I love teaching reflexive verbs...there is so much content and so many FUN things you can do! I try to ALWAYS show a few youtube videos with EVERY concept I teach. I always, FIRST, teach it myself, and then I have a few videos to "back me up" It's like my teaching squad...and it's engagement for the classroom. Here are my TOP 5 YouTube Videos for teaching Reflexive Verbs. Under each link, I'll try to give you some advice of "when" to show it to your kiddos & what each video is...if you don't want to read my paragraphs, just skip it, and check them out yourself :)
1. Reflex Your Verby - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KATBgZ5oyIg This fun little song video, which has A TON of views, is perfect to show immediately after you teach HOW TO CONJUGATE the reflexive verb. It's catchy, it's simple, and it's entertaining. Plus. it's to the tune of a song the kids will relate it. It's a must watch. 2. Reflexive Verbs Made Easy With a Song! (Spanish Lesson) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYFCwIfZ-s4 This video is of Senor Jordan (who is AWESOME). I will be gone on maternity leave halfway in the year & you better bet, if I don't get a Spanish speaking sub, Senor Jordan will be reinforcing EVERY lesson. He is so to the point, has a great teaching personality, and usually puts EVERYTHING to a song. If you are out, or need reinforcements to teach reflexive verbs, this video is perfect. I usually like to show it just because the song he uses is so catchy! It's to the tune of if "If You're Happy & You Know It" (and yes, my high schoolers like it...and they clap!) hehe! The next 3 videos (in my opinion) need to be shown later on when the kids understand the basics of conjugating a reflexive verb. It's not so much about "teaching" the basics of a reflexive verb but showing daily routine. After my kiddos KNOW how to conjugate reflexive verbs, my BIG OVERALL goal is that they can talk about their own daily routine. Conjugating is the skill, talking about their day is the overall goal! 3. Verbos Reflexivos con Frida Kahlo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmWsaZCmpw0 I am obsessed with Frida! So when I saw this video, I almost died of excitement. Of course this is a homemade mock video of Frida (she's dead but you can visit her home museum in Mexico) but this woman is so awesome & entertaining. I like that it puts the sub-titles! So not only does she say & do her daily routine but the students get to see the Spanish on the screen. I love teaching culture so I always give a 5 minute little lecture of WHO Frida was. The kids are amazed with Frida because she was such a different character! Two birds with one stone: culture & grammar! :) 4. Mi Rutina Diaria - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSblebrx6ng This video is of a little boy getting ready & it takes you through his daily routine. He is ADORABLE! Your girls will go "awwww" He goes through his daily routine and the sub-titles are on the screen (double cha-ching)! It does a great job of showing a completed "Mi Rutina Diaria" Like I said, make sure the kids are very familiar with the reflexive verbs (they know lavarse, ducharse, blah blah) and they know how to conjugate well before you show this video. 5. Mi Rutina Diaria Subtitles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IV2xTA5QHU This song is sooooo catchy! I like to show this when the kids are walking in to class before the bell rings. It's to a known song & the kids will be dancing (well, they will WANT to). Make sure, your kiddos know the basics: know reflexive verbs, how to conjugate, and they are "starting" to understand their overall goal of creating a daily routine. I would say this video definitely shows the most skill but after watching it, your kids will know what is expected of them. Plus, they can sing along! Happy YouTube Watching! Hope these videos help you out in the classroom! God Bless! ~Britt B.
(Warning: this is kind of a sappy post...let's blame pregnancy!!!) This post is nothing more than a big fat thank you! This summer has been the biggest blessing to sit back and get to connect with my readers. Many of you find me via Pinterest, get on the blog, see the Facebook Group Page (which you can like), and from there...we're forever teacher friends! I want you all to know that you have become a resource to me as much as I can be to you (Becca Lynn - you know exactly what I'm talking about: this girl has GREAT ideas!) I can't begin to tell you how awesome it has been to get a message, and get to meet (via messenger) someone reading on the other side. I started this blog...I think 4 years ago, WOW! I'm not a writer, blogger, or anything special with ENGLISH (hence, Spanish Teacher and all the many grammatical mistakes in my posts-oops), but it was simply an outlet to get my ideas from my brain to where someone could read them & maybe use them! I love people. From the time I was little, I have always been a "people person". Hence the note home on my report card in the third grade: "Brittany is smart but is too much of a social butterfly!" Well sorry Mrs. C but that's just who I am. ;) I love meeting new people from all different walks of life & I think the BEST way to learn is basic human interaction. It has shaped me into who I am today, it has given me compassion for other people, and it has developed a want to always share & make each other's day easier. I truly believe that's what life is all about: having each other's backs! So from the bottom of my teacher heart: Thank You! I pray each one of us (as we are preparing to go back here in the next few weeks-maybe some of you have a month left) that we have the best teaching year yet! I hope anything you read from this blog, even if it's the tiniest tidbit, can help you with sanity, inspiration, and passion....I promise I will keep dishing it out & letting my rambling continue if it's helping! LOL Don't feel shy to ever chat or connect! Feel free to always message me if you have a question about anything as far as ideas, curriculum, organization. I can't promise I have the answers but in this process I have made some pretty awesome connections! I love that we all have common ground & "get each other" (My husband often makes jokes that teachers can connect better than any other professionals out there---I believe this with all my heart!) I'm so excited to start my 2016-2017 school year blog entries & together, we're going to enlighten our kids on the many advantages of being bilingual, meeting new cultures, and being Global Thinking Worldly Individuals! God Bless Each One of You & Let's Rock This School Year!!! ~Britt
Tis the time of year for distractions...EOC's, AP Exams, Finals, Field Trips, College Visits, you name it...it's that time of year. Today, I want to share an activity that I use when class numbers are small & the kids have little to no motivation...best news: you get to sit...Yes, sit! :) And...NO PLANNING! Say what?!?! I call it: Circle Up! Give the kids a break from the pen & paper and bring in some fun, interaction, and a no pressure review. Have every kid grab a chair, move the desks if needed (especially if you plan to do this all day with your classes), and make a big circle. You get to bring your nice comfy rolling chair over to the circle too (if you have one - mine is a $200 Staples Office Chair but purchased for $30 at yard sale). Sorry, I have a problem bragging about my bargains! Anyways... Once everyone is in the circle if you have a large or rowdy class, you want to set some expectations right there. Probably not a bad idea to just do it anyways no matter what type of class you have! I tell my kiddos: First, do not be chatting with your friend beside you. I tell my kids everyone today will get 15 points participation grade IF you are doing the activities and paying attention. If you are talking or off task, that will come off your personal grade. Next, tell them everyone is expected to try. None of that "Do we have to play?!" Yep, you do and if you don't, it's your participation grade. Once the kids get playing, they will bug you all the time to "Circle Up" Finally, no screaming the answers UNLESS the teacher says so. So what are you doing in this circle? Well, you can do all kinds of things & here are some ideas: 1. Verb Conjugation Circles - Teacher picks a verb, and the students must go around in the circle and conjugate it. Want to make it harder? Tell them to make a sentence out of it. Example) 1st student - Yo como pollo, next: tu comes mucho, next: ella come en la clase, next: nosotros comemos pizza, etc. You can even set a timer and see if the class can beat the timer around the room but warning: go on and write down some planned infinitives on a note card or they'll get mad at you for taking up thinking time (yes, I speak from experience). 2. Keep the conversation going - This is a fun one. One student starts the conversation and the next must reply and keep it going, then the next, and next. So yes, it can be a conversation intended for 2 people but 10 people reply to it, and keep it going. Imagine below in a circle: Example) Hola Bob - Buenas tardes Johnny - Como estas hoy? - Estoy muy bien, y tu - Estoy mal - por que - tengo examen en mi clase - lo siento - si es muy dificil. (Sorry no accents - that drives me a little crazy) but anyways this is a really fun one and puts a lot of pressure (but fun pressure) to keep it going. I told the kids if they could keep it going around the whole class one day, I would bring them candy the next day. Yes, they did it and I bought Jolly Ranchers for everyone! 3. Pasa el sombrero - Get a cheap straw sombrero (Dollar Tree) or ball, or any item really and play some music. I usually use a dock (I found a cheap one at a yard sale for $2 - BARGAIN) and I use my phone since I don't want to get up and keep running to my computer. Once the music stops, whoever is holding the hat, ball, whatever...must answer a review question (feel free to prepare them beforehand, use your review already made, or pull them from the top of your head) or have them answer a Spanish question. Example) Cuantos anos (oops) tienes? - I mean years, years, years...not the other word LOL Anyways, they must answer or they get another question. 4. Rojo VS. Azul - Make it competitive and assign each kid a color. Go in order & make them say it - rojo, azul, rojo, azul, rojo, azul, etc. You can now make it a competition whether it's answering a questions, keeping the conversation going, etc. 5. Listening Challenge - Speak in Spanish telling a mini story then attach a question to the story & the kids must answer the question that went along with your story. I usually like to do about 5 questions for each little story. This is a good idea to go on and prepare the listening stories beforehand or you'll be scratching your head in that moment. If you're playing team games if the person does not know the answer, they can use a "Ask a friend" lifeline...this allows to get the "other" side of the circle involved. 6. Numbers Challenge - Need a number practice day? Tell the kids the range of numbers 1- 100 and counting by 10's or 1 - 30 counting by 1's, the 100's...etc. Example) uno - dos - tres, cuatro - cinco, etc. Whoever forgets their number is out - I make the kids sit on the back of their chairs or on the floor in front of their chair when they are out. You should have two kids left battling it out for the ultimate victory. 7. Infinitive Blast - Did your kiddos learn lots of verbs this year? Put them to the test with Infinitive Blast. Circle up, first kid says an infinitive "Comer" and the next kid must do a conjugation of the infinitive "ellos comen" then the third kid would say another infinitive "bailar" and the fourth kid would say a conjugation of bailar "yo bailo" and so one. The possibilities are endless with Circle Up & like I said...you get to sit, enjoy your kiddos, and NO planning. Have an idea of which activities you would like to do and depending on the personalities of your class...it can get REALLY fun! Either way, it makes for an easy day & lots of learning and also it's great to show YOU what your kids know!!! :) Have a great rest of the year readers! God Bless Each of You, Britt B. SIDE NOTE: If you made it all the way down here, congratulations because that was a huge post but I didn't want to seem lazy saying "Hey, you get to sit all day" Sitting for me is amazing because well, I will be welcoming baby #2 in December!!! Sorry, not being lazy, just being comfortable! But some days...it's nice to be able to rest our feet :)
Hey Guys, I created an "End of Day" Checklist to help me get out of the building, but also feel confident I have done what I need to do before heading out. I don't know about you all but with end of the year, at the end of the day...I have almost been numb in the brain, and really can't see what is SUPER important that must be done. Also, confession: I feel like some things I skip & say "I'll get it tomorrow." But yet hate myself walking into my classroom the next day and having to pick up from yesterday.
I wrote a generic one and make a few copies and realized...I am wasting paper. So I made a "cuter" version and just put it on TPT. You can put this in a clear pocket sheet and use a dry erase marker daily. If you would like a copy, feel free to visit: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/End-of-Day-Checklist-2541082 It's free!!! Hang in There, guys....we've almost knocked it out! Much Love, BB
So first of all I wasn't kidnapped, I didn't get fired, and I didn't give up...I simply have been...swamped :( We go on Spring Break in 41 hours and 20 minutes or 8 classes (if you don't count plan periods)...but I mean, who's counting?! I absolutely love my job but Lord knows I need a little break. So one of the reasons I have stepped away from my blog is I am doing what I do EVERY year...I am already starting to see what I need to change for next year, what needs to be modified, kept, etc. I absolutely love my job but when it comes to my advanced program...if the class makes or not, is sort of unpredictable. It is not out of the ordinary to one year have 25 Spanish 3 students and then the next year have 9 who are independent studies placed in other classes. I have been ALL ABOUT personalized customization for each class...trying to meet them where they are and go from there but as the years go by...I am exhausted & I feel like I am constantly recreating and recreating and recreating the wheel. Sometimes, I forget which activities I have made from the year before (and then I get really mad when I figure out a month later that I forgot to do an awesome activity that I put my blood, sweat, and tears into the year before). I have decided that I am ready for some consistency and even though creating new sources are great to add differentiation, creative style, and flair...sometimes I feel like I am doing more harm by being "too personalized" because I forget other aspects that are important. The problem is I have WAY.TOO.MUCH! I want to apologize that I was MIA...working on each curriculum and what MUST be present, which activities, how to assess, and making everything readable (maybe for a future maternity) is extremely time-consuming but I am hoping with all this chaos and MIAness, I will be able to share my curriculum & what I have marked as important and MUST TEACH! For now, take care, God Bless, and I shall return! Gracias as always, BB
Hello All Hardworking Fellow Teachers, It's Friday and I don't know about you all but shew...that's all I can say! We just rounded up another trimester at my school, and we'll start a new one on Monday! I know with a new trimester brings new lovelies, and new relationships. One thing I LOVE to do is a few ice breaker games but here's my dilemma......I need them IN Spanish! Haha, duh! While I love doing ice breaker games since we are on the trimester, I need them to be in Spanish! I love playing "team" games and I can tell my kiddos love it. I created a fun little game called "Find your Family - Identity Game" Best news: This can be played in ANY language and yes, ANY subject! I make my kids use ALL Spanish but you could play this in a 7th grade English class, a french class, or even like a business class. The goal the kids must get up and ask "What's your name" and "My name is" using their NEW identities. By asking each other their names, the will find their "families" Check out my 3 minute video & if you would like to simply buy my pre-made cards with the game directions...the tpt link is below! God Bless, Brittany B. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Find-Your-Family-Identity-Game-Foreign-Language-Game-2414058
