Circle time reading is a staple in many elementary classrooms—but guess what? It totally deserves a spot in your Spanish class, no matter what grade you teach! Whether you’re in a classroom full of kindergartners or guiding middle or high schoolers reading together in a circle can be a game-changer for student engagement, classroom community, and language acquisition.
Before you gather your students in a cozy circle, take a minute to pick a story that fits their proficiency leveland where they are developmentally. You want something they can follow, enjoy, and connect with—not something that leaves them confused and overwhelm their emotional engagement, potentially raising their affective filter. A well-chosen story keeps them hooked and builds their Spanish.
Let’s break down why this simple (but powerful!) practice works so well in the world language classroom—and how you can make it work for you.
1. It Gives Students Comprehensible Input in a Natural Way
Reading aloud in Spanish gives your students the chance to hear the language in context—and when you pair it with facial expressions, gestures, and pictures, you’re giving them comprehensible input .This is how students really acquire language—by hearing it in ways that make sense to them. Hint: Explore Dr. Stephen Krashen.
2. It Builds Community and Feels Safe
There’s just something about sitting in a circle that makes students feel seen and included. There’s no “front of the class” during circle time—everyone is part of the story. And when students feel safe, they’re way more likely to take risks, and participate.
3. It Keeps Everyone Engaged
Circle time isn’t just for little kids. Middle schoolers and even high schoolers can get into it—especially when the story is fun and interactive. Think silly voices, props, or even a puppet or two. Students who might tune out during other parts of class often light up during story time.
4. It Naturally Repeats Key Vocabulary
Stories are full of repetition—and repetition is exactly what language learners need. When students hear high-frequency words and structures over and over in context, they start to stick. You’re sneaking in vocabulary practice without making it feel like drill-and-kill.
5. It Gets Them Speaking Without the Pressure
Circle time sets the stage for low-pressure speaking opportunities that feel natural and fun. After reading, students can retell the story or act it out. You can also use circling—a technique where you ask simple, repetitive questions based on the story to give every student a chance to respond in Spanish. For example, if the story says “El perro corre,” you might ask: “¿El perro corre?” (yes/no), “¿Corre el gato o el perro?” (either/or), or “¿Quién corre?” (open-ended). These quick questions give students lots of chances to hear and use the target language, without putting them on the spot. Because it’s all tied to a story they understand, it feels more like play than performance—and it really works!
Ready to Try Circle Time in Spanish Class?
You don’t need anything fancy to get started—just a good story, your students in a circle, and a willingness to have a little fun. Whether you’re using picture books, printable mini-books, or co-created stories, circle time can become one of the most joyful and effective parts of your teaching routine. I have a wide variety of stories available in my TPT store!
Teaching in the target language might feel challenging at first, but with practice, both you and your students will get used to it, and it will soon feel more natura. Below are some friendly, practical tips to help you boost immersion and keep your elementary world language classroom buzzing in the target language.
1. Use Visuals That Support Language Acquisition
Pictures and Props: A quick glance at a bright photo or a real-life object goes a long way toward clarifying meaning—no translation needed!
Gestures and Body Language: Add some flair to your teaching by using expressive gestures. Point, act things out, and let your body do some of the explaining. A lot of TPR (Total Physical Response)!
2. Build Familiar Routines
Repetitive Phrases: Choose a few go-to phrases—like “Dime” or “Hoy vamos a”—and use them consistently. Hearing the same instructions daily helps students feel comfortable and confident.
Daily Rituals: Whether it’s a greeting, a quick calendar check, or a weather report, these predictable moments give learners a familiar linguistic anchor.
3. Keep Your Language Simple
Step-by-Step Instructions: Break longer directions into bite-sized chunks. Instead of saying, ‘You will hear a story, write about it, and complete the storyboard, try:
Listen to the story.
Write about it.
Complete the storyboard.
High-Frequency Words: Focus on words your students will hear again and again. The more they hear “gracias,” “por favor,” or “¿Cómo estás?” the more natural those words feel.
4. Offer Comprehensible Input
Use Context: Your tone, facial expressions, and the situation itself are powerful clues. If you’re teaching “hot” and “cold,” hold a warm mug in one hand and an ice cube in the other!
Repeat and Reinforce: “For example, hearing the phrase “yo estoy” in your greeting, during your story, and in a song helps reinforce that word in young minds.
5. Try Circling Techniques
Varied Questions: Switch between yes/no (“¿Te gusta el azul?”), either/or (“¿Azul o rojo?”), and open-ended prompts (“¿Cuál es tu color favorito”). This keeps students thinking and engaged.
Reinforce Key Words: Every time you circle, you’re revisiting vocabulary—perfect for helping words stick.
6. Create Chances to Speak
Sentence Starters: Provide frames like “Me gusta…” or “Yo tengo…” as helpful kickoff.
Partner and Group Work: Small-group chats let students practice without the spotlight of the whole class—it’s less scary and more fun! Give them tools for it, such as chat mats or visuals in the classroom.
7. Be a Language Role Model
Think Out Loud: Share your thought process in the target language—“Hmm, ¿cómo digo ‘I need help’? ¡Ah, ‘Necesito ayuda’!” or “Estoy enciendo la computadora, pero tengo un problema. La computadora no enciende.”
Show Your Passion: When you express enthusiasm for the language, your students will feel that energy and get excited too.
8. Celebrate every attempt, big or small
Positive Reinforcement: A simple “¡Excelente!” or a word of encouragement for a great attempt goes a long way. Celebrate risk-taking, not just perfection.
By using these strategies in your daily lessons, you’ll create a fun, engaging space where students feel comfortable and excited to hear and use the target language. Whether you’re an experienced teacher or just beginning, these tips will help turn your classroom into a place for language acquisition.
If you’re curious about using Comprehensible Input (CI) in your classroom but don’t know where to start, you’re not alone. The good news? You don’t need to change everything at once. In fact, some of the best ways to begin are super simple and can be added into your routine right away.
Here are two of my favorite ways to ease into CI: ClipChat and Calendar Talk.
1. ClipChat
ClipChat is one of the easiest and most fun ways to get started with CI. You take a short video—just a minute or two—and use it to build a conversation in the target language. The best clips are wordless or have minimal dialogue, so your students can really focus on the story and the language you’re using to talk about it.
Here’s how it works:
Pick a short, engaging clip. Think funny commercials, Pixar shorts, or animated videos.
Watch the video in small chunks. Pause often to describe what’s happening using simple, high-frequency words.
Ask questions like “¿Quién es?” “¿Qué hace?” “¿Está triste o feliz?” to keep students engaged.
Keep it light and repeat key phrases often—repetition is your friend!
Watch it once all the way through with your class!
Students aren’t memorizing vocab lists—they’re understanding real language in context. And because the video gives them visual support, they can follow along even if they’re just starting out. Want to start with a Clip Chat? Visit this blog post with some ideas. Adriana Ramírez also has some demos on her YouTube channel.
2. Calendar Talk: A Meaningful Daily Routine
Calendar Talk is another easy way to weave CI into your class without needing to prep something new every day. It’s a simple, structured conversation that builds community and gives your students regular exposure to the language.
What it can include:
The date and day of the week: “¿Qué día es hoy?” “¿Qué mes es?”
The weather and how students feel: “¿Hace sol o hace frío?” “¿Cómo te sientes hoy?”
Upcoming holidays and school events: “¿Hay una celebración esta semana?” “¿Tenemos una asamblea o excursión?” “¿Es un día especial?”
Birthdays or anything fun happening in your students’ lives.
You can do this with a paper calendar, a pocket chart, or even slides. The key is to keep it interactive and repeat those phrases daily. Over time, your students will start using them too—without even realizing they’re doing it! Adriana Ramírez also has some demos on her YouTube channel.
Why it works: It’s low-prep, easy to personalize, and super consistent. Even just 5 minutes a day adds up to a lot of meaningful input over the course of the year.
Keep it Simple
If you’re just getting started with CI, these two strategies are a great way to dip your toes in without feeling overwhelmed. Start with one, give it a few weeks, and go from there. You don’t need to do everything all at once. Just focus on giving your students language they can understand, enjoy, and use.
Earth Day is a fantastic opportunity to bring awareness and language learning together in your elementary Spanish classroom. It’s a chance to teach your students about the planet while expanding their vocabulary and comprehension skills in Spanish. Here are some resources and ideas to make Earth Day engaging and educational!
Engaging Resources for Earth Day
Spanish Earth Day Story:This engaging story, told through a song, is a great way to introduce the life cycle of a plant in Spanish! Perfect for reinforcing science concepts or as a standalone activity, it helps students learn about plant growth and its different parts in a fun and interactive way.
Authentic Earth Day Song: This authentic Earth Day song is a fun Salsa tune that will make your students want to dance while learning about an important topic: climate change in Spanish. This resource is based on a campaign aired on a regional TV channel in Colombia a few years ago. The main character is a glass frog who is complaining and wondering what’s happening on its planet because nothing feels or seems right.
Global Warming Resources: This is lesson to empower novice-level students to learn about climate change in the target language. Students will be given the opportunity to connect with this topic in the target language through the support of visuals and cognates.
Plant Life Cycle Story:This engaging story, told through a song, is a great way to introduce the life cycle of a plant in Spanish! Perfect for reinforcing science concepts or as a standalone activity, it helps students learn about plant growth and its different parts in a fun and interactive way.
Take a Spanish Nature Walk
If possible, get your students outdoors for a fun and educational activity. Simple activities like talking about colors, animals, counting objects in nature or just reading a story outdoors. Talk to your students as they walk and point out things they see or may not have noticed before. It is an opportunity that really helps to clear your mind and relax. Read more here!
Teach a Song: Andean Music and Pachamama
This song, deeply rooted in Andean musical traditions, expresses a profound reverence for Pachamama (Mother Earth). The group, Takiwaska—though I’m not sure if they’re still active—is from Colombia, and their music has a way of resonating deep within the soul. The song itself is quite long, but I’m focusing on just one part.
Simplify and Focus: If the song is too long, break it into digestible sections. For example, use the following excerpt from your chosen lyrics:
Madre hermosa, Pachamama (Beautiful mother, Mother Earth) Canto a sus selvas (I sing to its forests) Y al azul de sus montañas (And the blue mountains) Canto al amor (I sing to the love) Y canto al aire que respiro (And I sing to the air I breathe) Canto al amor (I sing to the love) y al espíritu del río (And the spirit of the river)
How to Teach It:
Cultural Background Information: Introduce students to the meaning of Pachamama and where this concept is embraced. Use a map to locate the South American countries where Pachamama is celebrated.
Introduce Vocabulary: Pre-teach key words like tierra (Earth), selvas (forests), montañas (mountains), and río (river) using visuals or gestures.
Clap the Rhythm: Have students clap or stomp to the beat while repeating each line.
Add Movement and Use TPR: Assign motions for each phrase (e.g., sway arms for “río,” mimic breathing for “aire”).
Madre hermosa, Pachamama: Students can mimic embracing or hugging to represent love for Mother Earth.
Canto a sus selvas: Students can mimic tree movements or sway their arms like branches.
Y al azul de sus montañas: Students can stretch their arms upwards to represent mountains.
Canto al amor: Students can make heart shapes with their hands.
Y canto al aire que respiro: Students can mimic breathing deeply.
Y al espíritu del río: Students can mimic flowing water with their arms.
Sing Together: Gradually layer verses, emphasizing pronunciation and emotional expression.
Discuss Meaning: Ask simple questions like “¿Por qué cantamos a la Tierra?” (Why do we sing to the Earth?) to connect lyrics to Earth Day values.
Teaching Spanish in the elementary classroom can be an exciting and rewarding experience, especially when using Comprehensible Input (CI) strategies. CI focuses on delivering language in ways that are understandable, engaging, and meaningful for students. This post includes 5 effective ways to bring CI into your Spanish lessons using tools like Picture Talk, PQA, Calendar Talk, Movie Talk, and Write and Discuss. These strategies are not only engaging but also great for providing input!
Picture Talk is one of the best ways to engage students and get them speaking in Spanish. It involves showing images (or a series of images) and asking students simple questions about what they see. This helps students connect to the language through visuals, which makes learning easier and more fun. All you need is a picture that you know will be engaging for your students. Using visual prompts, like pictures of familiar places or objects, not only helps with vocabulary but also encourages full sentence responses. Picture Talk allows students to practice speaking while making learning feel natural and relatable.
Personalized Questions and Answers (PQA) is a powerful CI tool that involves asking students questions about their own lives. This strategy helps students connect personally with the language, making it more relevant and memorable.PQA promotes meaningful communication and boosts motivation. The more personal the questions, the more engaged students will be in the lesson!
Calendar Talk is a great way to start each day by reinforcing basic language skills. Discussing the day, weather, and other daily topics in Spanish helps build a routine while integrating essential vocabulary. You can also include birthdays, school events and special holidays.
Movie Talk is a fun and engaging way to bring Spanish to life through short clips from movies or cartoons. You don’t need to show full-length films to make an impact; just a few minutes of a clip can offer rich language input. By describing scenes and asking questions, you keep students actively engaged and help them infer meaning from context. Movie Talk not only teaches language but also is a good too to expose students to culture and storytelling in Spanish.
Write and Discuss” is a structured output activity in Comprehensible Input (CI) teaching that helps students consolidate what they’ve learned through a collaborative writing process. It typically follows a discussion, story, or other input-rich activity on.
If you’ve never used these strategies before, I suggest choosing one to try first. Once you feel comfortable with it, add another. It takes time to feel fully confident, and it will never be perfect—so go ahead and give it a try!
