As world language teachers, we have been integrating SEL connections into our practice since the beginning of time.
For this reason, I want to remind you of several ideas for SEL connections that could take place these last weeks of Spanish class.
End of the Year Guided Reflection & Survey
The SEL connections for these activities are:
- Self-Awareness (recognizing strengths, self-confidence, self-efficacy)
- Self-Management ( goal setting, organizational skills, self-discipline, self-motivation)
For as long as I can remember, most teachers have been doing some type of end of the year activities to allow learners to reflect on how far they’ve come and to celebrate such accomplishments. This are SEL connections: Self- Awareness & Self-Management.
Also, class end of the year surveys are valuable feedback tools for teachers as these give learners an opportunity to voice their overall class experience. This survey is valuable towards the planning of the upcoming school year. This is a bonus as it is 100% both, teacher & student SEL.
End of the Year Class Award Ceremony (Everyone Receives Something Special)
The SEL connections with these activities are:
- Relationship Skills (relationships building & teamwork)
- Self-Awareness (recognizing strengths, self-confidence, self-efficacy)
- Social Awareness (appreciating diversity and respect for others)
I love to end the year by recognizing and celebrating how everyone:
- made the class unique
- brought something to offer to the learning environment
- was valuable (seen and heard) each and every day
How do I do this? With class awards! I don’t actually print out certificates because I know students don’t value these, but rather I make bookmarks that they can keep for much longer.
The ones you see on the picture aren’t personalized, but I personalize mine by adding my learners’ names and by tweaking the text as needed to fit the needs of each recipient.
I actually have a google form where students go vote and then the votes get tallied and I make sure everyone has an award. Of course I have two trusted students help me do the tallying and all of that, but in the end I approve of all of the recipients. These same students help me type everything up so it isn’t extra work for me.
Then, we select a day to do the awards and we make it as fun as possible and I select two students to be the MC (emcee) of the event and we celebrate everyone in class.
I even have a second category of funny awards, but I understand this may not be for everybody, so check with ALL your students first before doing funny awards and proceed accordingly.
Letter to a Future Student
The SEL connections with this activity are:
- Self-Awareness (recognizing strengths, self-confidence, self-efficacy)
- Self-Management (goal setting, organizational skills, self-discipline, self-motivation)
This activity invites your learners to reflect (in groups or individually) on their overall classroom experience, their responsible (or not so responsible) class decisions, as well as allow them to reminisce on the good (and sometimes stressful) times in class.
Whether in Spanish or in English, this activity provides a real scenario that can be used at the beginning of year in Spanish class next semester with your brand new students to increase student buy-in for your class. Nothing speaks louder than the words of their peers.
Finally, reading your students’ letters will also brighten your day and this will also be a great SEL opportunity for you.
Bring More Joy & Challenge their Interpretive Skills with Music!
The SEL connections with these activities are:
- Relationship Skills (relationships building & teamwork) – La Reunión Song
- Self-Awareness (recognizing strengths, self-confidence, self-efficacy) Millones Song
- Social Awareness (appreciating diversity and respect for others) Gracias Song
Got more weeks left of school than you would like to admit? If that is the case, songs are a great way to keep everyone’s energy high while continuing to build community.
Every song can be an opportunity to embed SEL connections. Each one of these song packets contain more than 10+ activities and each has at least one SEL connection activity. It always touches my heart to read my students responses to those specific activities.
Guide Learners' Output by Connecting Them with Music in the Target Language
The SEL connection with this activity is:
- Social Awareness (appreciating diversity and respect for others)
Every song has a unique story and is charged with many feelings behind it. Allowing learners to write Tweets to reflect and connect with a song is an SEL win-win. With the proper scaffolds, even lower levels can do this and communicate their connections to the artist, song, and culture!!!
Reflective, Independent, & Positive Outlook Activity
The SEL connections with this activity are:
- Self-Awareness (recognizing strengths, self-confidence, self-efficacy)
- Self-Management (goal setting, organizational skills, self-discipline, self-motivation)
If you need a little bit of downtime during this time to take care of some school matters and paper work these last weeks, I have created a self paced activity that will enrich your students’ language acquisition and social emotional skills.
I created a fun digital memory book assignment. It gives learners the opportunity to engage in something enjoyable and positive because we know this year has been challenging too.
It is a digital memory book and it is also available in a printable format.
Morning Meeting Slides or Exit Tickets
The SEL connections with this activity are:
- Self-Awareness (recognizing strengths, self-confidence, self-efficacy)
- Self-Management (goal setting, organizational skills, self-discipline, self-motivation)
Need the first 10 minutes of your classes planned of your these last weeks of school? Consider it done! Not only that, these prompts once again, get many wonderful conversations going!
This activity includes a digital & printable prompts. These can be used as both, an exit ticket and morning meeting prompts.
I personally avoid assigning projects at the end of the school year. Instead, it is more enjoyable to spend these last days of school strengthening the communities we have already built throughout the year.
In summary, here are some suggestions to do that:
- Make it as personal as possible this shows you cherish your learners.
- Integrate activities that bring you closer to your already established class community.
- Celebrate the good moments of the year
- Invite laughter
- Invite reflection & feedback!
- Continue embedding social emotional learning experiences.
- Whatever you decide to do, make it an enjoyable experience.
- Be present, I know with many other responsibilities it is challenging, but when teachers are not fully present, this invites misbehaviors.
- Avoid assigning projects because our learners are as exhausted as we are and every other teacher in your building is probably assigning projects.
- Do everything you can to close on a positive note with every student.
- Foster a positive outlook for the years to come
At the end of the day, it is the class community and classroom experience that will encourage your learners to continue with their acquisition journey.