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This collection of articles offers a variety of views on immigration policy and immigrant personal narratives. Lexile levels may be adjusted for the student's requirements.

Why Chosen: It is a contemporary and timely subject for students from immigrant backgrounds. It provides a ground for argumentative essays grounded on multiple sources.

ELL Support: Leveled texts, comprehension quizzes, and language scaffolds support differentiated learning.

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Running Head: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION | PDF | Illegal Immigration To The United States | Emigration, Immigration, and Refugees

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This document discusses illegal immigration and the separation of families at the US-Mexico border. It provides background on how people become illegal immigrants and an overview of President Trump’s stance on illegal immigration, which includes a zero-tolerance policy and support for separating families apprehended crossing the border illegally. The document also examines arguments for and against separating children from their parents in this situation, noting that most survey respondents from UTEP opposed this practice due to the negative effects separation can have on children.

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CommonLit: "Should We Raise the Minimum Wage?"

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CommonLit: "Should We Raise the Minimum Wage?"

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Description: This reading argumentative has both arguments of the minimum wage law. It includes comprehension questions as well as discussion questions.
Why Chosen: Tackles real issues most students and families face. Invites students to think critically about economic justice.
ELL Support: Includes guided reading questions and vocabulary support; Spanish is an option.

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Prepare and empower students for end-of-year testing. CommonLit is here to help with standards-based instruction, targeted test prep, and assessment practice for just $3,850 / year! Get a quote. Dismiss Announcement

For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your web browser.

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Prepare and empower students for end-of-year testing. CommonLit is here to help with standards-based instruction, targeted test prep, and assessment practice for just $3,850 / year! Get a quote. Dismiss Announcement Dismiss Announcement For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript.

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Facing History: “My Part of the Story: Exploring Identity in the U.S.”

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Facing History: “My Part of the Story: Exploring Identity in the U.S.”

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Description: A unit where students get to explore their identities through story, discussion, and writing. Students develop a sense of agency and voice.

Why Chosen: This material enables student voices and claims cultural identity—essential for inclusive classrooms.

ELL Support: Offers guided writing prompts, sentence starters, and reflective discussion questions ideal for language learners.

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Get the print or PDF version of our unit designed to launch a course on US history, literature, or civics through an investigation of identity.

Civics & Citizenship

History

Culture & Identity

Democracy & Civic Engagement

My Part of the Story is a collection of six lesson plans designed to help you launch a course on United States history, literature, or civic life in a fresh and engaging way-through an exploration of students' identities.

Students begin the unit by investigating their own choices and experiences. They then examine the factors that help make each of us who we are, including our names, labels, choices, and family legacies. Students ultimately develop an understanding that the identity of the United States is the dynamic collection of many voices, and that their choices and their stories fuel its dynamism.

Throughout the unit, you are provided with structured activities, handouts, and teaching strategies that support your students' engagement with primary and secondary source readings, videos, and images.

Most teachers are willing to tackle the difficult topics, but we need the tools.

- Gabriela Calderon-Espinal, Bay Shore, NY

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My Part of the Story: Exploring Identity in the United States

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Get the print or PDF version of our unit designed to launch a course on US history, literature, or civics through an investigation of identity.

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Learning for Justice: “Perspectives for a Diverse America”

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Learning for Justice: “Perspectives for a Diverse America”

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Description: This collection includes diverse anchor texts and writing prompts that address race, gender, ability, and identity.

Why Chosen: Encourages students to write arguments on justice-related issues using authentic texts.

ELL Support: Materials include graphic texts, leveled reading, and graphic organizers to assist in comprehension and language generation.

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Skip to main content

Build literacy and social emotional skills while exploring meaningful texts. Unlike conventional or scripted lesson plans, these strategies allow you to select and combine vocabulary, reading, and speaking and listening activities, customizing a pathway that supports your instructional goals. Each strategy is Common Core-aligned and includes a special note about English language learners and connections to anti-bias education.

"Many of my colleagues believe our fourth-graders are too young to hold discussions around issues of race, place, class and gender equity. Asking open-ended, higher-order, standards-based questions around these topics is much easier thanks to your work!"

Grades K-2

Foster a love of reading in early-grades students with strategies that build familiarity and confidence with texts. Each Common Core-aligned strategy includes explicit connections to anti-bias education and adaptations for English language learners.

Grades 3-12

Meet the demands of the Common Core State Standards with strategies that foster vocabulary, close reading, and speaking and listening skills. Each strategy includes explicit connections to anti-bias education and adaptations for English language learners.

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Build literacy and social emotional skills while exploring meaningful texts. Unlike conventional or scripted lesson plans, these strategies allow you to select and combine vocabulary, reading, and speaking and listening activities, customizing a pathway that supports your instructional goals. Each strategy is Common Core-aligned and includes a special note about English language learners and connections to anti-bias education.

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Summary: A two-girl, Black-and-white, picture book, literally separated by a fence under segregation. Its themes of isolation and togetherness are explored by students.

Why Chosen: Engaging and concise narrative to lead into argumentative writing on equity and friendship.

Support for ELL: Readable words, excellent visual prompts, and brevity make it ideal for Emerging/Expanding ELP level learners.

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A fence stretches through the town where Clover, the young African American narrator... read more

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Listenwise: “The Debate Over Bilingual Education”

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Listenwise: “The Debate Over Bilingual Education”

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Description: In this audio story, arguments supporting as well as opposing bilingual education are presented. Students listen and then create their own arguments about language rights.

Why Chosen: Directly relevant to the lives of ELLs; enables students to use self-advocacy in academic writing.

ELL Support: Content based on listening with transcripts, vocabulary lists, and comprehension questions.

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TED Talk: “The Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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TED Talk: “The Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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Description: A powerful speech on how stereotypes limit our understanding of people and cultures.
Why Chosen: Takes students in writing arguments about representation, cultural bias, and voice. Develops global consciousness.
ELL Support: Transcripts and subtitles; can be chunked and reviewed in segments.

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Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

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Colorín Colorado: “Argumentative Writing and ELLs” Toolkit

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Colorín Colorado: “Argumentative Writing and ELLs” Toolkit

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Description: A teacher resource book specially created to support ELLs in argumentative writing achievement. Includes strategies, examples, and ELD alignment.
Selected For: Designed for multilingual learners. Values equity, voice, and access to writing teaching.
ELL Support: Embedded with images, sentence frames, vocabulary banks, and ELP level 1–4 step-by-step assists.

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Colorín Colorado is a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs). Colorín Colorado is an educational service of WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation’s capital, and receives major funding from our founding partner, the AFT, and the National Education Association. © Copyright 2023 WETA Public Broadcasting.

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1. "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

🔗 Book Trailer & Resource
📘 Why: This novel explores Latinx identity, family dynamics, and mental health. Students can write argument essays on cultural expectations or personal identity. Great for students with Latin American heritage.
Use: Text-based analysis, evidence gathering, and building claims.

This book discusses identity, family pressure, loss, and mental illness from a Mexican-American teenager's point of view. Students can perform argument writing activities on cultural pressure, uniqueness, and autonomy.

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Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)

"This book will change everything. . . . A perfect book about imperfection." -Juan Felipe Herrera, Poet Laureate of the United States

"A wonderfully complex and interesting character." - Los Angeles Review of Books

"Blistering. Julia's persona rockets off the page and into your face from the get-go." - Christian Science Monitor

"If you ever wanted to [understand] the harsh truths of immigrant life, this is the book you need to read." -Bustle

"As poignant as it is incisive." -AV Club

"An earnest and heartfelt tale." - Booklist

"A timely and must-have account of survival in a culturally contested world." - SLJ, Starred

"Beautifully written." - Shelf Awareness, Starred "Ultimately, it's Julia herself who's the key to the novel... She'll resonate with many readers, and they'll be glad to see her make it through a tough time." -The Bulletin, starred review

Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year SELECTION 2018

Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List SELECTION 2019

Virginia Capitol Choices Award List SELECTION 2018

National Book Award for Young People's Literature FINALIST 2017

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I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez: 9781524700515 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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Skip to Main Content (Press Enter) "This book will change everything. . . . A perfect book about imperfection." -Juan Felipe Herrera, Poet Laureate of the United States "A wonderfully complex and interesting character." - Los Angeles Review of Books "Blistering. Julia's persona rockets off the page and into your face from the get-go."