Students learn best when lessons are designed to stimulate different areas of the brain. By incorporating activities based on the latest educational research, a Spanish teacher can be certain that all students' strengths are incorporated into lessons, increasing students' interest, participation and learning. Total physical response (TPR) activities provide the additional connections to new learning through the incorporation of movement as well as music into lessons.
Total Physical Response (TPR) is an ESL methodology used for many years. TPR instruction is kinesthetic, visual and verbal, increasing the number of connections students make to new learning. Teachers use TPR to increase students' vocabulary and to teach verb forms and sentence structure. TPR lessons are often accompanied by music, further increasing students' engagement. The original use of the TPR method was for students learning English as a second language but is now used for other subjects as well.
One Spanish activity book that incorporates the TPR method into Spanish lessons is Muévete! 25 TPR Activities Spanish Book. Movement is a part of each high-interest activity presented in this book. There are 25 lessons designed to strengthen vocabulary. The lessons also address the different learning styles so all students' strengths are incorporated. A variety of topics of interests are also integrated into the lessons, further increasing student engagement. This activity book is available at Teacher's Discovery on-line and is appropriate for all grade levels.
Another activity book that offers high-interest, interactive lessons requiring movement and active student involvement is Spanish Mighty Mini-Plays Book. This activity book includes 12 short plays that students act out in the classroom. The use of costumes, props and sets are integrated for added interest, but not to the extent that it requires additional planning time for the teacher. This activity book is appropriate for grade levels 3 through 8 and it is also available at Teacher's Discovery on-line.