Celebrando el Mes de la Herencia Hispana en el aula

Observed from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of the history, culture, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from spanish-speaking countries such as Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The timing of this holiday is anything but coincidental, as September 15 marks the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, and is followed by the independence of Mexico and Chile on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

In celebration of this holiday, we reached out to authors of the authentic Spanish texts found within Raz-Plus Español, our comprehensive Spanish literacy solution. Though this holiday is predominantly celebrated in the United States, our authors have provided some insight as to how it can best be celebrated!

Celebrando Dentro Y Fuera del Aula

Claudia Arroyave (Koleia Bungard)

Claudia Arroyave (Koleia Bungard) is a Colombian writer and editor. She was born in the Andes mountains and now resides in the Sonoran Desert, in the city of Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. She studied journalism at the Universidad de Antioquia and finished her master’s degree in Latin American Studies at the University of Arizona. She is the author of the books "Mientras Dios descansa" (Cuentos, Editorial Eafit, 2005), "El pueblo de las tres efes" (Crónicas, Hombre Nuevo Editores, 2008) and "La ruta del tren dormido" (Crónica de viaje, Sílaba Editores, 2020). She is an author and editor for the Authentic Spanish book collection for Learning A-Z.

Koleia feels that understanding the geography of Latin American countries is key in student understanding. As such, she suggested that teachers ask students questions such as “Who lives on the Pacific coast of Colombia? Who lives in the Andes? Who lives in the areas around the perimeter?” In doing so, students will gain clarity as to who the communities are that live in ancestral parts of Latin American countries and their traditions and customs that should be celebrated.

Adriana Solis Lira

Adriana believes that a good way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month is to host a “Fería Cultural de la Hispanidad,” where people appreciate different art expressions from Latin America, such as music, paintings, films, etc.” Not only would that allow students to become more familiar with art, but it will help them continue to learn while utilizing art similar to arts integration instruction.

In addition, Adriana mentions that it would be beneficial to showcase food from different parts of Latin America to demonstrate the diversity in foods and cultures across different regions. To pair with this knowledge, Adriana mentions that it may be beneficial to have each student “choose a Hispanic country and find some cultural details about it that are not as [well] known so everyone gets to know a bit more [about] the Hispanic countries.” To do this, you could find places in your local area that showcase items such as food, music, books, or films from traditional culture to show your classroom. As students become grounded in varying cultures, they will feel a sense of comfortability in knowing that their culture is embraced and more willing to learn new things and take risks in learning.

Cultura: por qué Celebramos el Mes de la Herencia Hispana

As students learn more about their culture and other cultures, they’ll begin to recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans, allowing them to identify with those that have made a significant impact on art, food, the media, and overall hispanic culture. In addition, familiarizing students with Hispanic culture grants them the ability to see themselves in literature and history, helping them identify with their heritage, and recognize the power they too have to make an impact on the world around them.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, students are able to embrace new languages and cultures by using resources such as Raz-Plus Español along the way. Filled with authentic Spanish texts, Spanish literacy activities, and more, Raz-Plus Español provides insight into Spanish culture while helping students further develop their reading skills. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in your classroom with a free trial of Raz-Plus Español today!

Footnote:

1. The Library of Congress. (n.d.). National Hispanic American Heritage month 2022 - for teachers. National Hispanic American Heritage Month 2022 - For Teachers. Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/for-teachers/