Learning about diversity

MONTICELLO, NY — On March 19, Ileytza Soto-Perez brought her grandmother (Abuela) Dolores to her fourth-grade class at K.L. Rutherford Elementary School. Abuela Dolores just moved here from Puerto Rico. She participated in the morning meeting by answering questions about her life in Puerto Rico. After the meeting, Abuela Dolores taught the class a traditional origami basket that she makes for spring. The student’s baskets were filled with spring treats. Later, the class listened to passages from “Grandma’s Records,” by Eric Velasquez. The book was written in both English and Spanish, so teacher Michelle Prestianni read the English parts and Abuela Dolores read the Spanish parts.

The book is a memoir about a Latino boy and his grandmother from Puerto Rico who loved to listen to records together. They had a chance to see Ismael Rivera at a theatre in the Bronx. Rivera dedicated a song, “En Mi Viejo San Juan,” to the boy’s grandma. Abuela Dolores told the class that the song was special because it is about coming to a new country and leaving loved ones behind. She said that you put your hand over your heart when you sing it, almost like a pledge. Then she sang the song for the class.