Author: theculturalclassroom
-
Your First Cultural Resource Is Already Sitting in Front of You š
Students enter our classrooms with their own cultures, languages, identities, interests, and experiences already in place. In this post, I reveal the unexpected beginning-of-the-year activity that helps me listen more intentionally, uncover meaningful cultural connections, and design a more flexible, UDL-informed Spanish classroom. Youāll also find practical ways to use what students share to increase…
-
How to Turn Your Spanish Class Party into a Cultural Experience
This article will give you practical ideas for turning your next Spanish class party into a cultural experience. Through food, music, dance, games, and student participation, you can create a celebration that is both fun and culturally meaningful. While written through the lens of a Spanish teacher, these ideas can easily be adapted to other…
-
Teach Cinco de Mayo Without Perpetuating Stereotypes: Meaningful Ideas for Spanish Class
Discover authentic ways to teach Cinco de Mayo, focusing on respectful engagement and cultural understanding.
-
Selena in YOUR Spanish Class: 5 Meaningful Resources + Lesson Ideas
Looking for meaningful ways to teach about the amazing Selena Quintanilla PĆ©rez in Spanish class? In this post, Iām sharing some of my favorite resources, video clips, and lesson ideas to help Spanish teachers explore her life, music, bilingualism, and cultural legacy in engaging ways. Whether you teach novice learners or more advanced students, these…
-
Still thinking about Bad Bunny + the Halftime Show? Ideas for your Spanish classroom
In this article, we will explore the cultural significance of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance for our Spanish classes. This blog piece will also discuss practical ways to incorporate elements of this groundbreaking performance into your classroom. *Image credit: Rolling Stone On January 10th, 2025, I wrote a blog post completely inspired by Bad Bunny’s…
-
Teaching Afro-Latino Culture Year-Round: My BHM Facebook Live Series (Now on YouTube)
During the month of February 2026, I collaborated with the World Language Teacher Lounge’s Facebook Page to launch a series of Facebook Lives surrounding the intersection of Black History Month and Afro-Latinidad. We all know this: Black History is not limited to February. Every month, week, and day is a great opportunity to expose our…
-
Why Puerto Rico Is #1 On My Christmas Bucket List (And How I Bring It To My Classroom Now)
Iām going to be honest: I have a very basic bucket list.Learn more. Spend time with family & friends. Sleep. Repeat. But thereās one dream that has lived rent-free in my heart for years: One day, I want to celebrate the entire Navidad season in Puerto Rico. š“āØ Not just a weekend trip. Not just…
-
Whole Brain, Whole Body, Whole Classroom: Teaching All Minds with Comprehensible Input
Guest blog post by Jessica Charlton, Secondary Education World Language Teacher If youāve ever taught a group of students with diverse learning needs, neurodivergent thinkers, anxious learners, gifted creatives, and everyone in between, you know thereās no such thing as a typical class! And as teachers, our classes (and class dynamics) change every semester or…
-
From ReggaetĆ³n to Representation: Teaching About Puerto Rico Through Bad Bunnyās Residency
During the week of September 20th, 2025, Puerto Rico showed up and showed out. Here are just three ways: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dra. Irma Torres Rivera | PsicĆ³loga & Speaker (@drairmatorres) 3. ā”ļø Grito de Lares (Sept 23), which Iāve never seen get so much coverage before in my…
-
Everything you need to celebrate: Ā”el mes de septiembre! š
Hola septiembreāhow you doing, nena? šš½ As teachers, we are so lucky because we get to celebrate two New Years: one at the start of the actual year (ex: 2026) and one at the start of the academic year (ex: 2025-2026)! Let’s see what September has to offer! Let’s Get The Party Started With Hispanic…
