Communication strategies, Freebie Giveaways, Writing Activities

Go Back to Move Forward: First Week Writing Activity (Freebie)

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An illustration of a time machine with a clock on top, set against a bright yellow background. The text reads 'La Máquina del Tiempo' and mentions a writing activity for Spanish Level 3+. The bottom section promotes a free resource from 'Teaching Spanish Made Easy.'

As most teachers, I have quite the toolbox when it comes to beginning of the year activities. This is ONE of my favorites. La Máquina del Tiempo is a great way to:

  • Ease into the school year with a light assignment
  • Assess students writing abilities and gaps
  • Learn about how they spend their time

Students get to travel back in time to one of their favorite days of summer.

A colorful graphic featuring a time machine with a clock, surrounded by bright light rays, and the text 'La Máquina del Tiempo' and 'Writing Activity for Spanish Level 3+' on a yellow background.

I use this as a diagnostic assessment during the first week of school with my Level 4 students — it’s a great way to gauge present-tense mastery while easing them back into Spanish. It also doubles as a natural ice-breaker, since students get to share their summer stories with each other.

Why it works:

Real communication — students talk about their chosen day with classmates, and can even bring in a photo to share (optional, teacher’s choice).

Built-in engagement — it’s personally relevant, so students actually want to write.

Focused, not overwhelming — instead of tackling “What did you do this summer?” as a whole, students zero in on just one day.

True diagnostic tool — every prompt stays in the present tense, giving you a clear, consistent picture of students’ writing skills.

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Download the activity here!

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Comprehensible Novels for the Classroom

Looking for an engaging classroom novel? Need help building a classroom library? Check out readersbyacquintero.com

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Don’t have a classroom library? Check out this list of digital reads for your students!

Discover the perfect novel for any classroom with our extensive library, tailored for every level and interest. Each book comes with proven teaching materials designed to captivate students through engaging storylines, language use, authentic expressions, and essential grammar structures. Empower your teaching and keep your focus where it matters most: on your students’ learning!

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Novels and Resources by A.C. Quintero

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                        A.C. Quintero Literary Partners!

Brycehedsrom.com

Command Performance Language Institute

Wayside Publishing

Teacher’s Discovery

The CI Bookshop (Europe)

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Teaching Spanish Made Easy (TPT) Catalog

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