Making Spanish Culturally Relevant to African American Students

Culturally relevant curriculums need to be created. Making Spanish Culturally Relevant to African American Students discounts the importance of many widely accepted teaching practices such as the teacher centered idea of a successful lesson and the importance of learning styles in the creation of those lessons. Through listening to her students' feedback and connecting the Spanish language to their history, Laura Blackett demonstrates how to make culture the center of successful teaching. Her research proves that culture is the most important issue to address in the classroom and gives strategies on how to do so. She also discusses the importance of learning a second language and its positive impact on the lives of many students. More importantly, she shows how developing a relationship with the students and listening to their voices is a very effective tool in teaching children of any race.

Autorentext

Laura Blackett recieved her BA in American Ethnic Studies from the University of Washington and her MA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College Northwest. She has ten years teaching experience working with African American and Latino students. Currently, she works with Washington State's bilingual leadership program, La Cima.