Should We Celebrate Or Cancel Latinx Heritage Month?

Latinx Heritage Month

Here’s a national celebratory month you may not be aware of. It is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. This month gives people a chance to think about the Latinx presence in history and raises conversations about the culture. But there are mixed feelings about this celebration. Hispanic Heritage Month

Let’s Celebrate!

It’s an opportunity for the Latinx community to celebrate each other. People outside the community also have a chance to learn about a culture, not of their own. It’s a chance to build awareness. But not just recognition from people outside of the community, even those of us who are second or third-generation immigrants.

Many people I speak with don’t remember ever discussing or participating in Latinx Heritage Month previously known as Hispanic Heritage Month at school. This includes my own Latino children who are 8, 17, and 19.

There are teachers who do choose to have discussions and activities around this time. What I worry about is are there any activities done outside of this month. Typically classrooms will have posters around the room and a couple of celebrations, but eventually, everyone moves on. Hispanic Heritage Books

Should We Cancel?

This month empowers a greater understanding and deeper appreciation for the enduring contributions of Latinos to our country (Guzman 2013). Here’s the issue and why many feel we should put an end to this celebration. Just like the months dedicated to celebrating Black history, Asian history, Women’s history, LGBTQ+ pride these celebrations are confined to a 28-31 day period. The whole month turns into a watered-down version of a rich history which often is relayed with immense stereotypes. It becomes superficial. Is it fair to have a one-dimensional approach to celebrating diversity? I don’t think it’s particularly meaningful or inspiring to our students. Many people refuse to acknowledge these months as an act of protest because it’s disrespectful to its community. Hispanic Heritage Month Teaching Materials

It’s a disservice for EVERYONE to plan these particular months as the ONLY time to pay attention to a country, culture, or community. Cultures should be represented every day, year-round so students can be proud of their identities, and make sense of the world around them.

If it was not clear with my earlier sentiments, this month is a reason to CELEBRATE. Latinx Heritage Month is useful for bringing in members of other communities, so they too can learn about our heritage, culture, and contributions. But we should not stop there. What we need to CANCEL is the idea of limiting diversity to a couple of days out of your week or month.

We still have a lot of work to do to incorporate different cultures and heritages into nationwide conversations. This month is a good starting point for your classroom because it brings awareness to a new community but also helps students celebrate one’s own.

Start having conversations with your district leaders, curriculum teams, or fellow staff members about incorporating diversity in students’ everyday lives. It may seem easier to do in subjects like ELA or Social Studies, but diversity can be a source of math problems as well. Look at what your curriculums focus on and adjust. Hispanic Heritage Lessons

To learn more about the cultural levels that help students understand and relate to content better click here.

 In my free resource section, you have access to:

  • Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Resource packet

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Math Struggles Ain’t Just About Numbers

Let’s be B.F.F.R—math can stress kids out. You’ve seen it: the frozen-in-place stare, the pencil tapping like it’s sending an SOS, or the classic “I CAN’T DO THIS!” meltdown before even trying. But here’s the thing—most of the time, their struggle isn’t about numbers. It’s about mindset.

What if we borrowed some life coaching techniques to help our students not just survive math but actually thrive in it? Let’s break it down into simple, practical ways you can empower your students without turning into a full-blown therapist.

 Reframe the Narrative (A.K.A. Flip the Script on “I’m Bad at Math”)

Ever notice how kids say “I’m bad at math” like it’s their official personality trait? That belief is holding them back more than any tricky word problem ever could.

How to Do It:

  • When a student says, “I suck at math,” respond with: “You’re still learning. Let’s find a way that makes sense to you.”
  • Introduce the Power of Yet: “You don’t get it… yet. But your brain is working on it!”
  • Share stories of people who struggled with math and overcame it (bonus points if you can find famous athletes, musicians, or influencers).

Remind them that they once thought tying their shoes was impossible, and look at them now—shoe-tying pros. Math is just another skill that takes practice.

Teach Emotional Regulation (Because Frustration Is a Math Blocker)

We can’t expect students to push through challenges if they’re spiraling into math-induced panic mode. When frustration kicks in, their brains hit the “I’m out!” button.

How to Do It:

  • Pause & Breathe: Before jumping to the “I CAN’T,” have students take a deep breath. Try “breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4.” Simple, but it works.
  • Break It Down: Instead of tackling the whole problem at once, ask, “What’s one thing we DO know?” Small wins build confidence.
  • Normalize Struggle: Post a sign in your classroom: “Mistakes Mean You’re Learning.” Say it. Live it. Believe it! As Naruto says.

Set Micro-Goals (Because Big Goals Can Feel Overwhelming)

If a kid already feels lost, telling them “just keep practicing” is like saying, “just climb this mountain real quick.” Instead, break it into steps.

How to Do It:

  • Instead of “Get better at multiplication,” set a goal like: “Practice a doubling/halving strategy.”
  • Use progress charts so students can SEE their growth. 
  • Celebrate the small wins! Even if they only got one more right than last time—that’s growth!

Remind them “If you can memorize every single lyric to that TikTok song, you can 100% remember a few math strategies.” 
Honestly research shows long term memory is activated when we leverage different modalities in our lessons. It’s how the brain learns math.

Shift from Performance to Progress (Because Speed Ain’t Everything)

Fluency is about thinking efficiently, not racing to the answer. The goal isn’t to turn kids into human calculators—it’s to help them use numbers flexibly.

How to Do It:

  • Replace timed tests with strategy-based challenges (ex: “How many ways can you solve 12 × 8?”).
  • Instead of praising fast answers, celebrate smart strategies: “Ooooh, I love how you broke that down!”
  • Remind them that even adults use tools like calculators and sticky notes—real math is about knowing how to approach problems, not just getting the answer instantly.

 Teach Self-Talk (Because Their Inner Voice Matters More Than You Know)

The way kids talk to themselves about math shapes their experience with it. If they constantly say, “I can’t do this,” their brain believes it. Time to switch up the self-talk game.

How to Do It:

  • Teach “I can” statements: Instead of “I don’t get it,” try “I don’t get it YET, but I can figure this out.”
  • Have students write down one math strength (even if it’s “I’m good at counting on my fingers” – that’s a start!).
  • Encourage students to talk to themselves like they’d talk to a friend. Would they tell a friend, “You’re dumb at math”? No? Then don’t say it to yourself either!

Emphasize- “You wouldn’t let your best friend talk trash about you, so don’t let your brain do it either!”

Coaching Math Mindsets for the Win

At the end of the day, teaching math fluency isn’t just about numbers—it’s about helping kids believe they can figure things out. When we shift from just teaching math to coaching their mindset, we create students who are not only fluent in math but confident in life.

So, here’s your challenge: What’s one small move you can try this week? Whether it’s shifting self-talk, celebrating small wins, or breaking down frustration, pick one and run with it.

Oh, and if you want more strategies like these, check out my Figuring Out Fluency series, (Book 1) (Book 2) where we make fluency engaging, empowering, and (most importantly) actually make sense.

And if you want more math mindset strategies, grab my Guide For Teachers To Help Students With Growth Mindset