or topics you will cover in the coming weeks. This will allow them to start getting excited about what's to come.

Get them brainstorming ideas for projects or papers you may assign later in the semester. This will help get their creative juices flowing and get them thinking ahead.

Lastly, remember to take some time just to relax and have some fun! After a long break, it is necessary to take a breath and enjoy being back in the classroom with your students.

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Want to learn how to use AI to save 10 hours or more per week as a world language teacher? 📅

If you’re ready to take your teaching to the next level and save valuable time, I’ve got a free workshop just for you! Sign up for Must-Have AI Tech Tools for World Language Teachers and discover how you can work smarter, not harder, with AI. 🎓✨

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Using Canva's AI to Design Interactive Task Cards for Language Learning

As world language teachers, we know how important it is to keep our students engaged while also providing meaningful practice. One way to do this is by using task cards. They’re a great way to create quick, interactive activities that can really get your students thinking in the target language. But creating them manually can be time-consuming. That’s where Canva’s AI tool comes in! 💡

Before we dive in, want to see Canva’s AI tool in action? 🎥 I’ve created a YouTube video that shows exactly how you can use it to generate engaging task cards for your language students. Check it out here:

This blog post will also break down step-by-step how to use Canva’s AI tool to create beautiful, engaging task cards for your language students. The best part? It’s easy, fast, and will save you so much time. Let’s dive in! ⏳

Step 1: Start with the Right Template 🖌️

Canva offers a variety of templates to help you get started. Whether you’re creating task cards for vocabulary, grammar, or cultural activities, there’s a template for every need. Begin by selecting a template that fits the type of activity you want to create. This will save you a lot of time on design and layout!

Step 2: Use Canva’s Magic Write to Generate Questions 🤖

This is the part I love. With Canva’s Magic Write, you can generate questions directly related to your lesson. For example, if you’re teaching a unit on food, you can ask the AI to create questions based on that topic. Just type in a prompt like, “Generate questions for a language activity about food,” and Canva’s AI will automatically create a list of questions tailored to your lesson. 🍔🍓

This feature is a total game-changer because it’s not just about saving time—it’s about making sure your questions are relevant and engaging for your students.

Step 3: Customize Your Task Cards 🎨

Once you have your questions, you can easily customize your task cards. Canva’s drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to add images, change colors, and adjust the fonts to make the cards match your classroom theme or your personal style. Customization helps you make these task cards not only useful but also visually appealing for your students. 🌟

Step 4: Connect Data for Personalized Cards 📊

One of the coolest things about Canva’s AI tool is its ability to connect data, which means you can create task cards that are personalized for your students. If you’ve already collected student names or levels, you can use that data to create task cards that are specific to each student’s learning needs. This feature is super helpful for differentiating instruction and keeping all your students challenged. 🔍

Step 5: Print or Share Digitally 🖨️📲

Once your task cards are ready, you can either print them out for in-class use or share them digitally for online activities. Canva makes it easy to download your designs in different formats, including PDF, PNG, or even video, so you can share them in whatever way works best for your students. 💻🖼️

Why Canva’s AI Tools are a Must-Have for World Language Teachers 🌍

As busy teachers, we’re always looking for ways to streamline our prep work without sacrificing quality. Canva’s AI tools help us create resources that are both engaging and efficient. The best part? You don’t have to be a tech expert to use it. It’s intuitive and user-friendly, making it accessible for all teachers, regardless of tech experience. 🙌

By using Canva’s AI tools to create task cards, you’ll not only save time but also boost student engagement. So why not give it a try? It’s time to let AI do the heavy lifting, and give you more time to focus on what matters most—teaching your students! 🎉

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Want to learn how to use AI to save 10 hours or more per week as a world language teacher? 📅

If you’re ready to take your teaching to the next level and save valuable time, I’ve got a free workshop just for you! Sign up for Must-Have AI Tech Tools for World Language Teachers and discover how you can work smarter, not harder, with AI. 🎓✨

👉 Sign up for the free workshop here!

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day of the dead must-have resources for Spanish teachers

The day of the dead is just around the corner! Doing a lesson about the Mexican holiday celebration can be a great way to integrate culture into your World Language classroom. I have put together a list of resources to help you get some ideas.

Día de los muertos interactive websites

Interactive Day of the Dead Altar

A few other websites for lessons and information about Día de los muertos are: National Geographic Kids

Google Arts and Culture-Day of the dead

These sites includes information along with pictures to show students cultural examples about the holiday celebration.

Looking for crafty projects for Día de los muertos?  Below are a few sites with lots of projects and craft ideas.

Digital Papel Picado Google Slides Project by Google

In this lesson, you'll learn how to create your own traditional Mexican folk art using a papel picado template and patterns in Google Slides.

This no-prep project contains a lesson plan, sample rubric, step-by-step vide instructions/tutorials and even a certificate of completion.

You can access the Create Papel Picado in Google Slides project here.

Hello Kids Has numerous pages giving students an option to color online or print and color.

Scrumdilly-do Make paper plate calavera masks.

Growing up bilingual 25 Day of the dead DIY projects.

The Crafty Chica Has over 100 Día de los muertos projects.

The Crafty Cow Has lots of fun project ideas to choose from.

AzCentral Día de los muertos Teacher Packet get the teacher packet here.

Looking for some great videos to help tie everything together. Below are a some great options.

Dia De Los Muertos (Day Of The Dead) – A Brief Explainer

(SCHOOL FRIENDLY) What is El Dia De Los Muertos? by Eddie G!

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Day of the Dead

Dia de Los Muertos (Lesson)

Dia de los Muertos | Film School Shorts

Día de Muertos (movietalk) TeachVid activity

Un altar de muertos TeachVid activity

La Llorona (Carmen Goett) TeachVid activity

Learn about Day of the Dead: Symbols and Ofrendas (in English) Edpuzzle

Free No-Prep Día de los muertos Google Slides Resources

Below are some wonderful ready-made resources shared by the AWESOME members of the Tech for World Language Teachers Facebook group community.

Most of these are Google Slides resources. Be sure to make a copy so add it to your Google Drive.

Día de los muertos board by Joy McKenzie

Frida Kahlo/Day of the Dead - By Tracey Devers

Coloring Calaveritas Pear Deck activity by Eunice Kullick.

Las Partes del Cuerpo y Cara by Rachel Johnson

Day of the Dead Coco Google Slides presentation by Priscilla Quezada

Dia de los Muertos Vocabulario by Viv Stokes

Discover the Day of the Dead Choice Board

Breakout EDU Digital Escape Game

El Secreto de la Catrina Digital Escape game created by Julie Ogden Thompson.

You can access the digital escape game here.

Want to make a cool day-of-the-dead presentation for your students? Download this free Day of the Dead presentation template from Slides Carnival. The template is available in Google Slides and Powerpoint.

There are some more really great looking Day of the Dead Presentation Slides by Slidesgo you can check out the Dia de Muertos Presentation Slides here.

Slides Mania Dia de los Muertos Free template for Google Slides or PowerPoint

Interactive Games

Day of the dead Kahoot!

Día de los Muertos Gimkit

Be sure to check my Day of the Dead Play list on The Tech for World Language Teachers YouTube Channel.

Hope you find these resources helpful! Let me know below which ones you plan on using with your students?

Joins us inside our FREE Facebook groups Tech for Spanish Teachers and Tech for World Language Teachers.

Must-Have Resources for Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is a period from September 15 to October 15 in the United States. The purpose of Hispanic Heritage Month is to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a great way to incorporate some fun and engaging cultural activities. Below are No-Prep resources that will help you to easily integrate Hispanic Heritage Month into your teaching. The best part is most of these resources are free or very low cost.

Hispanic Heritage Month Resources

Quizlet has some great free Be The Change lesson plans and study sets relevant to Hispanic Heritage Month — spanning topics from identity and stereotypes to immigration struggles and progress.

Quizlet Hispanic Heritage Month Resources>

You can also get 9 NO-Prep Digital Interactive Webquests and 3 workshop courses by getting the Webquest Cultural Bundle by Allison Perryman from The Cultural Classroom.

Learn How To Integrate Culture Through The Use Of Webquets.

• Get instant access to 9 No-Prep cultural Webquests you can start using with your students right away. You can use them as they are or edit them to make them your own.

• Webquest topics include Mexican independence day, the culture of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and more…

Get the WebQuest Cultural Bundle Here>>

Hispanic Heritage Month Activity | Famous Faces® Collaboration Poster w/ Latinx by Art with Jenny K

 Hispanic Heritage Month Famous Faces® Collaboration Poster with quotes in English and Spanish! This fun, collaborative activity features portraits of:

• Selena Quintanilla

• César Chávez

• Juan Herrera

• Roberto Clemente

• Sonia Sotomayor

• Diego Rivera

• Frida Kahlo

• Ellen Ochoa

This is a super FUN collaborative activity I have done with my students for the past three years. My students LOVE this activity. They have fun working together and they love displaying their end result for the entire school to see.

Here is a picture of a poster in progress from one of my classes.

This is available on Teachers Pay Teachers, the current price is $7.99

 Hispanic Heritage Month Famous Faces® Collaboration Poster>>

Exploring Afro-Latino Culture

Learn how to easily integrate Afro-Latino culture into daily routines with the How to Introduce Afro-Latino Culture to Your Students Course Bundle.

In this course Jenniffer Whyte the Afro-Latina Teacher shows step-by-step How to easily integrate Afro-Latino culture into daily routines.

• Discover the best literature, music, and dance to introduce to your students.

• Access done for you lesson resources to easily get started integrating Afro-Latino culture in your class.

  The course includes two video workshops and 3 weeks of No-Prep presentation resources you can use with your students as they are or edit them to make them your own.

  Get the How to Introduce Afro-Latino Culture to Your Students Course Bundle Here.

Hispanic Heritage Month Notable Hispanic American Person of the Day by Sra. Cruz

This resource includes a Notable Hispanic American for each day of Hispanic Heritage Month. Each day, students learn about one person, their country of heritage, and what they are known for. It also includes a video clip link for each person. 

This is available via Teachers Pay Teachers the current price is $4.50.

Hispanic Heritage Month Notable Hispanic American Person of the Day>>

Latino Americans PBS Video Series

LATINO AMERICANS is a landmark six-hour documentary featuring interviews with nearly 100 Latinos and more than 500 years of History.

Latino Americans PBS Video Series>>

Latinos are Essential 

Latinos Are Essential is a collection of unique and insightful short portraits and stories about Latinos who are serving as essential workers in a wide variety of jobs and/or services across the United States, even as the COVID 19 pandemic continues to disproportionately impact Latino and other communities of color.

Latinos are Essential>>

Hispanic Heritage Month lesson ideas by Nea 

This is a collection of lesson plans, videos, music, and activities for grades K-12.

Hispanic Heritage Month lesson ideas by Nea >>

The Ultimate Guide to Hispanic Heritage Month Activities by The Spanish Mama

This is a collection of lesson ideas and activities that include printables, crafts, videos, and songs.

Access the Spanish Mama Resources here>>

Want more resources and ideas Watch the free workshop Must-have Hispanic Heritage Month Resources for Spanish Teachers.

Get access to the MUST-HAVE Resources here>>

🌎 Discover a treasure trove of resources that will make your lessons come alive! 🎉 We're talking about cultural webquests, brain breaks, cultural videos, interactive activities, and so much more! 📽️🎒

🧭 Explore the rich tapestry of Hispanic culture and make your students' learning experiences unforgettable. 🌟

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to enhance your teaching toolkit. 📝

👉 Register now and be prepared to inspire your students like never before! 💡✨

Kickstarting the School Year: How to Connect with Parents and Students Early

📚 Establishing Positive Relationships with Parents and Students at the Start of the School Year 🌟

As World Language teachers, we know the power of communication in bridging cultures, but it’s equally important in building strong relationships with parents and students. The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to set a positive tone for these relationships. One key principle to remember: the first time parents hear from you should not be about their child’s negative behavior. Instead, proactively reaching out with positive communication sets the stage for a year of collaboration and mutual support. 🤝

✉️ Initiate Communication Early

Start by introducing yourself to parents and students with a warm welcome message. This simple gesture can make a world of difference in how parents perceive you and your classroom. A great tool to facilitate this is the Remind app, which allows you to send out updates, announcements, and messages directly to parents’ and students’ phones. 📱

To make your introduction even more personal, consider creating a welcome video. Tools like Loom make it easy to record and share videos. 🎥 In your video, introduce yourself, share a little about what students will learn in your class, and let parents know how they can reach you. Sending this video through Remind ensures it reaches parents in a convenient and accessible way.

📰 Regular Updates and Newsletters

Consistency in communication is key. Sending out weekly or monthly newsletters helps keep parents in the loop about what’s happening in your classroom. Google Slides, Google Sites, and Canva are fantastic platforms for creating visually appealing newsletters that are easy to update. If you’re looking for beautifully designed, free templates, check out Slidesmania. 🎨

For those who are new to creating a classroom website, I recommend the course How to Build a Classroom Website with Google Sites. A classroom website can be a central hub for all your communications, from newsletters to class resources, making it easier for parents and students to stay informed. 🌐

🚀 Additional Resources for a Smooth School Year

Starting the year with the right tools can make all the difference. If you’re looking for more resources to ensure a successful start, consider exploring the Back to School Must-Have Tech Tools course. It’s packed with ideas to help you integrate technology seamlessly into your classroom, making your teaching more efficient and engaging. 💻

🎉 Conclusion

Establishing a positive relationship with parents and students from the start of the school year is crucial for creating a supportive learning environment. By initiating communication early, using tools like Remind and Loom, and regularly updating parents with newsletters, you’ll set the stage for a successful year. Remember, proactive communication not only prevents misunderstandings but also builds trust and a strong partnership with parents, which is essential for student success in the world language classroom. 🌍📖

Discover How AI Tech Tools Can Help You Save 10 Hours + Weekly As a World Language Teacher.

How To Create Self-Grading Speaking Assignments Your Students Will Love ❤️️ 🎙️✨

Are you tired of spending countless hours creating and grading speaking assignments for your students? Do you wish there was a way to streamline this process while still ensuring that your students are meeting language proficiency standards? Look no further – Speakable.io is here to revolutionize the way you teach languages.

Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting a video training session with Austin Meusch, the co-founder of Speakable.io, a platform designed to make language teaching more efficient and effective. In this training, we delved into the benefits of using Speakable.io to create self-grading speaking activities that are aligned with the ACTFL Proficiency Language Standards.

Are you ready to stop spending hours grading speaking assignments? 

👉 Click here to watch the video training.

And don't forget to subscribe to the Tech for World Language Teachers YouTube Channel to stay updated on future content. 📹🔔

👉 You can set up a Speakable.io account here. 

But that's not all – if you're interested in learning more about how AI technology can help you save time planning, grading, and teaching, be sure to sign up for my free workshop, Must-Have AI Tech Tools for World Language Teachers. 

Together, let's embrace technology to create more efficient, effective, and engaging language learning experiences for our students.

Happy teaching! 🎉🌍

Rachel

This blog post may contain affiliate links or a sponsored post. All opinions are always 100% mine and I don't partner with any product or company that I don't use and love. ❤️

Boosting Language Proficiency With Choice Boards

🎓 As a World Language Teacher, vocabulary acquisition is a critical aspect of your students' language learning. One way to make vocabulary practice more engaging and effective is by using vocabulary choice boards. Here are five tips to help you make the most out of using vocabulary choice boards in your class:

1️⃣ Be intentional with the vocabulary choices on the choice board. Choose words that are relevant to your students' proficiency level and that they will find useful in their daily lives.

2️⃣ Encourage students to select words that they find challenging or particularly interesting. This will help them to take ownership of their learning and stay engaged in the activity.

3️⃣ Use a variety of activities on the choice board to appeal to different learning styles. For example, include activities that involve writing, speaking, listening, and drawing.

Check out this no-prep Digital Vocabulary Choice Board.

4️⃣ Allow students to work at their own pace and choose their own level of difficulty. This will help to build their confidence and promote a growth mindset.

5️⃣ Provide feedback and support to students as they work through the activities. This will help them to develop their language skills and feel supported in their learning journey.

By following these tips, you can make vocabulary choice boards a valuable tool in your World Language classroom. Good luck! 🍀

Want to learn more about how to use Digital Vocabulary Choice Boards?

Watch the video below.

FREE WORKSHOP

Discover How AI Tech Tools Can Help You Save 10 Hours + Weekly As a World Language Teacher.

Unleashing the Fun of Learning World Languages with Emoji Scavenger Hunt

Have you heard of the Emoji Scavenger Hunt game?

🕵 The Emoji Scavenger Hunt game is a fun and interactive way to engage your World Language students and help them practice their language skills. This online game, created by Google, challenges players to find and identify real-world objects using only their smartphone camera and a set of emojis as clues. 

It's a great way to get students moving, thinking creatively, and using their language skills in a real-world context.

To use Emoji Scavenger Hunt with your students, you'll need a set of devices (smartphones or tablets) for each student or group of students. You'll also need a way to project the game's website (https://emojiscavengerhunt.withgoogle.com/) onto a screen or board so that the whole class can participate.

To get started, visit the website and click on the "Play" button. The game will automatically generate a set of emojis as clues. Each emoji represents a different object the students will need to find in their environment. For example, the 🚪 emoji might represent a door, while the 🍎 emoji might represent an apple.

Once the game begins, students will have a set amount of time to find and photograph each object. As they find each object, they can show the class and practice describing it in the target language.

The game can be used for a variety of language skills, such as vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and oral fluency.

Another way to use this game is to assign the students in groups and have them compete against each other. The group that finds the most objects in the time limit wins.

You can watch a quick demo about how to use it below. 👇👇

Emoji Scavenger Hunt is a fun and engaging way to get students moving and using their language skills in a real-world context.

It's a great way to break up the monotony of traditional classroom activities and give students a chance to practice their skills in a fun and interactive way.

My students and I love this game, so give it a try with your World Language students and see how much they enjoy it!

Looking for more ideas? Check out the Tech for World Language Teachers Facebook group community. You can also check out our online professional development community.

Free Classroom Management Workshop