Here’s a quick list of easy things you can do over the summer to prepare for the next school year. Also, download the full Back-To-School Checklist to get organized prior to the beginning of the school year.
Things to do over the summer for an awesome back-to-school
Please note that some links included here take you to our Spanish Teacher Community members-only materials.
- Clean out your classroom if you have access over the summer:
- Purge/throw away anything you haven’t used in 3 years.
- Get rid of DVDs and VHS tapes, either look for them on YouTube or record them into digital files.
- Throw away anything you grabbed when other teachers were trying to throw it away.
- Go through drawers and filing cabinets to throw away anything unneeded.
- Decorate your classroom to feel warm and inviting:
- Print and laminate posters such as Spanish-speaking country posters, flags and classroom commands.
- Label anything that needs labeling such as filing cabinets, files, vocabulary words for items around the classroom, workstations, etc.
- Prepare bulletin boards: either get rid of old material in preparation for student-generated decor or decorate yourself.
- Research anything you would like to know more about:
- Teaching methods you would like to learn more about or try.
- Back-to-school icebreaker activities.
- Technology such as apps, software, websites to use while teaching.
- Catch up on your Spanish Teacher Success Academy sessions if you purchased the all-access pass or take a look at all the sessions available here.
- Reconnect with your enjoyment of Spanish:
- Read some novels, poetry, short stories or whatever you enjoy.
- Take a few Spanish classes on iTalki. Even if you are already fluent, it will be fun to ask someone a few questions about where they live, what their typical foods are, etc. Pick someone living in a place you have never visited.
- Visit places tied to your local Hispanic community: restaurants, supermarkets, museums, etc.; collect realia and make connections with the people.
- Travel to a Spanish speaking country.
- Create one (only one) lesson plan, video, material, resource, poster or whatever, that you have been meaning to create but haven’t yet found the time.
- If you have access to your student list for the coming year, identify any heritage speakers, confirm they are in the correct level class, and reach out to their school counselor to learn more about them and their background.
- Ask any friends who are traveling to Spanish speaking countries, to bring you back a souvenir, book, literature (newspaper, promotional brochure, etc.), food, realia, etc. to share with students.
- Find a mentor in your school to help you with teaching skills as well as school procedures (or offer to become a mentor) if your school doesn’t have a formal mentor program.
- Decide if you want to start/continue your school’s Spanish club.
- Review your curriculum map, make adjustments based on what you learned and experienced from the previous year.
- Collect, save, and ask for donations for school supplies (pre-order items that are harder to find).
- Research any conferences or professional development opportunities you might want to attend this coming school year so you can be prepared to talk with your department head or admin team as soon as back-to-school meetings start.
- Consider exploring ideas for field trips and/or community service projects for your classes.
Download the full Back-To-School Checklist to get organize 2-weeks prior to the beginning of the school year.
