The Cardinal

Beth Hanlon, OFLA Executive Recorder and Editor of The Cardinal
Spanish Teacher, Oberlin High School

As teachers, we all know that certain times of the school year can be harder than others.  Luckily, there are ways to spice things up and redirect students’ energy!  Here are some of the big activities I use in my classes during the year.   

As the “Dark, Evil Vortex of Late September, October, and November” (or DEVOLSON) sets in, it’s time for Señor Ashby’s Locotubre!  Locotubre began during the 2020-2021 school year as a Locura de Marzo spinoff in order to give teachers and students a little “pick me up” during pandemic teaching.  The popularity of this music competition has kept it around since!  Locotubre always has a theme.  For example, the 2023 Locotubre used different genres of Hispanic music.  This was a great way to bring culture into the classroom via a friendly competition using Hispanic music!

Nicola Work, OFLA Editor for Electronic Media 
Associate Professor of French, University of Dayton

A few years ago, I participated in an Escape Room activity during a language teaching conference. I had never played an escape room and had no idea what was happening during the activity, but I was intrigued. Participating in this activity could be a fun way to get students out of their seats and become actively involved in the learning process. They would practice the target language while refining their problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership skills. I was hooked!

What is an Escape Room? An escape room is a group activity where a team of players is locked in a room and must solve a series of mental and physical challenges to discover how to escape from the room. Since we cannot lock students into our classroom, an escape game is a good alternative for teachers. An escape game is a group activity where a team of students tries to break into a locked box by solving a series of mental puzzles and physical challenges.  If all locks are unlocked and the box opens, the students win. 

Re-establishing Your Routines and Holding Onto Community

Alexis Blum, OFLA Professional Development Chair 
Spanish Teacher, Wapakoneta High School

The second semester is in full swing now in February. I find this time of year to be a bit challenging regarding classroom routines and management. Part of that is my desire to be more relaxed. I know my students, and they know me. They know what to expect from me, and we have developed a culture of trust. Sprinkle in some school delays and a possible snow day or two, and suddenly, it seems we feel a bit off course in the class. 

To combat this feeling of irregularity, I identify parts of my lesson plan that are non-negotiable, no matter the day. Reviewing my lesson plans not only helps me keep on track but also communicates my level of expectations to the students. My students know that every day we meet at the door, then we have a discussion question, and then we do a warm up activity. These activities are my non-negotiables. By following this order every single day, my students know what to expect from me, even on the days (or weeks) where the day seems out of sorts.