If you’re getting ready to teach with The Somos Curriculum for the first time (or the tenth!), you might be wondering: What do I need to have ready for Day 1 of class? Whether you're starting with Somos 1, Somos 2, Vamos, or Nous sommes, this post is your one-stop shop for everything you need to launch your school year with confidence.
Below, you’ll find answers to common questions, ready-to-use resources, and step-by-step guidance for kicking off your school year the Somos way. Bookmark this blog post so you can come back to it each year!
What should I do on Day 1 with Somos?
Your first day should do two things: help students feel safe and welcomed and give them a taste of what class will be like. And lucky for you, the curriculum makes it super easy for you to know exactly how to achieve this. All you need to do is follow the Suggested Lesson Plans, written out in step-by-step detail in the Teacher Guide for Unit 1 of whichever title you're working with.
Day 1 Must-Have Resources
The Teacher's Guide for each curriculum explains everything you need for the first day, from whether and how to assign seats to how to get started learning students' names! When you purchase the curriculum, everything you need is included: but you might still have questions. How and why was each procedure selected? What is it intended to accomplish? What else is there to know?
To help your first day go smoothly, we’ve created and curated a collection of professional learning resources to help you dig deeper into the Day 1 Resources that come with the curriculum!
Seating Cards
Set the stage for smooth routines by assigning seats from Day 1. The curriculum recommends using these free, editable Seating Cards to reassure students that they belong in your classroom and that you are the authority in the room!
Syllabus Templates
Give students and families a clear picture of what to expect in your class. This editable Syllabus Template is written specifically for teachers using curriculum from The Comprehensible Classroom, and it is included when you purchase the curriculum. If you're previewing a free version of the first unit, you can grab the Syllabus Template as a separate purchase here.
Syllabus Homework Assignment
Help students and families engage with your syllabus in a meaningful way. This simple, structured Syllabus Homework assignment encourages students to read and reflect on your class expectations at home.
More Resources for the First Weeks
Finding that perfect balance of giving students enough information but not too much can be tough! Depending on what your school requires that you do or don't do on the First Day of School, here are some resources that many teachers choose to share with students and families later on in the first week of class or at a Back to School night.
Performance Rubrics
Use these proficiency-based rubrics to set clear expectations for interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication. These rubrics match the grading tools used throughout Somos. Especially if your students are not used to standards-based grading, you'll want to spend time explaining to them and their caregivers about how their grade will be determined in the class.
Parent Letter
Everyone has expectations about what a language class should or will look like. Chances are, the class that your students and parents are envisioning is one that uses an explicit approach to language teaching, not an implicit, proficiency-oriented approach!
Communicate with families about your teaching approach and what makes your class different. Use this Parent Letter to introduce Acquisition-Driven Instruction and the Somos Curriculum. It is perfect to share on Back to School night!
Garbanzo
We developed Garbanzo specifically for the purpose of making Somos teachers' lives easier! While the application has grown into a tool that serves teachers using any curriculum, it continues to be a favorite for Somos teachers. Why? Well... every text in Somos can be found in Garbanzo! And, teachers can find dozens of additional lessons that are related to the vocabulary or themes of the unit they are teaching by using the Somos unit filter.
Garbanzo can be your sub plans all year long. It can give your voice a break! It can provide your students with multiple opportunities to read a text without feeling repetitive. It can give you clear insights into your students' interpretive ability, and you can create custom assignments to personalize learning for your students. Learn all the ways you can use Garbanzo to take Somos further in this blog post »
You've Got This!
Starting a new school year with a new curriculum can feel overwhelming, but remember: you don’t have to do it all at once. Focus on connection over curriculum, communication over language targets, and progress over perfection.
And we’re here to help 💛.
If you haven’t already, make sure you’re signed up for our free Subscriber Library, where you’ll find even more Day 1 resources and a curated collection of support materials to guide you all year long.
Still have questions about starting with Somos? Join the Somos Collab group for support from other teachers and experienced mentors, or email us anytime—our team is ready to support you.
