This is a story from a Colorado education publication about an elementary teacher working to expand opportunities for bilingual students. Loya Hernández grew up in the San Luis Valley in Colorado, where as a second grader, she was made to color in a coloring book when her non-Spanish speaking teacher didn't really know what to do with her. "My parents were never able to go to my school when I was a child as they worked all day in the lettuce or potato fields and arrived late from work. They had no medical care or benefits, so they could not afford to miss work." Today, Hernández aims for 100% attendance at parent-teacher conferences, even if it means going to her children's homes. 

By middle school, Loya Hernández was pulled for advanced math class, and she also began taking other advanced classes. 

The story offers much food for thought, including some of the following lines:

• The systems of oppression in all realms of students’ lives. Racist manifestations include dual-language programs tailored to white families. 
• Bilingual students continue to be overrepresented in special education, discipline referrals, and alternative schools with technical tracks instead of pre-collegiate programs and AP/IB coursework. They are underrepresented in advanced coursework in all areas, including Spanish. [Often], they are not identified as gifted and talented.
• Most district and school leaders do not focus on the high end of achievement. There is an urgency to work on the “gap,” but, that does little to improve a school. 

What stories can you share about similar experiences with gifted bilingual students in your educational settings?

The Library of Congress has a nice little collection of FSA photos of the San Luis Valley, by the way. I hope the photo below will help you picture the landscape where Loya Hernández grew up. Whenever I've driven through the San Luis Valley, I notice many truck farms. Do your students know what a truck farm is? 

San Luis, oldest town in Colorado

Note: With apologies for the political statements toward the end, I found the bulk of the article to be inspirational and well worth considering. Members of the TPS Teachers Network work hard to keep all conversations professional and a-political, but we do not steer clear of difficult or controversial topics in history, in the news, or in education. 

  Pre K - 2    3 - 5    6 - 8    9 - 12    Bilingual Education/ESL    gifted education    San Luis Valley, Colorado  

While the kids might have fun with these comic strips designed to explain through Commander Moonikin Campos, the manikin awaiting flight aboard Artemis I, I find these adventures another way to demystify the upcoming Return to the Moon missions.

The story behind Moonikin

NPR: Why manikins and Snoopy will make up the crew of NASA Artemis I mission

The adventures mirror the actual mission plans beginning with 

1) Meet Moonikin Campos,

2) Campos Flies to the Moon

3) Campos Returns to Earth 

Do your Latinx ELL students see themselves in the books they are reading? I've shared this post from the Primary Sources in the School Library group, but I think this should interest anyone who teaches ELL!

How does your Latinx library garden grow? By thinking strategically about gaps and opportunities in your collection, right? 

There's a webinar from the Library of Congress on Oct. 11th at 6:00 p.m. ET that should be of interest to school librarians. Here's the description:

Join the Hispanic Reading Room at the Library of Congress and Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP) in a virtual celebration of children’s and YA Latin American and Latinx literature. Hear from authors amplifying stories and voices from across Latin American and Latinx communities for young readers. We invite families, educators, and students to take part in this unique celebration during Hispanic Heritage Month.

This live virtual program will feature award-winning authors Angela Burke Kunkel (Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built), Aida Salazar (Land of the Cranes), and Yamile Saied Méndez (Furia). 

Click on the link above to register.

  Pre K - 2    3 - 5    6 - 8    9 - 12    English/Language Arts    Library    Latinx Literature    YA Literature    National Hispanic American Heritage Month