Category: Uncategorized
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Your First Cultural Resource Is Already Sitting in Front of You đ
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. Youâll also find practical ways to use what students share to increase…
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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.
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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…
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Why Puerto Rico Is #1 On My Christmas Bucket List (And How I Bring It To My Classroom Now)
Iâm going to be honest: I have a very basic bucket list.Learn more. Spend time with family & friends. Sleep. Repeat. But thereâs 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. đ´â¨ Not just a weekend trip. Not just…
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Whole Brain, Whole Body, Whole Classroom: Teaching All Minds with Comprehensible Input
Guest blog post by Jessica Charlton, Secondary Education World Language Teacher If youâve ever taught a group of students with diverse learning needs, neurodivergent thinkers, anxious learners, gifted creatives, and everyone in between, you know thereâs no such thing as a typical class! And as teachers, our classes (and class dynamics) change every semester or…
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From ReggaetĂłn to Representation: Teaching About Puerto Rico Through Bad Bunnyâs 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 | PsicĂłloga & Speaker (@drairmatorres) 3. âĄď¸ Grito de Lares (Sept 23), which Iâve never seen get so much coverage before in my…
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Everything you need to celebrate: ÂĄel mes de septiembre! đ
Hola septiembreâhow you doing, nena? đđ˝ 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…
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Free PD w/ ME In July: Get Professional Development Links Here + Sign Up Today
đ Free PD w/ ME in July is your invitation to refresh your teaching mojo without spending a dime. Iâll be leading two high-energy sessions packed with culture-rich strategies and ready-to-use resourcesâand you can join from anywhere. Get professional development links here, snag your seat, and sign up today so we can grow, laugh, and…
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The Afro-Latino Spanish Classroom Calendar: A Year-Round Road Map for Normalizing Diversity
Looking for a Spanish culture calendar that goes beyond the usual holidays and textbook examples? â¨My free September download of The Afro-Latino Classroom Calendar is live! It spotlights key dates, biographies, and cultural moments that uplift Afro-Latino voicesâwith links embedded to get you started in the classroom! This calendar of activities is perfect to integrate…
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Bringing Culture into the Classroom: Why the 5th C is So Hard to Implement
Culture is often referred to as the heart of language learning, the piece that transforms a classroom experience from memorization to connection. The ACTFL’s 5 C’sâCommunication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communitiesâare designed to guide language educators toward holistic instruction. Yet, among these, the “Cultures” component often feels the most elusive. Why is it so challenging…
