Tier 1 Instructional Tools & Strategies (Gr 6-12 World Language) by DUSD Curriculum & Instruction

DUSDCandI — 2025-07-25 00:01:17 UTC

Warm Ups

2025-07-25 00:01:17 UTC

I have used "Which one doesn't belong?" - I put up 4 of anything (can be used across content areas), and students have to decide which one doesn't belong. This helps to activate learning and builds on prior knowledge.

Math example: 3, 6, 8, and 12 - (multiple answers for this one)

World Languages Content Frameworks

2025-07-29 18:03:55 UTC

Click here to find DUSD the course outlines for every World Language course.

rodriguezrosa1 — 2025-08-07 16:58:34 UTC

Use of word flashcards (manipulatives) to create sentences
Speed dating to review vocabulary

"I Can" statement study guides

2025-08-07 16:58:57 UTC

I give students a study guide of practice questions that relate to each of our essential standards - When "I can" do it, they will check off that section's box and move on to the next. I go over the study guide with students 1-2 days before each exam and explain each answer :)

Thumbs UP / Down

2025-08-07 16:59:46 UTC

On one side of the classroom, I have "YES" and "NO". I have a slideshow of various topics/items that the students can determine if they like or dislike, and go to the side of the room they agree with. THEN, students have to come up with three reasons as to why they like/dislike something and have rational speakers give their group opinions. If there are massive groups have them split into smaller groups and each group shares 1 thought.

Vocab

2025-08-07 16:59:54 UTC

Playing Kahoot or Quizlet Live

Guided Notes

2025-08-07 17:00:53 UTC

Provide guided notes for each unit.

Exit Ticket

2025-08-07 17:01:10 UTC

When students are lined up to leave each day, I verbally ask each student for a vocabulary term, a verb, a question word, whatever the current unit it - and then they get dismissed after telling me the answer. I can tell pretty quickly if students know that vocabulary yet or are still learning.

Country Seat Groups

2025-08-07 17:01:24 UTC

I sit students in 6 groups of 5-6 students, each with an assigned Spanish-speaking country. Throughout each unit, students earn points for their table group if they have

finished their study guide before the exam
written all notes for that week
finished their homework on the due date
answered a question in group discussion

and other things that I can't give them a specific grade for. This helps them hold each other accountable and encourage each other to participate during class. It also helps me guide the class easier without calling out individual students

Warmup

2025-08-07 17:01:38 UTC

Quick warmup to access prior day's learning

Warm ups (Monday)

2025-08-07 17:01:49 UTC

Write and share what they did over the weekend.

Greeting at the door. Students choose from a variety of greetings: high five, fist bump, dance, etc. Some days they greet me some times they greet someone from out class.

2025-08-07 17:01:54 UTC

Audio transcripts

2025-08-07 17:02:38 UTC

Provide audio transcripts

Think-pair-share

2025-08-07 17:04:05 UTC

I like that students share with their table group first, so they feel more confident before sharing with the rest of the class.

Memes, videos, music, games

2025-08-07 17:04:12 UTC

I use a lot of memes with vocabulary in them (many of them student created over the years). I also use a lot of music videos and songs to help cement vocabulary. My classroom is also a ton of game play in which students are learning in an engaged, energetic, differentiated way.

Think Pair Share

2025-08-07 17:04:16 UTC

After explaining something, I ask students to explain to a partner

Citas rapidas

2025-08-07 17:04:18 UTC

Speed dating with basic questions for the unit; it provides students with an opportunity to practice speaking with others in the target language. A list of unit related questions is provided for students and they learn how to answer them during the unit. I usually start doing these once they are able to ask and answer 3-5 questions in the target language.

Think Pair Share

2025-08-07 17:04:30 UTC

Visual stimuli. Start the lesson with a visual that engages discussion or curiosity. (just like our presenters had in our session today :)

2025-08-07 17:04:35 UTC

Graphic Organizers

2025-08-07 17:04:45 UTC

Presentations

moonjisun1 — 2025-08-07 17:04:48 UTC

When students present their ideas on certain topics they choose, they are more eager to participate and present. They still need to use certain vocabulary or grammar points when they present, so they are still practicing the language as well.

Group/Pair Discussion

2025-08-07 17:05:01 UTC

Students have a lot of oppertunities to chat with their friends during the instruction.

YouTube instructors

2025-08-07 17:06:03 UTC

I use YouTube videos (alongside the VHL ones) to help students hear instruction from multiple source - they get tired of me repeating the verb conjugation endings, but not of Senor Jordan!

Warm-Ups

2025-08-07 17:06:05 UTC

I have students start class by greeting the class and reading the agenda for the day. We talk about what is happening that week or day in the school (birthdays, games, concerts, etc..) We share a fun fact from a Spanish-speaking country, and then we start class:

End of lesson reflection. Short survey on their learning goals and assessment.

2025-08-07 17:06:13 UTC

Presentations to class and small groups

2025-08-07 17:06:24 UTC

End of unit survey

2025-08-07 17:06:33 UTC

I have students complete a survey at the end of each unit asking:

What activity did you enjoy the most from this unit?
What activity helped you the most to learn the material?
What activity should the teacher move to the "trash" (wasn't enjoyable nor helpful)?

Daily Warm up Activity

2025-08-07 17:06:44 UTC

Start the class with a quick warm up activity to review previous lesson and check for understanding

Videos/Instructional Youtube & VHL

2025-08-07 17:07:07 UTC

3-2-1 Exit Ticket

2025-08-07 17:07:35 UTC

Students can leave the classroom with a reflection of what they have learned.

Flexible groups

2025-08-07 17:07:52 UTC

Students have a map with different names of classmates to group throughout the semester.

Student "conferences"

2025-08-07 17:07:52 UTC

At the end of each quarter, I meet with every student during class time, usually while others are watching a video or doing quiet work. This helps me go over things like social-emotional health, friend issues, and especially instructional questions and issues as well.

Group/Individual Projects

2025-08-07 17:08:12 UTC

Project-based learning. Using projects to assess students' learning.

Paired writing with sentence frames

2025-08-07 17:08:23 UTC

In Spanish 1, students were given a picture related to the unit, and worked together to write a brief paragraph in Spanish with some sentence frames. They also had guidelines like: use specific the transition words from the word bank or a specific number of vocabulary words, a specific verb tense, etc.

Listening Activity

2025-08-07 17:08:35 UTC

Play a quick video or a song and ask students to write at least 5 words they recognized

Grandma's Rule

2025-08-07 17:09:06 UTC

Grandma's Rule: if you eat your dinner, you will get dessert. I let students know that they may get to play a game (Kahoot, Quizlet Live, etc.) if they finish their classwork.