Spanish Lesson Plans: Teachers Day

Are you a Teacher who needs Spanish Lesson Plans? Today is your day! I will side track from learning Spanish and focus on lesson planning advice. Some of my advice might seem vague or general, but a lot of you will be surprised how often you over look these important pieces of advice.

Preparation! Preparation! Preparation! As you may already know, preparing for anything is paramount to your success. I must admit I am guilty of teaching classes unprepared and feeling a bit overwhelmed. So what do you do to prevent a disaster mi amigas/amigos?

1. Plan to have more material and exercises than time. Have you ever felt your class went by so smoothly and flawlessly only to realize there is still another 20 minutes to pass? Perhaps your forgot your spanish lesson plans at home on the table. If it happens, don't panic. just do something fun. Don't just lay out some material and have the students with their heads down droning over the paper. They learn better by being active. With this in mind, how about playing bingo in Spanish? Sharades? or Tic-Tac-Toe but before they can place a x or and o they must answer a question in spanish. If your unable to play any such games, perhaps you can start working in to the next lesson, later that night come up with something else to fill in the gap. I love field trips. Try a walk around the school (inside and outside) getting everyone to make notes of things they see. When you return to class, divide them in to two sides. Then have then write out (in Spanish of course) or act out what they saw, if correct, give that side a point. You get the idea! Even the most simplest of ideas can make the class time fly and your students will learn spanish with your new improved lesson plans.

2. Understand it. Don't be embarassed if you don't know all the answers. But do have a firm grasp of everything you teach. Children, young adults and adults will always have many questions to challenge your ability in Spanish. As with me, my mother tongue was English not Spanish. And more often than not, I get asked "how do I say..." or "can u read this to me and tell me what it means?" or the real wise cracks from the jokers who think insulting or swearing at me in class is cool. I may not know it all but I have a good idea of whats being said.


3. Rehearse If you need to. Rehearse your spanish lesson plans, practice pronouncing phrases, practice reading. Most teachers in their first year of teaching will rehearse until it makes them sick. RELAX. Get some rest and more importantly TAKE A BREAK and do something completely different for at least 30 minutes, then come back to it. Your mind should be a little more clear by then. You might feel more comfortable with being all rehearsed. But Don't be a drone either. No one likes to listen to a monotone or completely rehearsed language teacher.

5. Calming your nerves. The only thing I can suggest is. Doing some Spanish leg lunges or Spanish chicken walking. Perhaps I'll make a video for you sometime and give you a lesson. OR Just jump in to it and focus on helping people. Thats why your there and your apart of something so great that is passed on to generation after generation. SMILE! Teaching Spanish Lesson Plans, is really easy when you can just turn on a Spanish video or audio for the students to listen to. They learn in many ways so chill :)

4. You'll love rewards. Reward the students for their good work and behaviour. Ok, yes this is acceptable but the most important person to reward is... YOU! Class can be extremely stressful and draining, day after day. It's important to keep your mental health at its peak.

Ok I've given you a few tips to guide you with your Spanish lesson plans. I hope you incorporate these ideas in to your teachings. If you have any ideas or comments you'd like to share, Feel free to do so and lets make teaching Spanish better for everyone.


-Jw.