Welcome to the Spanish Classroom Chronicles
I created Spanish Classroom Chronicles with the idea that this would be a place where I could record my ideas, reflections, and experiences in teaching Spanish. The inspiration of the use of the word chronicles came from an image Bilbo Baggins chronicling his adventures in Tolkein’s Hobbit. The word chronicle can be used as both a noun and a verb referring to the recording of factual events, typically important or historically significant. Now I don’t anticipate that my posts are important or historically significant like Bilbo’s adventures. But rather I use the word loosely to indicate this will be a diary of recording my ponderings, reflections and hopefully growth as I pass through the middle of my career as a Spanish teacher.
Regarding my profile picture and banner, I chose images that represent the culture of some Spanish speaking countries. In my profile picture you will notice that there is a square border of blue tiles called Azulejos. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica Azulejos are “are Spanish and later principally Portuguese tiles produced from the 14th century onward. At first the term was used to denote only North African mosaics, but it became the accepted word for an entirely decorated tile about 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm) square.” These tiles are a predominant feature in architecture of Spain, and due to the Spanish colonization in Latin America as well. They typically have mosaics of geometric shapes in their designs.
Want to check out more examples of Spanish architecture? Check out Granada’s Alhambra. The exterior is a plain fortress with beautiful gardens, but the interior is full of geometric mosaics typical of Spanish Moors during that time period. Want a virtual tour of Alhambra? Use the interactive linked map. Prefer to look at photography? These photographs will take you inside the buildings and through the grounds.
The banner I chose because it represents the Rain Forest which is a major feature of Central America geography. Additionally the picture appears to have a woven texture. Weaving is a common cultural practice of Central American Indigenous communities. As a Spanish teacher who is not latina or hispanic, I endeavor to expose my students to non-stereotypical cultural imagery and practices. As such I strove to use non-stereotypical imagery for my masthead and profile picture. The Spanish Speaking world is very vast and diverse, as such there is no one monolith of culture or traditions. It is my duty to my students to give them a variety of exposure to cultures and traditions of the Spanish Speaking world.
In the future I plan to explore to my heart's content that which inspires, motivates, and challenges me as an educator. I believe it is my duty as an educator to continually grow so that I can meet my students' needs and be the best version of myself as a teacher. I will chronicle that experience here. I look forward to sharing my journey with you. Hopefully it won’t be as full of strife as Bilbo's was, but I am excited to follow the road that this adventure takes me on.
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