Diverse Texts for theme by Brianna Myers

The gift of the Magi

bmyers59 — 2024-08-04 23:50:09 UTC

The story focuses on making a personal sacrifice to make someone else happy (provide them with something). This story students can possible connect to prior personal experience while they are learning how to identify themes.

Do I Belong Here?/ ¿Es Este Mi Lugar?

bmyers59 — 2024-08-05 00:16:21 UTC

This text focuses on the story of an immigrant boy who is learning to find where he belongs. It will allow students to connect to or learn more about the struggles of moving to a country where you don't speak the language as well as provide a fairly easily identifiable theme.

The Invisible Boy

bmyers59 — 2024-08-05 00:19:57 UTC

The story focuses on themes of kindness and the main character is a quieter boy who feels "invisible" but works up the courage to make a new friend. Students will be able to use this text to be able to identify a theme and supporting evidence that mirrors their own experiences.

Red: A crayon's story

bmyers59 — 2024-08-05 00:24:46 UTC

This text provides an insight into what it's like to not be what everyone wants you to be. While it's a "silly" picture book, the simplified text will provide all students with access to the content (even those who are not as proficient in English). As well as provide students with the opportunity to experience what life might be like for their peers who don't conform to the label they have been given.

The Rose That Grew from Concrete

bmyers59 — 2024-08-05 00:29:57 UTC

This is a collection of poems from the journals of rapper Tupac Shakur. Students would be able to read a few and choose one poem that spoke to them to focus on for their assignment. This book provides not only an insight into the life of a very famous figure, but also provides mirrors and windows for students about topics of poverty, perseverance, feeling isolated, and living in a world that doesn't seem to want you. All experiences students of color or low-income status can relate to.

Those Shoes

bmyers59 — 2024-08-05 00:32:47 UTC

This story focuses on identifying the differences between "wants" and "needs" a conversation low-income students have had many times. The themes of this book are easily identifiable making it a great text to use for this unit and being a picture book, makes it easier for students to identify the theme and understand it's content.

The Hungry Coat

bmyers59 — 2024-08-05 00:36:56 UTC

This story is from a Turkish fable and provides students with a look into how universal fable lessons (don't judge a book by it's cover) are across all different sorts of cultures. This also exposes students to Turkish culture both verbally and visually.

The Empty Pot

bmyers59 — 2024-08-05 00:39:22 UTC

The main character of this text is Chinese and is undergoing a test to potentially become the next Emperor. The story provides an insight into older Chinese culture and a great theme for students to identify.

I Walk with Vanessa

bmyers59 — 2024-08-05 00:42:55 UTC

This story is told only in pictures, and takes place in a neighborhood with primarily people of color. The fact that there are no words aside from the title might provide some students with a challenge when trying to figure out the theme, but also can provide students with an excellent opportunity to read a book without the language demands of actually having to read it. The story provides students with an opportunity to use context clues to better identify a chain of events as well as an opportunity to see themselves reflected in the content of the story (standing up to bullying)