If you are like us, we are always looking for new, engaging, and relevant literature to incorporate into our classrooms. This isn’t an easy task for many reasons. First off, I’ll just say it, state testing. Sometimes, the fact that we have to teach certain test taking skills and strategies geared toward a specific exam really limits us in what we choose to include in our classroom because finding resources for new modern literature isn’t easy-- in fact, it is almost impossible.
Secondly, we have to ensure the literature is something that will engage and immerse our students in topics and conversations that are important. The dilemma is that sometimes engaging literature isn’t sparking the big conversations or if it is something that will start big conversations, it isn’t always engaging. A headache, I know.
Lastly, even if you do find something NEW, ENGAGING, and THOUGHT PROVOKING, you, the teacher, will have to find the time to create everything for the novel yourself. We know. WE DON’T HAVE THE TIME!
Between the endless duties and paperwork being assigned to teachers, when will you find the time to find a book deemed worthy of the big 3 major factors that play a role in whether it will be effective: Relevant, Engaging, and Ready to Teach.
Well, we got you!
We cannot introduce this book to you without pointing out one thing that we actually wanted to leave to the end, but we can’t. Before going into the book’s topic, themes, essential questions, novel tie-ins, and what creative and standard based curriculum is in our resource, it is important for you to know this one thing.
THIS BOOK IS LIFE CHANGING.
Now, as you all know we are avid readers, so you are probably thinking okay, they say this a lot. No, we don’t. In fact, before reading this novel, there was only ONE book we could categorize and put on the shelf as... changed my life, opened my eyes, and did the same for my students. Now, there are two. This book is everything you NEED in your classroom. Now that we have built up an appropriate amount of suspense, the book is We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez.
What is this book about?
This book follows three teens' journey from their crippling life in Guatemala to an attempt at fulfilling their dreams of a better life. This book is eye opening to the adversity some teens face. It is a heartbreaking and poignant tale gripped right from today’s headlines. But it is more than that-- there is a feeling of hope that can resonate with anyone and everyone. Hope for the dreams we may have. Hope for a better, more compassionate world. This book highlights the importance of humanity and the impact one small act of kindness can have in a person’s life. There are no better lessons than those to impart on our students.
What are the essential questions you can ask?
What is the American Dream?
Is the American dream real or an illusion?
Is the American dream attainable for all?
What does it mean to be American?
To what extent does trauma, tragedy, and adversity affect who we are?
What other literature does it pair with?
Of Mice and Men (American Dream, Friendship, Dreams, Hope, Trauma)
Night (paired selections in our resource) (Friendship, Dreams, Hope, Trauma, Human condition, lack of empathy)
La Linea (paired selections in our resource) (American Dream, Friendship, Dreams, Hope, Trauma, lack of empathy, oppression)
What does our resource include?
A & B reading check quizzes for every section
Final Exam
15 # Persuasive Prompts (formatted like the STAAR EOC)
15 # Expository Prompts (formatted like the STAAR EOC)
5 STAAR Questions and/or Paired Reading Exams
Over 30 Activities, Assignments, and Projects that incorporate figurative language, discussions, question trails, gallery walks, stations, real world application extension, and more!
The entire bundle has links for the online virtual learning resources!
Over 190 pages of READY TO TEACH resources!
Take a look for yourself.
Of all the resources we have created, this one holds a special place in our hearts because the story is one that will never leave us. With that being said, we put so much thought and work into this resource because we want YOU to have everything you need to teach it. More importantly, we want your students to have the opportunity to read and experience this book.
We created this small two staff member company to do one thing-- provide teachers with the resources they need to teach the kind of literature that will change lives. This novel is the epitome of what great writing should be, and it allows you to do just that-- change lives.
