New - Chiv Suab HMong RPA Curriculum (Summer 2026)

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Chiv Suab is a Hmong Foundational Skills Program using the framework of UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute). It is an explicit and systematic program that teaches students the foundational skills necessary for proficient reading is an implementation and research effort to test a revitalized Scope & Sequence for Hmong language instruction, aligned with the broader goals of the project. Under the direct partnership and consultation with UFLI, Dr. Holly Lane and her experts literacy team created a foundational skills program approved by the MDE (Minnesota Department of Education) used for the State of MN literacy program. UFL is recognized nationally. After extensive literacy foundations training by a team of St. Paul Public School Hmong language teachers, led by See Pha Vang, a grant was pursued to work alongside Dr. Holly Lane and her team to create the Chiv Suab Program. The Chiv Suab curriculum will be piloted with the HMong RPA Project in the 2026-2027 school year. Follow the journey at: www.hmongrpaproject.com

Because it is grant funded, the curriculum Chiv Suab has a Memorandum of Understanding with UFLI that Chiv Suab-Hmong Phonic Program is open source available to the community. Chiv Suab does NOT belong to SPPS or UFLI, it belongs to the community. Any duplication of this material to be sold is strictly prohibited. For classroom use ONLY.

Send questions & inquiries to: seepha.vang@spps.org - click here for access to the materials.

Summer 2021 Hmong Ethnic Studies Workshop for Educators

Hmong ethnic studies digs deeper into our narratives, how we intersect with society, understanding oppression, the trauma that we carry, etc… to healing ourselves in our own journey to letting it all go, finding our voice and thriving to be the best. We must learn how to heal ourselves as teachers and help our students take their journey.

Hmong Ethnic Studies Curriculum Guide and Lessons

Through their training and own self-healing, the committee developed a Hmong Ethnic Studies scope and sequence, units, and lesson plans.

Ethnic Studies Resources

Many of our resources are embedded in our workshop and curriculum section; however these are additional resources you may find helpful with Ethnic Studies.

People in Our Community

By: Chong Xiong

LEVEL: K-2

TAGS: writing, publication, storytelling

People in our community play an important role to the culture. This unit takes a Writer’s Workshop approach where students learn about the importance of how and why ask questions to explore a topic in which information are provided by an expert in connection to the people in the community. This unit is to prep students to build upon a shared research unit where students go deeper into researching and writing an information text.  However, to make learning successful, the unit will be taught using best practices and strategies from some well-known researchers.

Mini-book Publication with Hmong RPA

By: Choua Yang

LEVEL: K-2

TAGS: writing, publication

Learning the Hmong Roman Popular Alphabet can be fun through student mini-book publication of the mono-consonants. In this unit, you will have access to see student created mini-book publication and also the template for your students to write their own RPA alphabet mini-books.

MN Zoo Day

By: Youa Lee, See Yee Yang,
and See Pha Vang

LEVEL: K-9 through K-12

TAGS: animals, research, reading, writing

Language day at the zoo! Present the project to students by telling students what a language day at MN ZOO is about. Teach students how to research and gather information using these materials. This will be a 4 week scope of researching animals, translating images, displaying them, ending off the project with creating an activity and presentation.

Learning History Through Storytelling

By: Philip Thao

LEVEL: K-6 to K-8

TAGS: writing, publication, storytelling

Stories are powerful and with less than 3% of our Hmong elders in the United States living today, we must capture their perspectives before it’s too late. There is currently no United States History textbooks that includes the Hmong people and the Secret War Operation in Laos during the Vietnam War. Therefore, by conversing with Hmong elders in the community, organic history of the Hmong can evolve through storytelling giving students opportunity to interact with elders, create an authentic piece of text, and practice public speaking.

Write to a Penpal

By: Richard Hawj

LEVEL: K-4 through K-6

TAGS: writing, letters, penpals, literacy

Writing is a hard skill and usually the last one to be developed. Use penpals to practice writing in Hmong. This unit will outline the necessary parts of a letter.

Storytelling with
Our Families

By: Yer Thao

LEVEL: K-2

TAGS: Story telling, writing, publication

Stories are an important part of life. For thousands of years, the Hmong people told stories from one generation to another to keep their stories alive. People use stories to make sense of our world and to share their unique cultural differences. Stories are the signal within the noise. It is so powerful that we can see them even when they are not there. Storytelling is also a tool for students to connect their learning to their real life. Students will interview family members of their past to connect their learning with writing through storytelling.

History
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The Hmong New Year

By: May Choua Thao

LEVEL: K-9 to K-12

TAGS: Hmong New Year, HNY, Noj Peb Caug, customs,

This lesson plan has a threefold purpose: define the meaning of “Noj Peb Caug”, learn the phases of “Noj Peb Caug”, and explain how this celebration helps define you as a Hmong person.  Ideally, this lesson should be taught around the Hmong New Year celebration because it allows students to go to the event and interview Hmong people from different age groups about their knowledge of “noj peb caug.”  Additionally, through readings and interactions with guest speakers, students will synthesize their learning and respond to the above threefold question/purpose. This lesson plan can be stretched from two weeks to a month depending on the students’ levels and abilities.  The amount of materials and activities in this lesson can be overwhelming, so teachers can pick and choose what is relevant to their classes.

Hmong American Day

By: Phia Xiong

LEVEL: K-3 to K-6

TAGS:

This is a chance for students to explore more about the lives and people of Hmong in America.  Students (independent or in partners) will choose from different topics such as history, culture, people, events, schools, etc... to learn about or gain more detailed knowledge and how it has impacted or shape Hmong people in America and share it on Hmong American Day, May 14.  Students will need to be taught what Hmong American Day is, research on their topic, find credible resources, and how to cite their information.

Celebrations: The Hmong New Year

By: Aliah Chang

LEVEL: K-3

TAGS:

This unit is a general overview of the Hmong New Year Celebration appropriate for grades K-3, but can be adapted for any grade level of learners. The unit contains simple lessons that explores what, when, where, why, and what happens at the Hmong New Year, for young learners. Students will also learn about the simple traditional clothes that are worn to the celebration and have the opportunity to make a paper doll or a Hmong hat to demonstrate understanding.  Furthermore, students will also be able to examine how New Year celebrations occurred in the traditional villages by reading a book. To end the unit, students will tour a Hmong house and learn about a few traditional tools to allow them to step back in time and also connect the learning of a traditional Hmong New Year.

Music
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Khawv Txhiaj

by Bounthavy “Vee” Kiatoukaysy Thao

LEVEL: K-9; K-12

TAGS: kwv txhiaj, music

This unit is part of the Spring 2020 Webinar series. Instructor Bee is an expert in helping Hmong language teachers understand and teach them how write kwv txhiaj at all levels that are easy for beginners and more challenging for those who are in the intermediate and advance stages.

Learn the basics of kwv txhiaj, how to teach your students how to has kwv txhiaj, and how to write your own kwv txhiaj and sing it. The unit includes audio examples of kwv txhiaj.

Hmong Instruments

by Song Lee and Jayme Vang

LEVEL: K-6

TAGS:

This is an introduction to five Hmong instruments. It was taught in a club setting to students of Hmong descent who are still learning about Hmong language and culture. If you were to teach this, you may need to spend more time on each instrument and how to actually use them and allow students the opportunity to experience each instrument by trying and practicing with them. There are lessons and activities for seven days with with an interactive PowerPoint game and pre/post-assesment. Music_Hmong Instruments_K-6_Unit Plan This was a collaboration between Midvale’s Hmong Club students (K, 1st and 2nd graders), Song, Jayme and Xib Fwb Suav Tsab Yaj in Madison, WI.

YOUR UNIT COULD BE HERE. EMAIL US.

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We are always looking to add more Hmong created units into our website. If you’re interested in sharing your unit, please email us @ hmonglanguageresourcehub@gmail.com