Hey there, Joyful Journey Makers! Let’s talk about one of my favorite activities—having students share what they love about themselves. While this activity often gets labeled as a “back-to-school” icebreaker, it’s so much more. Allowing students to celebrate what makes them special goes far beyond an introduction activity—it builds community, fosters self-pride, and opens up opportunities to learn how to say their favorite things in Spanish!
In this post, we’ll dive into why sharing self-love is essential for creating a supportive classroom environment, how it builds student confidence, and how it can be used as a springboard for language learning. Plus, I’ll introduce my FREE Todo Sobre Mi Activity Page that will help your students share their favorite things while learning important Spanish phrases. (Yo – it’s free, so what’s the harm in trying it out!?)
Why Letting Students Share What They Love About Themselves Matters
- It Builds Community: When students share what they love about themselves, they aren’t just telling their classmates facts—they’re giving everyone a glimpse into what makes them unique. This helps create a strong sense of community where students feel seen, valued, and connected to each other. Learning about their peers’ interests can also spark friendships based on shared hobbies or favorite things.
- It Fosters Pride and Confidence: Giving students the opportunity to talk about what makes them special encourages self-pride. When they get to share their favorite book, hobby, or color, they feel proud of who they are, which builds confidence. A classroom full of students who feel good about themselves is a classroom where students are ready to learn.
- It Creates Opportunities for Language Learning: Sharing what students love about themselves in English is great, but when you introduce these phrases in Spanish, it becomes a language-learning opportunity. Teaching students how to say “mi pasatiempo favorito” (my favorite hobby) or “mi comida favorita” (my favorite food) helps them personalize their language learning in a meaningful way.
- Encourages Inclusivity: Allowing students to share what they love about themselves creates an atmosphere of inclusivity, where every student’s background, culture, and interests are valued. This makes students feel more comfortable participating, knowing their unique perspective is recognized and respected.
- Builds Emotional Intelligence: When students talk about their favorite things and listen to their peers, they develop emotional intelligence by learning to appreciate differences and express their feelings. It also fosters empathy, as students can connect with and celebrate what makes their classmates special, even if it’s different from their own experiences.
Get Your FREE Resource: Todo Sobre Mi Activity Page
Ready to help your students share what makes them unique while learning Spanish? My FREE Todo Sobre Mi Activity Page is the perfect tool to get students talking about their favorite things in Spanish and building a positive classroom community.
What’s Included:
- Simple, Engaging Prompts: The activity page includes prompts for students to share their favorite hobby, book, food, color, and something special about themselves. It’s an easy way to encourage students to reflect on what they love.
- Spanish Vocabulary Practice: The prompts are in Spanish, making it a perfect opportunity to introduce new vocabulary like “mi pasatiempo favorito” (my favorite hobby) and “mi comida favorita” (my favorite food).
- Fun and Personalized: Students can personalize the page with their name and age, helping them take ownership of the activity and proudly share their answers with the class.
5 Unique Ways to Use This Activity in Your Classroom
- Classroom Display: After students complete the Todo Sobre Mi activity, hang their pages around the classroom as part of a “Get to Know Us” display. This creates a colorful, personalized decoration and serves as a reminder of the unique qualities each student brings to the class. Plus, it’s a fun way to celebrate individuality while reinforcing the Spanish vocabulary they’re learning.
- Peer Interviews: Turn this activity into an interview exercise! Pair students up and have them ask each other the questions from the Todo Sobre Mi page. They can then introduce their partner to the class, sharing what they learned. This provides students with the chance to practice speaking and listening in Spanish while learning more about their classmates.
- End-of-Week Reflection: Use this activity as a weekly reflection tool. Every Friday, have students fill out the Todo Sobre Mi page again with updated answers. Encourage them to think about what new things they’ve discovered about themselves—whether it’s a new favorite food they tried or a book they’re loving. This helps students track their personal growth while keeping self-reflection and Spanish practice going all year long.
- Interactive Learning Wall: Create an interactive bulletin board where students can post their Todo Sobre Mi pages. Then, throughout the week, students can leave sticky notes with compliments or shared interests for their classmates. This promotes classroom connections and encourages positive feedback in a fun and interactive way.
- Language Centers: Use the Todo Sobre Mi activity in language centers where students rotate through different Spanish learning stations. One station can be focused on self-expression using the Todo Sobre Mi page, while others could focus on reading, vocabulary games, or writing prompts. This keeps learning dynamic and allows students to reflect on their interests while building Spanish language skills.
The Gist of it All
Encouraging students to share what they love about themselves does more than just break the ice—it builds community, fosters self-confidence, and opens up opportunities for meaningful language learning. With my FREE Todo Sobre Mi Activity Page, your students can reflect on their favorite things while learning how to express them in Spanish. Plus, it’s a great way to add some personal, colorful flair to your classroom!
Resources
Language acquisition: An overview. Colorín Colorado. (2020, February 18). https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/language-acquisition-overview
Lewis, R. (2020, November 4). What is comprehensible input and why does it matter for language learning?. Leonardo English. https://www.leonardoenglish.com/blog/comprehensible-input
Tower. (2024, June 19). 11 creative ways to celebrate cultural diversity in the classroom. Continental Educational Publisher. https://www.continentalpress.com/blog/cultural-diversity-in-the-classroom/?srsltid=AfmBOoo9PIcoKIEwRIBWqUVREnqx2eui0ZuIATxGrUa5g0iox7RiTJAQ
Will, M., & Najarro, I. (2023, March 24). What is culturally responsive teaching?. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/culturally-responsive-teaching-culturally-responsive-pedagogy/2022/04