I developed this graphic to help my students conceptualize Por vs. Para. This graphic illustrates the transient nature of Por while showing Para as more of an end point. On page 2 I have written color coded sentences that illustrate the explanations on the graphic. The sentences are exactly alike except for the word Por or Para. There is also an explanation of what is being said in parentheses.

When I first introduce the concept of the Preterite vs. Imperfect in class, I set up a time with a colleague to come into my class while my back is turned and "steal" something. When I turn around and my students tell me what happened, I feign shock and tell them that we will need to write up an incident report and turn it in to the office. That's when I hand each of them one of these forms. :) You could adapt the "incident" to be anything you want. This form is general. Students begin to see how describing the scene is usually in the Imperfect and describing the specific actions is usually in the Preterite. I use DUWIT (Imperfect) and DISC (Preterite) but this is in Word Doc format so you can replace this with your own acronym. You can also add your school logo, if you would like, in order to make this more "official" looking. Also included is a poster that I put up that illustrates DISC vs. DUWIT.

This authentic resource guides your students through an interactive website from Spain that allows children to write a letter to the Wise Men for the Día de los Reyes Magos. The download contains a .pdf and .doc that can be edited. I first work with students to figure out keywords that they will encounter. I then have them look up the words they didn't get in small groups. After that, they must individually go to the site and successfully create a letter to one of the Wise Men and answer the questions on the Preguntas page which includes a Venn Diagram for comparing and contrasting Christmas in the US with Los Reyes in Spain. After they have written the letter, they are given the option of printing. Would be a great way to decorate your classroom.

Teach your students about how Spanish speaking countries celebrate Epiphany (Día de los Reyes Magos) with this authentic resource. Contains a powerpoint presentation of Nicaraguan Poet, Rubén Darío's poem "Los Reyes Magos," with background information on the author and holiday, and a listening guide (in .doc and .pdf format) with directions for students to write their own letter to the Reyes at the end. WARNING: Because of the holiday, the poem has Christian elements in it. I recommend that you read the poem before buying. Just Google "Rubén Darío Los Reyes Magos."

This has become a fun tradition in my Spanish classes. The day before Thanksgiving break we always play "Lotería" with Thanksgiving vocab. Included is the 24 space board (1 space "gratis") and a vocabulary list of 42 words. I am including a Word and PDF of the list in case you would like to modify it. I have also included a detailed instruction sheet with some tips that I have learned over the years to help the game go better.

To help my students understand when to use the Preterit or Imperfect in Spanish, I have them read and write fairy tales. In this zipped file you will find instructions, a template I give to students to help them brainstorm their Fairy Tale, and a 23 slide, example Powerpoint.

When you are presenting family vocabulary words, why not use a culturally authentic example? This Powerpoint uses the Spanish royal family tree to introduce words like padre, madre, hijo, etc. UPDATED to reflect the abdication of Juan Carlos.

PPT presentation with listening guide that gives background into Spain's famous Camino de Santiago de Compostela. St. James Way. This presentation is completely in Spanish yet very comprehensible. A great way to give your students background on this cultural phenomenon. Also comes with a listening guide to keep students engaged during the presentation.

Complete, ready-to-use, standards-based activity that has been classroom tested. Turn your room into a Latin American mercado. Everything you need to run a successful Mercado simulation in your classroom. Over 15 pages of detailed material. Bonus Introduction Powerpoint Presentation.

All of my Christmas themed activities and lessons. Included are 1. Villancicos - https://www.tes.com/us/teacher-lessons/spanish-christmas-carols-villancicos-11182564 2. Burrito Sabanero Cloze Activity - https://www.tes.com/us/teacher-lessons/burrito-sabanero-activity-11182573 3. Las Posadas ppt. - https://www.tes.com/us/teacher-lessons/las-posadas-11182555 These three items cost just under $10 individually. Buy them bundled for only $8

Teach your students this authentic Christmas carol (villancico) from Venezuela. Included is a cloze activity and explanation of regional vocabulary. Also included, is a brief grammar review sheet over the concepts of diminutives and correctly using accent marks using examples from the song.

This is a book of 35 Villancicos (Spanish Christmas Carols). There is a mix of villancicos native to the Spanish speaking world and ones that are translated from English. These are just the lyrics. Since it is a Word Doc, it would be very easy to create your own cloze or other listening activity to go with a Youtube video of the song. Included are the following: A La Huella, A La Huella - Traditional Argentine Carol A Media Noche Resonó - It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Al Mundo Paz, Nació Jesús - Joy to the World Allá en el Pesebre - Away in a Manger Ande la Marimorena - Traditional Andalusian Carol Arre Borriquito - Traditional Spanish Carol Blanca Navidad - White Christmas Burrito Sabanero - Traditional Venezuelan Carol Campana Sobre Campana - Traditional Spanish Carol Cascabel - Jingle Bells Dulce Jesús Mio - Traditional Ecuadorian Carol Escuchad el Son Triunfal - Hark the Herald Angels Sing Feliz Navidad - Modern American Carol Fum, Fum, Fum - Traditional Catalonian Carol Hoy en la Tierra - Angels We Have Heard on High La Noticia Sin Igual - The First Noël Los Peces en el Río - Traditional Spanish Carol Los Tres Reyes - We Three Kings Navidad, Navidad - Jingle Bells Noche de Paz - Silent Night Noche Sagrada - O Holy Night Oh, Aldehuela de Belén - Oh Little Town of Bethlehem ¡Oh Ven, Oh Ven, Emanuel! - Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel Para Pedir Posadas - Traditional Mexican Song ¿Qué Niño es Este? - What Child is This? Que Verdes Son - Oh Christmas Tree Rodolfo El Reno - Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer Santa Claus Llegó a la Ciudad - Santa Claus is Coming to Town Se Oye Un Son En Alta Esfera - Hark the Herald Angels Sing Te Deseo Muy Felices Fiestas - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Tutaina - Traditional Colombian Carol Ve, Dilo en Las Montañas - Go Tell it on the Mountains Venid Fieles Todos - Oh Come All Ye Faithful Ya Llegó la Navidad - Deck The Halls Ya Vienen Los Reyes Magos - Traditional Spanish Carol

Great presentation for Navidad. Multimedia PPT presentation explaining the tradition of Las Posadas in Mexico. Also discussed are the festivals of similar origin "Novena de Aguinaldos" and "La Parranda." The slides are all in Spanish but at a very comprehensible level. I use this as an introduction before doing a simulation of Las Posadas with my upper level students.