Hispanic Americans

Hispanic students currently make up 15% of the elementary school age population.

Over the past 20 years, the enrollment of hispanic children in public elementary schools has increased over 150%

Many different ethnic groups

• Mexican
• Central and South American
• Puerto Rican
• Cuban

Cultural Values of hispanic

• Family Commitment
• Cooperation in the attainment of goals
• Spirituality
• Dignity of each individual
• Respect for Authoritative Figures

Barriers in the classroom

• Lack of social and economic resources
• Inadequate school resources
• Weak relationships with teachers
• Poor literacy environment at home 

Effective teaching practices

• Culturally Responsive Teaching
• Cooperative Learning
• Instructional Conversations
• Cognitively Guided Instruction

1) Culturally Responsive Teaching - helps the Hispanic American child relate in the classroom

This type of instruction integrates everyday issues such as family and community into the curriculum

2)Cooperative Learning - this technique allows students to work in small groups to accomplish tasks

Cooperative learning activities provide Hispanic students opportunities to develop social, academic and communication skills.

It also helps to boost confidence and decrease anxiety in Hispanic children.

3) Instructional Conversations emphasize dialogue with teachers and classmates

It also provides the opportunity for extended discourse which is an important tool when learning English.

4) Cognitively-guided instruction emphasizes learning strategies that enhance students' metacognitive development. It focuses on the direct teaching and modeling of cognitive learning strategies and giving students opportunities to practice them

This instructional approach is beneficial to Hispanic students who are not doing well in school because the students can remove some of the individual barriers to academic success by learning how to use cognitive strategies effectively.

Technology-enriched Instructions

Web based picture libraries are help when learning the English language

Digitized books are also effective tools that allow Hispanic students to request pronunciations for unknown words, request translations of sections, and ask questions.

creating a comfortable classroom environment

• Assign small group work 
• Avoid calling on Hispanics to demonstrate knowledge in front of the class
• Respect your student's cultural identity.
• Incorporate the Spanish Language into the curriculum
• Get to know your students, their family, their culture. 

As with other ethnic groups and individuals students need to know their teachers care about their well being and education

How to demonstrate authentic caring

• Add materials to the curriculum that your learner can relate to
• Visit your student's home and family to learn about their culture
• Introduce the class to foods, music and art associated with the culture
• Invite the student's parents to come in and talk with the class
• Celebrate your student's differences!