I haven’t been blogging much this year because I’m teaching an extra class, but I wanted to take a moment to wish you all a happy Teacher Appreciation Week. Our work can sometimes feel underappreciated, but I want to remind you that what you do matters. You are making a difference, and you are inspiring future generations every single day.
Summer is around the corner, and we are almost there. I know many of us are counting down the days. This summer, I plan to take some time to recharge, read books, and slow down a little. One of my goals for 2026 is to read 26 books, so I’m looking forward to finally having more time to read for fun again. I’ll also be presenting at CI Reboot Online this summer, which I’m really excited about. Get $20 off with the code Dahiana2026.
And if your Teacher Appreciation Week gift ends up being paper clips and a candy bar… I’ve got you. Here are two simple ideas to help bring some energy to the last month of school.
THIS OR THAT
This activity works so well because it’s low-risk, fast-paced, personal, and students instantly want to defend their choices. Some prompts are funny, silly, or a little conversational, which makes it great for starting class discussions.
Here is a short Spanish video where I share my opinion on flip-flops vs. Crocs. I personally very much dislike Crocs. My students are trying to convince me to buy a pair because they are, apparently, very comfortable.
To add movement, turn it into a four-corners activity.
Example:
Boba tea is better than matcha.
Students move to a corner and explain their opinion:
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
Another variation is One Gotta Go or You Can Only Keep One, which are also great forced-choice engagement games. Students get into small groups of three or four, and they all have to agree on which items to eliminate or keep.
Elimina uno- Spanish version Il faut éliminer un- French version
Honestly, you could build an entire warm-up routine around these kinds of activities for the rest of the school year.
Enjoy!