A young Spanish Teacher sharing his Ideas and Resources on Culturally inclusive teaching in the 21st century
Teach All,
Reach All
On the next few pages, you will encounter a breakdown of what I believe culturally inclusive teaching looks like and how I have set up a culturally inclusive Spanish classroom. I also provide resources that will help further your understanding of the intricacies of the topic, as well as some examples of activities that I have or plan to implement.
These are just a few of the many pictures I took while on the immersion trip. If you would like to learn more about Project Mexico and what students do each year, you can find more information at: http://www.loyola.edu/department/ccsj/communityservice/immersion/projectmexico.aspx
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"The world in which you were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you: they are unique manifestations of the human spirit." -- Wade Davis
The first time I encountered this quote, was in Mexicali, Mexico, while participating on a service immersion trip with my university. It was handwritten on a map of the world and was the first thing you saw as you walked into the house the group and I were staying in. This quote, by Wade Davis not only defines what I learned while getting to know and serving with multiple communities in Mexico, but also what I believe lies at the core of culturally inclusive teaching. In our ever growing global society, teachers must be open to and accepting of all the students they will engage with in the classroom. One of the reasons I decided to become a teacher, was to learn, not only about my content area, but also about my students. Each student brings with them their own individual stories and experiences that I want to hear about and utilize within my classroom. Taking what they bring into the classroom will not only enrich my Spanish lessons, but also ensure that students are making connections and comparisons between their home culture, a plethora of Spanish/Hispanic cultures, as well as the cultures of their classmates. Besides sharing my love and the importance of the Spanish language and the multiple cultures that lie behind the language, my top priorities in the classroom are: 1) Creating a safe, welcoming, and nonjudgmental environment. 2) Making sure that I make every student and his or her culture(s) feel valued and important. 3) Helping students develop a sense of pride in who they are and where they come from. 4) Making learning Spanish fun and applicable to every students daily life through creative and engaging activities! |