Collaboration = Celebration

The first grade teachers at Echo Hill Elementary wanted to teach their students about Holiday traditions around the world.  Normally, they taught their students about these traditions themselves.  However, this year they decided to bring in outside speakers.  Brook Martens contacted, Sheri Crandall, instructional coach at the HS and former Spanish teacher, to teach the first graders about Las Posadas, one of the Mexican Christmas traditions.

Sheri worked with Laura Robertson, instructional coach at Echo Hill, to set up a reenactment for the first grade students.  First graders went from classroom to classroom, asking for shelter and were turned away, until they made it back to the first grade pod, where Mrs. Robertson invited them in and told them they were welcome.  At the last house, all are welcomed in and drink Mexican hot chocolate, break a piñata and celebrate and eat together.  Sheri showed the first graders how hot chocolate or “chocolate” is made in Mexico. 

All first graders got to try the authentic Mexican hot chocolate.  Sheri and the students discussed the many facets that make up the Hispanic Holiday Celebrations, which begin on December 9, by honoring the Virgen of Guadalupe.  Official Catholic accounts state that the Virgin Mary appeared four times before Juan Diego. We discussed the legend and how Juan Diego was able to convince the archbishop of Mexico City to build a basilica in her honor.  After celebrating the Virgen of Guadalupe from Dec 9-12, Las Pasadas exist from Dec 16-24^th.  December 24^th is the main night (Nochebuena).  Las Posadas cumulates with the celebration of midnight mass, lasting many hours.  December 28 – el dia de los inocentes (similar to our April Fool’s day) is followed by the arrival of the 3 Kings on Jan. 6^th.  Children tie their “wishes” to balloons 3 days prior and send them up to the sky so the 3 Kings will know what to bring them.  The almost 2 month celebration comes to an end on February 2^nd with el dia de la candelaria.

The first graders listened intently as they learned about this celebration and were able to expand their horizons as they learned about many diverse celebrations throughout the world during their week of study.  What made the lesson the most meaningful was the ability to allow the first graders to actually act out Las Posadas by going from classroom to classroom and the willingness to participate by many of the teachers at Echo Hill.  This hands on experience would not have been possible with the two instructional coaches working together.  This experience shines a light on how collaboration can take place between secondary and elementary educators.  Collaboration wins again!