Bushwick Ascend Middle School Multilingual Learners Connect Past and Present at the Tenement Museum

Multilingual learners from Bushwick Ascend Middle School recently visited the Tenement Museum for a full tour conducted in Spanish, giving students the opportunity to explore stories of immigration while reflecting on their own journeys.

As the country looks ahead to America 250, the 250th anniversary of the United States, experiences like this offer students a meaningful way to engage with the people, cultures, and histories that have shaped New York City and the nation. For our multilingual learners, the visit was not only a history lesson. It was an opportunity to see their own stories as part of a larger American story.

Designed for students who have immigrated to the United States within the past one to three years, the field trip used interactive exhibits and real immigrant stories to help students make connections across time. As they moved through the museum, students learned about families who came to New York more than a century ago and reflected on the similarities between those experiences and their own lives today.

The Spanish-language tour helped students participate fully and confidently, supporting language development in both English and their home language. It also created space for students to share, listen, and recognize the value of their voices, cultures, and perspectives.

This trip also connected to Ascend’s commitment to global citizenship. By learning about immigration through both historical and personal lenses, students deepened their understanding of identity, resilience, community, and belonging. They practiced engaging across cultures and saw how diverse backgrounds strengthen our shared future.

The experience also celebrated students’ academic and social growth as multilingual learners, including their hard work, resilience, and participation in state testing. At Ascend, we are proud to provide opportunities for students of all backgrounds to engage deeply with history, language, and the world around them.

Experiences like this help students connect classroom learning to real-world history while affirming that their languages, cultures, and stories matter.