Spanish Command Cheat Sheet
Spanish Classroom Cues Cheat Sheet
High-Frequency Verbal & Gesture Prompts for Minimally Communicative Kindergarteners
Classroom Tool Aide & Teacher Guide
Keep it short: 1–2 words
Pair with gesture: Always show
Wait time: Give 5–8s
Soft tone: Calm & reassuring
1. Basic Directions
Direcciones Básicas
¡Para! PAH-rah
Stop
✋ Palm flat forward
Espera ehs-PEH-rah
Wait
⏳ Hand up / pause
Mira MEE-rah
Look / Watch
👀 Point to eyes
Escucha ehs-KOO-chah
Listen
👂 Point to ear
Ven aquí ben ah-KEE
Come here
👋 Gentle hand wave
2. Needs & Choices
Necesidades y Opciones
¿Ayuda? ah-YOO-dah
Help
🤲 Fist on flat palm (ASL)
¿Baño? BAH-nyoh
Bathroom
🚽 Show bathroom card
¿Agua? AH-gwah
Water
🥤 Cup hand to mouth
Descanso dehs-KAHN-soh
Break / Calm time
🧘 Crossed hands on chest
¿Este o este? EHS-teh oh...
This or that?
👉 Hold out 2 choices
3. Safety & Regulation
Seguridad y Calma
Manos suaves MAH-nohs SWAH-vehs
Gentle hands
🕊️ Stroke palm or arm
Camina kah-MEE-nah
Walking feet
🚶 2 fingers "walking"
Cuerpo tranquilo KWAIR-poh...
Calm body
🧘 Lower shoulders & pause
Respira reh-SPEE-rah
Deep breath
💨 Model slow in & out
Espacio seguro ehs-PAH-syoh...
Safe space / Cozy corner
🏡 Point to quiet zone
4. Routines & Praise
Rutinas y Elogios
Siéntate see-EHN-tah-teh
Sit down
🪑 Pat chair / sit gesture
A la fila ah lah FEE-lah
Line up
🚶 Line-up card / door
A guardar ah gwahr-DAHR
Clean up / Put away
📦 Put in bin gesture
Hola / Adiós OH-lah / ah-DYOHS
Hello / Goodbye
👋 Warm wave at eye level
¡Buen trabajo! bwehn trah-BAH-hoh
Great job! / Well done
👍 Enthusiastic thumbs up
Pro Tip: Non-verbal cues build security. Say the Spanish word once, point to the visual cue card, and give 5–8 seconds before repeating.
Special Ed & ENL Support
Visual Cue Cards
Visual Command Cards: Directions & Routines
Cut along dashed lines. Punch the corner circle (○) for a lanyard ring or post on student desk.
Set 1 • Page 1 of 2
○ Dirección
¡Para! STOP
PAH-rah • ✋ Flat palm
○ Dirección
Espera WAIT
ehs-PEH-rah • ⏳ Hold up hand
○ Dirección
Mira LOOK / WATCH
MEE-rah • 👀 Point to eyes
○ Dirección
Escucha LISTEN
ehs-KOO-chah • 👂 Point to ear
○ Dirección
Ven aquí COME HERE
ben ah-KEE • 👋 Cupped wave
○ Rutina
Siéntate SIT DOWN
see-EHN-tah-teh • 🪑 Pat chair
○ Rutina
A la fila LINE UP
ah lah FEE-lah • 🚶 Point to door
○ Rutina
A limpiar CLEAN UP
ah leem-PYAHR • 📦 Bin motion
○ Elogio
¡Buen trabajo! GREAT JOB!
bwehn trah-BAH-hoh • 👍 Thumbs up
Visual Cue System for Kindergarten • Point to the card while speaking the command softly
Visual Command Cards: Needs, Choices & Calming
Student-friendly cards for expressing basic needs and practicing emotional regulation.
Set 2 • Page 2 of 2
○ Necesidad
¿Ayuda? HELP
ah-YOO-dah • 🤲 Fist on palm
○ Necesidad
¿Baño? BATHROOM
BAH-nyoh • 🚽 Restroom sign
○ Necesidad
¿Agua? WATER
AH-gwah • 🥤 Cup to mouth
○ Necesidad
Descanso BREAK / REST
dehs-KAHN-soh • 🧘 Hands on chest
○ Seguridad
Manos suaves GENTLE HANDS
MAH-nohs... • 🕊️ Gentle strokes
○ Seguridad
Camina WALKING FEET
kah-MEE-nah • 🚶 2 fingers walking
○ Calma
Respira DEEP BREATH
reh-SPEE-rah • 💨 Inhale / exhale
○ Calma
Cuerpo tranquilo CALM BODY
KWAIR-poh... • 🧘 Relax body
○ Opción
¿Sí o no? YES OR NO / CHOOSE
SEE oh NOH • 👉 Point to choice
Visual Cue System for Kindergarten • Keep on student desk or lanyard for non-verbal pointing