How We Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month At Our School

Ms. Nathalia (Colombian-Medellin) and Ms. Gloria (Colombian-Medellin)

As a way to celebrate and highlight the rich Hispanic culture, there are several activities that can be done in schools. Here are some ideas that can be implemented:

Our teachers make traditional foods: Teachers can bring and share traditional dishes from their home country with the students and their families. Some teachers may also make simple foods with their children, such as corn tortillas and frijoles molidos (black beans mashed with a pinch of salt, a teaspoon of sugar, milk, ketchup, and a dash of Salsa Lizano, a popular Central American condiment).

Read books by Hispanic authors: Celebrate diversity at story time by reading books that highlight the Latino experience. Bilingual books are also an excellent way to teach kids a few words of Spanish. Some popular stories that can be used in the library are "Bright Star" by Yuyi Morales, "Chicano Jr's Mexican Adventure" by Raúl Jiménez, and "Paletero Man" by Lucky Diaz.

Dance to Hispanic music: Schools can invite Folkloric music bands to build cultural bridges through music. For instance, Son Del Sol-Boston is a local Folkloric music band that plays lovely Andean music with Peruvian/Bolivian musical instruments such as flutes and panpipes made of bone, reed, and fired clay, shell trumpets called pututos, ceramic whistles, ocarinas, trumpets, and drums, as well as rattles made with a variety of materials.

ABOUT BILINGUAL (OR MULTILINGUAL) EDUCATION

Numerous studies have been conducted to understand how speaking more than one language affects the human brain, especially in children. Some studies aimed to determine whether bilingual children have a slower learning curve when it comes to English grammar as compared to monolingual children. However, research shows that bilingual children are better at multitasking and focusing their attention in a noisy environment. They do not face any delay or difficulty in learning the English language and grammar. In fact, some studies suggest that bilinguals have similar advantages in memory and attention as musicians. Bilingualism enriches and enhances brain development, particularly the executive function, which is affected by an individual's memory and attention.

At Elizabeth's Daycare and Preschool Center, we design lesson plans that are engaging and aim to spark children's curiosity in a fun and guided environment. Our teachers use inquiry-based learning through two different languages, which may have a greater number of positive effects on brain development than traditional learning. We strive to make the acquisition of the Spanish language an effortless experience for our students.Several studies have been conducted on the effects on the human brain for children that speak more than one language. Studies aim to determine if children who speak 2 or more languages tend to learn English grammar more slowly than monolingual children and have shown that bilingual children are better at multitasking and focusing their attention on a crowded or noisy environment and are not delayed or slower in learning the English language and grammar. Some studies have also found that bilinguals have similar advantages in memory and attention as musicians. Bilingualism enriches and enhances the development of the brain, in particular the executive function which is affected by the memory and attention of the individual.

Elizabeth's Daycare and Preschool Center creates lesson plans that are designed to ignite the curiosity of children in a fun and guided environment, allowing the acquisition of the Spanish language to be an effortless experience. Our teachers use inquiry based learning through two different languages which may have a greater number of positive effects on the development of the brain than traditional learning.

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

There are certain misconceptions that parents may have about their child's ability to learn a second or even third language in school. One common misconception is that it may confuse the child and hinder their cognitive capabilities. However, it's worth noting that in many countries across the globe, children grow up learning multiple languages without any negative impact on their learning. In fact, learning a second language can enhance a child's cognitive flexibility, allowing them to see things from different perspectives and improving their auditory skills.

Some people have believed that learning a second language can hinder a child's ability to learn English. However, our program places equal emphasis on English and Spanish, ensuring that students become proficient in both languages. We assess our students regularly to ensure that their language skills are progressing appropriately. Research has shown that early exposure to two languages does not cause delays in learning, and students achieve milestones on the same timeline as monolingual children. In fact, learning a second language at a young age can enhance reading abilities and overall literacy in the first language. Communication skills are also strengthened through the acquisition of another language.

Parents may worry about helping their child with a language they are not fluent in, but exposure to native-speaking teachers in our program outweighs any imperfections at home. It's crucial for parents to provide support and enthusiasm for their child's language learning, regardless of their own language abilities.

Colombian Culture from Medellin, Cartagena, Bogota, & Cali

Hispanic Culture Night

Peruvian Traditional Cuisine

Hispanic Culture Night

Son Del Sol (Peruvian Folkloric Music)

Hispanic Culture Night

ADVANTAGES OF SPANISH

The Spanish language has become one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Learning additional languages can help your children to succeed in their future endeavors. It will help them become strong communicators and enable them to connect with and appreciate different cultures around the world. A student who is bilingual or multilingual will have many more opportunities open to them in their life. In addition to developing communication skills and the ability to connect with more people in the world, learning a new language can significantly boost a child's confidence! A bilingual education is something we consider valuable in the connected world we live in today.The Spanish language has become one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Learning additional languages will only help your children later in life to succeed in their endeavors. They will become strong communicators and be able to connect with and develop a greater appreciation of different cultures around the world. A student who is bilingual or multilingual will have many more opportunities open to them in the world throughout his/her life. In addition to added communication skills and a way to connect with more people in the world, learning a new language can greatly increase a child’s confidence! A bilingual education is something we find to be valuable in the connected world we live in today.