Megan Pendleton

This handout reviews the rules for using ser and estar (DOCTOR/PLACE), present tense conjugations, preterite conjugations, imperfect conjugations, and a flowchart for deciding which verb/tense to use when using a past tense. Having this information all in one place is very helpful for students because so many decisions have to be made when using these two tricky verbs, especially in the past tenses.

This scaffolded activity introduces students to the use of estar with a past participle. Students read a short paragraph that uses estar and past participles in context, and through 6 guided steps, students start to uncover the pattern of the concept. I love to do this kind of activity before teaching a new concept because it allows students to acquire knowledge and make connections through their own lens while applying prior knowledge.