Latinx Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) offers a valuable opportunity for special educators to create meaningful, inclusive learning experiences for all students, especially in small group settings. For TK-12 educators, this month isn’t just about celebrating cultural traditions; it’s a chance to deepen students’ understanding of other cultures, promote cultural pride, and foster empathy.

<p>Latinx Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) offers a valuable opportunity for special educators to create meaningful, inclusive learning experiences for all students, especially in small group settings. For TK-12 educators, this month isn’t just about celebrating cultural traditions; it’s a chance to deepen students’ understanding of other cultures, promote cultural pride, and foster empathy.</p>

<p>Working in small groups allows you to tailor activities to students’ abilities, strengths, and learning styles while building a supportive environment where every student’s voice matters. Below are best practices for planning and facilitating small group lessons that honor Latinx cultures and contributions. Be sure to check out the online resources listed at the end of this post!</p>

<h2>Start with Representation that Reflects Your Students</h2>
<p>Start with Representation that Reflects Your Representation matters, especially for students who may rarely see their own cultures reflected in the curriculum. Use authentic, age-appropriate texts, images, music, and media created by Latinx authors and artists. Ensure the materials show diversity within the Latinx community - Afro-Latinx, Indigenous, and multiracial identities, so students understand there is no single “Latinx experience.”</p>

<p><strong>Small Group Activity Idea:</strong></br>
Read bilingual picture books or excerpts from middle/high school literature and invite students to connect the story to their own experiences. For non-readers or emerging readers, use visual storytelling or audio versions. </p>

<h2>Embed Multiple Access Points for Learning</h2>
<p>Students in special education settings may need differentiated methods to engage with content. Offer multiple entry points - visuals, hands-on materials, movement, and discussion to make learning accessible to all.</p>
<p><strong>Small Group Activity Idea:</strong></br>
Create a collaborative art piece or online bulletin board inspired by a Latinx artists (e.g., Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Carmen Lomas Garza). Assign tasks based on strengths - research, drawing or digital design, or adding labels in English and/or Spanish. Canva is a great resource to create an online, collaborative art piece or bulletin board!
</p>

<h2>Center Student Voice and Choice</h2>
<p>Allow students to explore aspects of Latinx heritage that are meaningful to them. Give choices in projects - music, dance, sports, history, or food traditions so they feel ownership over their learning.</p>
<p><strong>Small Group Activity Idea:</strong></br>
Host a “mini museum” where each student presents one fact, object, piece of art, or image they learned about a Latinx figure or tradition. Include assistive technology, visuals, or AAC devices for students who communicate non-verbally.
</p>


<h2>Connect Cultural Learning to Social-Emotional Skills</h2>
<p>Latinx Heritage Month can be a powerful way to teach empathy, respect, and cultural humility. Discuss themes like family, community, and resilience that resonate across cultures.</p>
<p><strong>Small Group Activity Idea:</strong></br>
Have students practice “appreciation circles” where they share something they learned about another student’s culture or heritage. Model sentence starters and provide visual support for younger learners.</p>

<h2>Partner with Families and Community</h2>
<p>Involve families by inviting them to share stories, recipes, or music. Collaborating with community members not only enriches lessons but also strengthens home-school connections.</p>

<p><strong>Small Group Activity Idea:</strong></br>
Create a class virtual bulletin board or cookbook featuring family recipes and short personal stories, adapted into accessible formats (visual recipe cards, audio recordings).</p>

<h2>Online Resources for Educators</h2>
<p> Here are five trusted resources to help you plan inclusive, culturally responsive lessons for Latinx Heritage Month:</p>
<ol>
    <li><a href="https://latino.si.edu/" target="_blank">Smithsonian Latino Center</a> - Offers free bilingual resources, virtual exhibits, and lesson plans on Latinx history and culture.</li>

    <li><a href="https://www.teachingforchange.org/educator-resources" target="_blank">Teaching for Change</a> - Latinx Heritage Month - Culturally responsive teaching strategies and book lists for all grade levels.</li>

    <li><a href="https://www.colorincolorado.org/" target="_blank">Colorín Colorado</a> - Practical tips and bilingual resources for supporting English Language Learners, including many Latinx-focused materials.</li>

    <li><a href="https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/teaching-tools/book-lists/24-books-to-celebrate-hispanic-heritage-month.html" target="_blank">Scholastic -The Best Books to Celebrate Hispanic and Latine Heritage</a> - Read and share stories that center the Hispanic and Latine experience with these fiction and nonfiction books for grades TK-12.</li>

    <li><a href="https://www.edutopia.org/article/canva-culturally-resopnsive-teaching" target="_blank">Using Canva to Support English Learners</a> - Practical tips on using Canva’s AI and design tools to to support the needs of multilingual learners.</li>

</ol>






Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month in Small Groups: Tips for Special Educators

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