Lesson Plans and Resources for Spanish Teachers

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Teaching Spanish 3 and 4 in High School

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head.  If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."  -Nelson Mandela

This lens showcases the best resources and lesson plans for high school Spanish 3 and 4 teachers.

We all need a reliable resource for new materials and lesson plans that we can get quickly - sometimes in the 15 minutes before class starts.  We want those materials to be fresh and interesting.  And we want them to be effective.  Find the best available sources of those materials and more right here.  Enjoy!

Bravisimo 

Spanish Lesson Plans for Teachers with More Creativity than Time

Introducing Bravisimo
How often do your foreign language students get really excited by what they are learning in your class? These lessons help them do just that.
Hispanic Art
Your students won't believe you when you tell them they will be able to recognize the work of 9 hispanic artists AND be able to identify 50 different paintings in just two weeks. But it's true! This 15-day unit will change your students' perception of art forever, and put them on the path to life-long learning.
Architecture of Spain
Spain's unique architectural heritage is a reflection of Spanish culture throughout history. Explore this fascinating subject with your students and give them the tools to cultivate a life-long appreciation of architecture.
Café Rico: Taller de poesía
Café Rico is a poetry writing workshop for Spanish 4, culminating with a "coffee house" in the classroom, complete with popcorn, finger-snapping, and jazz.
Encuentros
Are you using Encuentros Maravillosos in your classroom? Find lesson plans and materials for this popular text here.
Literature Minis
These mini-units based on stories and legends are great for intermediate students.
What in the World is Origami Verb Practice?
Origami Verb Practice is a drill for learning to write verb forms that involves a deceptively simple folding technique. For some reason, this exercise seems to fascinate students.

My Favorite Books 

The Story of Spain: The Dramatic History of Europe's Most Fascinating Country by Mark R. Williams

The Story of Spain: The Dramatic History of Europe's Most Fascinating Country by Mark R. Williams

A quick and interesting read at just 266 pages. Co more...1 point

The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain by Maria Rosa Menocal

The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain by Maria Rosa Menocal

An absorbing account of the extraordinary culture more...0 points

Luna, Luna: Creative Writing Ideas from Spanish & Latino Literature

Luna, Luna: Creative Writing Ideas from Spanish & Latino Literature

One of the best books I have seen for ideas and in more...0 points

Art and Architecture of Spain by Javier Arce

Art and Architecture of Spain by Javier Arce

A good summary of this topic.0 points

Art Exhibitions: Spanish and Latin American Art 

Great for field trips or online cultural study

Don't forget to check out the educational resources that many of the museums offer to accompany the exhibitions.
Spanish Painting Online Tour
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Background on Spanish painting, plus online tours of El Greco, Francisco de Goya, Spanish Painting of the Seventeeth Century, and Picasso's Blue Period. Printable pdf guides are available in Spanish and English.
Picasso and American Art
February 23 - May 28, 2007, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
June 16 - September 9, 2007, Walker Art Museum, Minneapolis.
Barcelona and Modernity: Gaudí to Dalí
March 7, 2007-June 3, 2007, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Explores the work of Barcelona's artists, architects, and designers from 1888 - 1939.
Dali and Film
October 14, 2007 - January 6, 2008, Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Frida Kahlo Centennial Exhibition
October 27, 2007 - January 20, 2008, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis.
Mid-February - Mid-May, 2008, Philadelphia Museum of Art.
June 14-September 16, 2008, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
El Greco to Velázquez: Art during the Reign of Philip III
April 20 - July 28, 2008, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Examines a fascinating period in Spanish painting (1598-1621), including the late works of El Greco and the early paintings of Velázquez.

Great Stuff for Spanish Teachers 

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Textbook Review: Encuentros Maravillosos 

by Abby Kanter; Publisher: Prentice Hall

Abby Kanter has done an excellent job with Encuentros Maravillosos. I have used this text for Spanish 4 for about ten years, now, and I love it.
  • It provides an opportunity for students at level 4 to read many authors and types of literature without being overwhelmed.
  • My students find the discussion questions interesting and thought-provoking.
  • Rather than using random impersonal examples for the grammar exercises, Kanter has incorporated either people and themes that are personal to students, or additional information about the authors and literary works.
  • The beauty of this text is its simplicity. It provides the opportunity for a little or a lot of teacher creativity, depending on time and inclination.
  • The text is written in workbook format, and I have my students buy the spiral-bound edition so they can write in it. Some of them even keep it as a reference for college.
Of all the textbooks I have ever used, this one is my favorite.

For implementation ideas and lesson plans, check out this website: www.Bravisimo.net

Textbook Review: Realidades 3 

Boyles, Met, Sayers, Wargin; Publisher: Pearson Prentice Hall

I used the prior edition of this book, Paso a Paso 3 for several years for Spanish 3, and I was extremely happy with it. I looked forward to this new edition, expecting a new and improved version. I have to say, I was disappointed.
  • First and foremost, little effort seems to have beens spent on editing. I have found many errors, conflicting information, and even completely incorrect information, which was disappointing from publisher of this stature.
  • In an attempt to be all things to all people, they have tried to incorporate every possible alternative, and it is sometimes difficult to wade through everything.
  • I was especially disappointed in the supplemental materials. The computer test bank allows flexibility in constructing tests, but the tests and quizzes that go with each chapter cannot be edited, which reduces teachers to the old cut-and-paste routine, which SHOULD be obsolete in this day and age. I find that there are many more supplemental materials, but they are no easier to use that those that were available ten years ago.
Still, even with all its faults, Realidades is one of the better texts out there. No longer the undisputed best, but certainly one of the good ones.
  • I like the themes for each chapter, which I find relevant to the students' interests.
  • The fact that they have incorporated many different options does give lots to choose from.
  • I especially like the on-line exercises because they require students to actually think, rather than just filling in any old answer.
  • I also like the fact that they introduce grammar concepts earlier than in the prior edition, giving more time to work with them during the year.
All in all, although it is not perfect, I might choose it again. I would, however, take a careful look at the other options before deciding.

Reader Feedback 

Let me know what you think!

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  • Reply
    nick16 nick16 Oct 31, 2009 @ 12:59 am
    I am very good in Spanish but before learning it i though that it's a tough language, but when i start learning it i found that it's a very interesting and easy to learn.
  • Reply
    JJNW JJNW Apr 2, 2008 @ 2:34 am
    Hi from a fellow Homeschool Group member! Nice site! I lensrolled you on my site http://www.squidoo.com/HomeschoolDream

    JJ

by LynnFernandez

I am a Spanish teacher with 18 years of experience that I am excited to share with you here. 

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