How to Use Book Companions to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually in the US from September 15 – October 15. This month offers teachers a great opportunity to give students exposure to Hispanic cultures. Hispanic Heritage Month Book Companions can help you do that through great literature and related activities!
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Hispanic Heritage Month Book Companions
The concept of “windows and mirrors” in education focuses on how teachers can incorporate cultural diversity into the classroom. Windows are stories that offer a look into the worlds and experiences of other people. Mirrors are a way for students to see themselves and their backgrounds reflected in classroom materials. Both windows and mirrors are important for students’ self-esteem, empathy, and understanding of the world! By celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and incorporating multicultural texts, we are giving students the opportunity to both learn about other cultures and see their own lives reflected in books.
In the bundle, there are activities for four texts that reflect a variety of Hispanic experiences and cultures. They are:
- “The Dead Family Diaz” by P.J. Bracegirdle
- “Pepe and the Parade” by Tracey Kyle
- “Islandborn” by Junot Díaz
- “Just Ask!” by Sonia Sotomayor
What are Book Companions?
Simply Special Ed’s Book Companions are supplemental materials for already published books. The activities included with book companions help students to engage with picture books, extend their understanding of texts, and work on targeted skills.
All book companions come with these elements:
- Teacher planning guide
- Suggested materials list
- Story Map
- Story sequencing
- Vocabulary clip cards and matching activity
- Three levels of leveled comprehension worksheets
- Craft project with related sentence and sequencing worksheet
- Visual supports
The picture books/texts are not included with the companions. But, these books are easy to find in bookstores and online, at the library, and even on YouTube read alouds! You can check out a FREE book companion for “Round is a Tortilla” here!
Using Story Maps
All book companions include a story map. This activity helps students become familiar with the elements of a story. That is so helpful for promoting conversations about books! I love that every book companion utilizes a story map, because that repetition helps students master the title, character, setting, and what happened.
Vocabulary Practice
Each book companion comes with several vocabulary options. First off, there are three levels of vocabulary in the set. Level one uses pictures only. Level two has words with picture support, and level three is text only. There is a vocabulary chart to introduce and teach the meaning of the words. Then, there are vocabulary review activities including picture matching and vocab clip cards.
I like to review vocab words before our first reading of the story. Then, as we read I highlight the words as they come up. Finally, students do vocab practice activities throughout the week to help make these new words stick!
Visual Crafts
Making a craft is a fun supplement to a book. But crafting in the classroom can be functional as well! Visual crafts are a wonderful way to help students build independence! Students will use visual directions to complete a craft project. Each craft has step-by-step visual instructions, a cut-and-paste sentence, materials checklists, a craft sequencing activity, and a review survey. So, in addition to the creative and fine motor work students will do with the craft, they will also work on writing, sequencing, and self-monitoring skills!
Comprehension
Helping students build comprehension is so important! When you utilize book companions, you are giving your students a way to build comprehension progress toward their goals. Book companions come with leveled worksheets. They are a great way to check understanding! If you have ever used Simple Comprehension stories in your classroom, you will recognize these worksheets. Level one has picture comprehension, level two has lines for a written response, and level three has a blank response spot. The format is familiar and predictable, so it is easy to add these to your students’ routine!
More Ideas for Your Classroom
The celebration of Hispanic culture doesn’t have to stop at the end of Hispanic Heritage Month. And of course, cultural recognition can include more than just books! Making a recipe is always a hit, and things like nachos or quesadillas are simple to make in the classroom. I also like to have my students try foods that originate in Latin America, such as papaya and avocado. Playing Hispanic music or exploring with instruments such as maracas, claves, and bongos is another fun way to explore different cultures.
These book companions will be a valuable way to add more diversity to your classroom. What other ideas do you have for acknowledging Hispanic Heritage Month and Hispanic culture in your classroom? Share your ideas with us below! And finally, you can read more tips for utilizing book companions here.
