¡Hola profes! I hope you’ve all been having a fantastic summer so far, and I hope you still have many weeks left before you have to return to school!
If you’re anything like me, no matter how hard you try, you might not be able to keep school off the brain. Around this time of the summer, I usually start thinking about what I can do to get my classroom ready before students arrive. While I can’t physically get into my classroom yet, there are definitely a few tasks I can work on from home, and one of my favorite areas to prep at home is my classroom decor!
Creating an engaging and educational environment in the classroom can significantly enhance student learning and motivation. Thoughtful decor not only makes the classroom more inviting, but also serves as a powerful teaching tool. Here are some creative classroom decor ideas you might be able to use in your classroom this year:
#1: Classroom Labels
Labeling classroom objects in Spanish helps students build their vocabulary naturally. I like to use vibrant, easy-to-read labels for items like “la puerta,” “la ventana,” el reloj,” and “el escritorio.” This constant exposure reinforces word recognition and retention.
Don’t have time to make your own labels? I’ve got you covered! Grab these ready-to-print classroom labels and get back to enjoying your summer!
#2: Useful Classroom Expressions Posters
If you’re looking for ways to help keep your students speaking in Spanish as much as possible during class, useful classroom expressions posters can help you achieve that goal! Posters with phrases like “¿Puedo ir al baño?”, “¿Cómo se dice…?”,, and “No comprendo” can be life-savers for students when they are striving to remain in the target language. Position these posters around the room where they are visible to all students, making it easier for students to participate and communicate in Spanish.
If you’re interested in some classroom expressions posters, I’ve got a set for you!
#3: Classroom Commands Posters
Classroom commands posters are another great tool to help you and your students use Spanish in class as much as possible! Not only do these posters reinforce language learning, they can also help you manage your classroom! Commands like “Escuchen,” “Miren,” “Levántense,” and “Siéntense” with corresponding visuals can be displayed around the room for your students to refer to as you use them during class. Having these posters can help reinforce the meanings of your classroom commands with students, which will help make your lessons run as smoothly as possible!
Check out this set of classroom commands posters. You can print them as they are or customize the text as you see fit!
#4: Rejoinders
Rejoinders are short, conversational phrases that students can use to react during conversations. Create a board with rejoinders such as “¡Qué bien!”, “¡No puede ser!”, “¡Qué lástima!”, and “¡Claro que sí!” Displaying these phrases encourages students to use them in their interactions, helping them sound more natural and engaged in conversations.
Not sure what list of rejoinders to include in your list? Check out this set!
#5: Word Walls
For additional visual aids to reinforce vocabulary during your units, you can put up word walls! Make cards or small posters with your unit vocabulary, and include corresponding images. For example, if you’re teaching a food unit, you might include cards for “la manzana,” “el pan,” and “la leche.” For word walls to be most effective, I recommend updating them as needed to correspond to your current unit. Word walls not only enrich vocabulary, but also help students make connections between words and themes.
Here are a few word walls you may find useful in your classroom:
#6: Spanish Alphabet/Grammar Posters
Alphabet posters can be a great way to decorate your classroom while also providing vocabulary input to your students! Make a poster for each letter of the Spanish alphabet, and include a word that starts with that letter and a corresponding image. These posters can stay up in your classroom all year for continual reinforcement!
You can also include posters detailing essential grammatical points that you cover in your courses, such as verb conjugations, gender rules, and sentence structure. These visuals serve as quick references for students.
Interested in alphabet or grammar posters? Here are some that you might find useful:
#7: Spanish Memes
Incorporating humor into the classroom with memes can be a fun way to engage students. Create or find memes in Spanish that are relevant to the topics you teach. Display them on a bulletin board or use them as part of your lessons. Memes can make the content more relatable and memorable for students!
#8: Cultural Corner
Dedicate a section of your classroom to Spanish-speaking cultures. Display maps, flags, and cultural artifacts from various Spanish-speaking countries. Include photos, fun facts, and if you have them, student projects related to different cultures. This not only enhances cultural awareness, but also piques students’ interest in the language.
#9: Inspirational Quotes
Decorate the walls of your classroom with posters of inspirational quotes in Spanish. Choose quotes from famous Spanish-speaking authors, leaders, or historical figures. These can serve as daily motivation and also introduce students to significant cultural figures!
#10: Student Work Display
Create a space to showcase student work. Displaying exemplary student work can boost students’ confidence and motivate them to put in their best effort. Rotate the displays regularly to feature as many students as possible. To change student work, I like to mount clothespins onto the bulletin board, and then I simply place new student work into the clothespin!
#11: Interactive Bulletin Boards
Interactive bulletin boards can be a dynamic addition to the classroom! Create boards that encourage student participation, such as a question of the week, a vocabulary match-up, or a cultural trivia board. These activities can spark curiosity and foster a love for learning.
Effectively decorating your classroom goes beyond aesthetics – it can be a vital component of the learning process. By incorporating these ideas, you can create an environment that is not only visually appealing but also rich in educational value! If you have any questions about these activities, feel free to leave me a comment below or send me an email. Have a wonderful week, profes!
Señora Q 