Rahway First-Graders Celebrate Hispanic Heritage and Families

At Rahway’s Roosevelt Elementary School, first-graders recently completed a month-long exploration of Hispanic Heritage Month that went beyond textbooks and into the personal stories of their own families.

Teachers Ms. Caraballo, Ms. Alvarez, Ms. Castro, and Ms. Marchica created a classroom experience that immersed students in the cultures, traditions, and histories of Hispanic and Latino communities. Throughout the month, the first-grade classroom became a hub of global exploration where students read diverse literature, learned about various nations, and completed special passport books as they studied the Dominican Republic, Argentina, and Peru.

But the most meaningful part of the celebration connected students directly to their own identities and family heritage.

Inspired by Juana Martinez-Neal’s children’s book “Alma and How She Got Her Name,” Ms. Caraballo and Ms. Alvarez guided the first-graders in a discussion about the importance and origins of their own names. Rather than keeping the conversation in the classroom, teachers sent the question home: How did you receive your name?

Students then had a family connection assignment. They spoke with their relatives to find out the stories, meanings, and traditions behind their names. Back in class, they shared these personal stories with their peers—stories that often carried special meanings, memories, and deep-rooted family traditions.

“Names often carry special meanings, memories, and deep-rooted family traditions,” the lesson reinforced to students. For first-graders, this wasn’t an abstract lesson about culture. It was personal. It was their names. It was their families’ stories.

The approach reflects a broader educational philosophy at Rahway Public Schools: that cultural awareness and family engagement go hand in hand. By connecting classroom learning to home and family experience, teachers help young students understand that their own family stories are part of a larger cultural and historical narrative.

As Hispanic Heritage Month draws to a close at mid-October, Roosevelt Elementary’s first-graders carry forward what they learned—not just facts about different countries and cultures, but a deeper understanding of where they come from and why those connections matter.

FAQ

Q: What is Hispanic Heritage Month, and when is it celebrated?
A: Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15 each year. It honors the contributions and cultural heritage of Hispanic and Latino Americans, celebrating their histories, traditions, and ongoing impact on American society.

Q: How did teachers connect classroom learning to family at Roosevelt Elementary?
A: Teachers used the children’s book “Alma and How She Got Her Name” to start discussions about name origins and meanings. Students then took a family connection assignment home, interviewing relatives about how they received their names. Students returned to class and shared these personal stories with their peers, connecting cultural learning to their own families’ histories and traditions.

Q: Why is family engagement important in cultural education?
A: Family engagement helps students see that cultural awareness and heritage are not abstract concepts—they are personal, living parts of their own lives. By connecting classroom learning to home experiences and family stories, teachers help young students understand their place in a larger cultural narrative and develop deeper connections to their identities.

Q: What books and activities did the first-graders complete?
A: Students read diverse literature throughout the month, learned about various Hispanic nations (focusing on the Dominican Republic, Argentina, and Peru), and completed special passport books. The centerpiece activity was inspired by “Alma and How She Got Her Name,” which led to discussions about names and a family interview project.