Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in USD 253

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in USD 253

• Cathy Terrell
• Cultural Awareness for Educators
• Diversity Project
• Emporia State University, Spring 2009

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Introduction

• The purpose of this project is to promote the
  celebration of Hispanic culture within all
  schools of the Emporia School District.
• This presentation will present an overview of the
  demographic characteristics of the districts
  students
• Video clips included in the presentation will
  further demonstrate a need to be more intentional
  about embracing Hispanic culture within our
  schools.
• The project will conclude with suggestions,
  resources information to begin creating a
  culturally inclusive environment in our schools

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Demographics
According to the Kansas State Board of Education
website, White students are no longer the
majority in USD 253, with Hispanics being the
largest minority group.
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Creating an Inclusive Environment

• It is more critical than ever that our schools
  are embracing diversity and creating a climate
  that is inclusive and multicultural.
• A culturally competent school is generally
  defined as one that honors, respects, and values
  diversity in theory and in practice and where
  teaching and learning are made relevant and
  meaningful to students of various cultures.
• National Association of State Boards
  ofEducation (2002)

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Building upon the past

• We can scaffold our efforts to create this
  multi-culturally inclusive environment by
  building upon our past successes.such as

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Ask a student.

• Who should always be celebrated during
• Black History Month
• This is what you get.

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Ask a student.

• Who should always be celebrated during
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• This is what you get.

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Ask a Teacher Administrator.

• Who should always be celebrated during Black
  History Month?
• Who should always be celebrated during Hispanic
  Heritage Month?
• This is what you get.

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What is happening?

• Note the consistency in answers to the question
  of who should always be celebrated during Black
  History Month.
• All students, regardless of race and ethnicity
  could come up with at least one response.
• Hispanic students were able to name example of
  African-American heroes with no problem.
• All of the examples given were people who made
  visible and notable contributions to American
  history and culture in the United States.

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What is happening?

• In regards to the question about Hispanic
  Heritage Month, students had fewer responses to
  this question.
• Surprisingly, Hispanic students struggled just as
  much as non-Hispanic students in the video
  survey.
• Many students, individually and collectively as a
  class, had no response to this question.
• The ESL and Spanish for native speakers classes
  (comprised solely of Hispanic students), usually
  could only come up with one response Pancho
  Villa.

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Pancho Villa?

• While it is true the Pancho Villa is a Mexican
  Hero, the fact that most Hispanic students could
  only come up with his name is an indication that
  we need to do a better job.
• Pancho Villa was a leader of the Mexican
  Revolution and fought on behalf of many
  disadvantaged people of Mexico during the 1800s.
  He never lived in the United States.
• Celebrating Pancho Villa during Hispanic Hertiage
  month is analogous to Blacks celebrating Nelson
  Mandela during Black History Month. Mandela did
  great things, but he never lived in the US and
  his contributions did not have a direct impact on
  American life.

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Educating Ourselves

• In 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B.
  Johnson to proclaim a week in September as
  National Hispanic Heritage Week.
• The observance was expanded in 1988 to a month
  long celebration (Sept. 15-Oct. 15).
• During this month, America celebrates the culture
  and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their
  roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking
  nations of Central America, South America and the
  Caribbean.
• Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the
  celebration because it is the anniversary of
  independence of five Latin American countries
  Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and
  Nicaragua.
• In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their
  independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18,
  respectively.

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Recognizing
Hispanics have risen to great heights and
established their mark on behalf of U.S. society
in many fields of endeavor. There are literally
too many distinctive landmarks of Hispanic
progress during the past century to note in this
reduced space. Here are a few highlights from
business, science, sports, and politics . In all,
a remarkable century for Hispanics in the United
States.
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Familiarize Yourself

• In New York in 1959, Dr. Severo Ochoa won the
  Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for his
  discovery of RNA (ribonucleic acid), one of the
  chemical building blocks of life.
• Ellen Ochoa invented optical analysis systems and
  was also the world's first Hispanic female
  astronaut.
• The first Latino to serve in Congress, Joseph
  Marion Hernández, was elected in 1822.
• César Chávez (1927-1993), founder of the United
  Farm Workers Union, led the fight to gain
  recognition for the workers who harvest this
  nation's produce
• Octaviano A. Larrazolo, was the first Hispanic
  U.S. Senator.
• Chemist, Luis Miramontes co-invented the
  contraceptive pill.
• Miguel Servet worked in anatomy and physiology
  led He discoved the circulation of blood through
  the human body.

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The Beauty of Art

• Art is a wonderful resource for celebrating
  Hispanic Heritage Month

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Becoming Culturally Inclusive

• As educators and administrators, creating a
  culturally inclusive environment requires that
  each of us takes the necessary steps to become
  culturally competent.
• A culturally competent school is generally
  defined as one that honors, respects, and values
  diversity in theory and in practice and where
  teaching and learning are made relevant and
  meaningful to students of various cultures.

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Celebrating in the Classroom

• One of the MOST IMPORTANT goals of Hispanic
  Heritage Month is to demonstrate how Hispanics
  have impacted and contributed to American life
  and culture.
• A great website for lesson plans and objectives
  to meet this goal is
• http//www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/1
  9990920monday.html?searchpvlearning_lessons

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Lesson Plans Activities

• List some interesting facts about Hispanic
  Heritage MonthLESSON PLANS CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
• CONTEMPORARY LATINA WRITERS JULIA ALVAREZ
  LESSON PLANhttp//ladb.unm.edu/retanet/plans/sear
  ch/retrieve.php3?ID0422A lesson plan for
  grades 9-12 on Latina writers focusing on Julia
  Alvarez. It uses Alvarez as an example but can be
  adapted for several Latina writers. Excellent
• GEOGRAPHY OF MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA LESSON
  PLAN             NEW!http//school.discovery.com/
  lessonplans/programs/geo_mexico/A lesson plan
  for grades 3-5 on the geography of Mexico and
  Central America. Excellent
• GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH AMERICA LESSON
  PLAN             NEW!http//school.discovery.com/
  lessonplans/programs/geo_southamerica/A lesson
  plan for grades 3-5 on the geography of South
  America. Excellent
• GUANTANAMERA A POEM AND A SONG LESSON
  PLANhttp//artsedge.kennedy-enter.org/teaching_ma
  terials/curricula/curriculum.cfm?curriculum_id496
  modefullA lesson plan for grades 9-12 on the
  song and poem "Guantanamera". "In this lesson
  students will listen to "Guantanamera," a Cuban
  folk song made famous by Pete Seeger with lyrics
  from a poem by Jose Marti. They will discover
  that these two men shared more than a song."
  Excellent
• HISPANIC WORLD UNIT                
  NEW!http//commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/letsnet/nofr
  ames/bigideas/b1/b1u2.htmlA unit for middle,
  junior and high school students on Hispanic
  countries and peoples. "In this unit, students
  will conduct primary and secondary research to
  know the "hispanohablantes" in the world. These
  explorations will serve as windows for these
  Spanish-speaking countries for students to
  acquire information and impression from different
  perspectives. Students are supposed to conduct
  the researches by using their Spanish ability to
  comprehend the information on the Internet.
      Through team works, they will target one
  country as research topic, collect information
  using Internet resources as well as library
  resources, share their research with other
  groups, and visit these web sites set up by other
  groups that relate to these Hispanic countries."
  Excellent
• I HEAR LATIN AMERICA SINGING EXPLORING LATIN
  AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH SONG LESSON
  PLAN                                             
                                         
  NEW!http//www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/less
  ons/20030905friday.html?searchpvlearning_lessons
  A lesson plan on Latin American history for
  grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students learn
  about the historical and current social,
  political, and cultural trends of Latin American
  countries. After researching a specific country,
  groups write songs that reflect the music styles
  as well as the history of the region." Excellent
• THE LATIN AMERICAN MERCADO WHO MADE THIS?
  LESSON PLAN     NEW!http//ladb.unm.edu/retanet/p
  lans/search/retrieve.php3?ID0469A lesson plan
  for grades 6-8 on the global marketplace. "The
  mercado or marketplace in Latin America is a
  social and business event where both local gossip
  and goods exchange hands in a friendly,
  bargaining atmosphere. Through their
  participation in a simulated cottage industry and
  subsequent marketplace, students can begin to
  appreciate the effort and tedium involved in such
  work. They gain cultural understanding of the
  marketplace and its impact on traditional
  society. Hopefully, they can transfer newly
  acquired economic skills and global understanding
  to their purchasing power." Excellent

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Web Resources

• CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH NATIONAL PARK
  SERVICEhttp//www.cr.nps.gov/nr/feature/hispanic/
  Highlights various National Park Service and
  Historic Register sites that celebrate the
  achievements and history of Hispanic Americans.
  Includes Featured Historic Places and Teaching
  with Historic Places which has lesson plans
  geared to specific sites. The lesson plans are
  designed to bring the historic sites and their
  significance into the classroom. Excellent
•                                        
• CINCO DE MAYOhttp//www.umkc.edu/imc/cincomay.htm
  Information on the history of the Cinco de Mayo
  celebration. Includes a large section with
  activities for the classroom. Includes songs,
  role-playing, language arts and more. Excellent
• ÍESPAÑOLÉ! THE ONLINE RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS AND
  TEACHERS OF SPANISHhttp//www.espanole.org/A
  huge site, not only on the Spanish language, but
  also on the culture, history, music, food and
  arts. Outstanding. Excellent
• ESPECIALLY ESPAÑOLhttp//www.kn.pacbell.com//wire
  d/espanol/index.htmlA page of Spanish activities
  and resources for elementary, middle and high
  school students. A step above the usual list of
  links page. Excellent
• HISPANIC HERITAGE CROSSWORD PUZZLE            
  NEW!http//www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/xwor
  ds/20020913.htmlA crossword puzzle from the NY
  Times on Hispanic Heritage. Excellent
• HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTHhttp//www.factmonster.com
  /spot/hhm1.htmlAn outstanding site on Hispanics.
  Sections include Hispanic Americans by the
  Numbers, Spanish Loan Words, Countries of Origin,
  Spanish Accents, Hispanics in Congress, Where
  Spanish is Spoken, Hispanic Holidays, Spanish
  Place Names, Preference for Racial or Ethnic
  Terminology, Biographies, a Crossword and two
  quizzes. Excellent
• HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTHhttp//www.mcps.k12.md.us/
  curriculum/socialstd/Hispanic.htmlClassroom
  activities for Hispanic Heritage Month.
  Activities for K-5, Activities for 6-8,
  Activities for 9-12, and Great Links to Hispanic
  Sites and Reading Adventure Activities. Excellent
• HISPANIC ONLINE.COMhttp//www.hispaniconline.com/
  Daily news of interest to Hispanics. Sections
  Arts Entertainment, Politics Opinion,
  Lifestyle, Business Finance, Career Center,
  Technology, Education, Research Resources, and
  Sports. Excellent
• HISPANIC ONLINE MAGAZINEhttp//www.hispaniconline
  .com/magazine/An online magazine covering
  various aspects of Hispanic life and heritage.
  Excellent

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Web Resources continued

• Websites
• AMERICAN EXPERIENCE ZOOT SUIT
  RIOTShttp//www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/zoot/A
  companion site to the PBS program about the "Zoot
  Suit Riots" in the 1942. "In August 1942 the
  murder of a young Mexican-American man ignited a
  firestorm in the City of the Angels. In no time
  at all, ethnic and racial tensions that had been
  building up over the years boiled over. Police
  fanned out across the city in a dragnet that
  netted 600 Mexican Americans. Among those accused
  of murder was a young "zoot-suiter" named Hank
  Leyvas -- the poster boy for an entire generation
  of rebellious Mexican kids who refused to play by
  the old rules. As he and sixteen other boys
  headed to trial, the mood of the city turned
  violent. The deck was stacked against the
  defendants, and a verdict of guilty would spark a
  series of brutal riots. The convictions were
  ultimately overturned, but the city and its
  inhabitants would be forever changed." Includes a
  Transcript of the program, primary sources,
  people and events, a timeline and more. Excellent
• Casa de Joanna Language Learning Resources
              NEW URL!http//www.casadejoanna.com/m
  irror/Language resource links for the study of
  French and Spanish. The Spanish links include
  Getting Acquainted Family Self Friends,
  Activities Sports Clothes Community Food
  Health House Home Restaurants School TV
  Movies and Vacation Travel. Also, Newspapers,
  Culture, Web Guides and more. Excellent
• CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE!http//teacher.schola
  stic.com/activities/hispanic/index.htmA
  Scholastic site on Hispanic Heritage. Sections
  Hispanic History in the Americas, Meet Famous
  Latinos, Latinos in History, My Heritage, Piñata
  Concentration Game and a Teachers Guide and
  Research Starter. Excellent

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Strategies

• Elective courses designed to help students from
  diverse backgrounds get along, such as Combating
  Intolerance
• Peer mediation to allow students from diverse
  backgrounds an opportunity to talk about
  potentially divisive issues
• Student clubs that help large groups of
  students retain cultural identity (e.g., Muslim
  Student Society)
• Openness to starting new clubs to reflect the
  interests of the student body
• Parent liaisons who are paid to work with
  families who would not otherwise have a
  traditional involvement with the school
• Home visits by parent liaisons
• Telephone tree in multiple languages
• Minority parent committee that organizes
  evenings for minority parents to come to school
  in smaller groups and learn about the college
  admissions process, SAT prep classes, scholarship
  and grant opportunities, and so forth
• Letters sent home and phone contact with
  parents from culturally and linguistically
  diverse backgrounds to ensure a good turnout at
  parent meetings
• Open communication with students
• Quarterly meetings between a randomly selected
  group of students from each grade level and their
  administrator to obtain feedback on how school is
  going for them and what specific things can be
  improved or changed

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More Strategies

• E ffort awards honor breakfast for students who
  have had trouble but who have raised their
  grades each teacher
• nominates two students from his or her class
• Establishment of a Hispanic PTSA with business
  discussion and programs in Spanish
• Initiation of a challenge program to invite
  promising students to enroll in honors and
  Advanced Placement classes.
• Source Jan Leslie, the director of the Office of
  High School Instruction and K12 Curriculum
  Services and the former principal of Herndon High
  School, Fairfax County (VA) Public Schools

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Conclusion

• Our overall goal as educators and administrators
  must be to create culturally sensitive and
  inclusive schools. In order to do this, we must
  set goals for success. These goals for culturally
  competent schools are to establish settings where
  all students are made to feel welcome are
  engaged in learning and are included in the full
  range of activities, curricula, and services. We
  must work collaboratively with school staff
  members, parents, and the community to accomplish
  goals that include closing achievement gaps and
• promoting pro-social behaviors. The benefits of
  culturally competent schools are numerous and
  include preventing academic failure, reducing
  drop-out rates, and engaging students and their
  families in the
• school community. (Mary Beth Klotz, 2006)

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Alex Haley

• In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to
  know our heritage, to know who we are and where
  we come from. Without this enriching knowledge,
  there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our
  attainment in life, there is still a vacuum, an
  emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness