Hispanic Heritage Month
Resources from the Academic Division
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Resources for the Classroom
- National Hispanic Heritage Month for teachers
- History.com Resources
- 5 Things to Know about National Hispanic Heritage Month
- What Is Hispanic Heritage Month and Why Do People Celebrate It?
- Education | Latino Americans | PBS
- 100 titles with authentic, affirming Latinx representation
- Latinx Authors (959 titles)
- Migration Stories (296 titles)
- Spanish Language Fiction (2,211 titles)
- Spanish Language Nonfiction (898 titles)
- Together with Dia, a Smore newsletter featuring ideas for celebrating Dia, a nationally recognized initiative founded by Pat Mora that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds.
- Celebrate Hispanic Culture, 14 literacy units which celebrate Hispanic culture.
- Hispanic Authors and Illustrators, a list of critically-acclaimed authors and illustrators with cover art and links to their websites.
- Presentation by Janet Damon on the book Dreamers.
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Click here to learn about local events throughout the month to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hispanic and Latinx Heritage:
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates and honors the culture, contributions and influence of individuals who identify as Hispanic and Latinx. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the month honors “the culture and traditions of those who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.”
Hispanic and Latino are used interchangeably by many—Hispanic is a term used to describe someone of Spanish-speaking origin, while Latino, Latina, and Latinx are used to describe a person of Latin American origin—the celebration, according to the official description, recognizes those whose roots are from a country that speaks Spanish as the primary language, hence why it is primarily referred to as “Hispanic Heritage Month.” Learn more here.
Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope
The theme of the 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month is Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope. According to the National Council of Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM), “the theme invites us to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and to reflect on how great our tomorrow can be if we hold onto our resilience and hope.” It is a way to recognize and honor the ways in which hope has persisted in the face of the challenges faced this year.
Click here for additional information on the history of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Additional Resources:
- Press release about the theme
- Hispanicmonth.net information about the theme
- Events offered by the Smithsonian to learn more about Hispanic/Latinx culture and heritage
- What is Hispanic Heritage Month
Calling for Student Submissions! Share Student Work & Art for Hispanic Heritage Month
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From Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, we will be joining in local and national celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month. We want to feature how our students are learning about, connecting with, interpreting and celebrating this cultural moment through their writing, artwork, music, photos and videos. We’ll share submissions on our website and social media channels at the end of the celebration. Submitted content may be screened for a focus on highlighting the moment and grounding in our vision of equity, inclusion and belonging for all students and community. Please email your submissions to DPSEquity@dpsk12.org by Sept. 28 for consideration.
