Rocio Haro
INFO 237
Fall 2017
Cultural Text Set
Purpose:
The purpose of this text set is to help educators facilitate student learning when teaching about immigration experiences of students moving to a new home like the United States. The focus of the immigration experiences is on children from the continents of Asia and Africa. This focus was selected since many recent immigrants in the United States come from countries like India, China, Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, and many other countries with different languages and cultural customs. Finding immigrant experience books from these countries can be difficult so providing this resource for educators is important. Students will be able to learn about the immigration experiences of other children their age and how they can be supportive during their transition to their new home or school.
Grade Level: 3rd Grade
INFO 237
Fall 2017
Cultural Text Set
Purpose:
The purpose of this text set is to help educators facilitate student learning when teaching about immigration experiences of students moving to a new home like the United States. The focus of the immigration experiences is on children from the continents of Asia and Africa. This focus was selected since many recent immigrants in the United States come from countries like India, China, Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, and many other countries with different languages and cultural customs. Finding immigrant experience books from these countries can be difficult so providing this resource for educators is important. Students will be able to learn about the immigration experiences of other children their age and how they can be supportive during their transition to their new home or school.
Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Anchor Text- Picture Book: My Name is Sangoel by Karen Williams and Khandra Mohammed
Reading Level: A.R. 3.2
Sangoel is a refugee who is leaving Sudan to live in the United States. When he arrives in the United States, everything is very different. He also finds that no one can pronounce his name. Feeling lonely and homesick, he thinks of a clever way to help his classmates learn how to pronounce his name. Learning something new with his new classmates at school help him become more comfortable in his new home.
This book was selected as the anchor text because it provides a good example of what an immigrant experience may be like for a young child. Educators can use this book to begin talking with students about how immigration can bring many changes to immigrants and how everyone can help make their transition more comfortable by being supportive.
Reading Level: A.R. 3.2
Sangoel is a refugee who is leaving Sudan to live in the United States. When he arrives in the United States, everything is very different. He also finds that no one can pronounce his name. Feeling lonely and homesick, he thinks of a clever way to help his classmates learn how to pronounce his name. Learning something new with his new classmates at school help him become more comfortable in his new home.
This book was selected as the anchor text because it provides a good example of what an immigrant experience may be like for a young child. Educators can use this book to begin talking with students about how immigration can bring many changes to immigrants and how everyone can help make their transition more comfortable by being supportive.
Picture Book: One Green Apple by Eve Bunting
Reading Level: A.R. 2.6
Farah is a Muslim immigrant and can hardly speak English. She feels like an outsider amongst her new classmates. When her class goes on a field trip to an apple orchard, Farah gains confidence when she works with her classmates to make apple cider and the green apple she picks compliments the other students’ red apples.
This book was selected since it describes the immigrant experience from the point of view of a young Muslim student. She does not speak English and the author describes in great detail how difficult it can be for non-English speaking immigrants to transition to a new country and a new school. This book would be a great read-a-loud. It was also selected since it is lower in reading level so students that are below third grade reading level can read it independently.
Reading Level: A.R. 2.6
Farah is a Muslim immigrant and can hardly speak English. She feels like an outsider amongst her new classmates. When her class goes on a field trip to an apple orchard, Farah gains confidence when she works with her classmates to make apple cider and the green apple she picks compliments the other students’ red apples.
This book was selected since it describes the immigrant experience from the point of view of a young Muslim student. She does not speak English and the author describes in great detail how difficult it can be for non-English speaking immigrants to transition to a new country and a new school. This book would be a great read-a-loud. It was also selected since it is lower in reading level so students that are below third grade reading level can read it independently.
Picture Book: The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Reading Level: A.R. 3.1
Unhei (Yoon-Hey) is a new student in school having just moved from Korea to the United States. Unhei fears no one will be able to pronounce her name so she tells her classmates she will tell them what her name in the following week. Her classmates start to help Unhei choose a name by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. A classmate soon discovers her real name and its meaning which leads the rest of her classmates to encourage Unhei to choose her own special Korean name.
This book supports the anchor text by providing a different example of how many immigrants feel that they need to change their name in order to make it easier for everyone to pronounce. It also shows the immigration experience from a female student from Korea. This book can be used as a read-a-loud, independent reading, and literature circle.
Reading Level: A.R. 3.1
Unhei (Yoon-Hey) is a new student in school having just moved from Korea to the United States. Unhei fears no one will be able to pronounce her name so she tells her classmates she will tell them what her name in the following week. Her classmates start to help Unhei choose a name by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. A classmate soon discovers her real name and its meaning which leads the rest of her classmates to encourage Unhei to choose her own special Korean name.
This book supports the anchor text by providing a different example of how many immigrants feel that they need to change their name in order to make it easier for everyone to pronounce. It also shows the immigration experience from a female student from Korea. This book can be used as a read-a-loud, independent reading, and literature circle.
Chapter Book: Lowji Discovers America by Candance Fleming
Reading Level: A.R. 3.1
Lowji and his family move from Bombay, India to a tiny apartment in Hamlet, Illinois. He arrives at the beginning of summer vacation so he does not have the opportunity to make new friends at school and he also has nothing to do. Lowji describes the transition to his new life in the United States by writing letters to his best friend in India. The story shows the loneliness that can come with moving and it provides details about Indian culture (includes a glossary of terms).
This book was selected for the text set since it is a chapter book and it is at beginning third grade reading level. It also describes the immigrant experience from the point-of-view of a boy who is immigrating from India. It represents another culture than the cultures represented in the text set. This book can be used for students to read independently or as a read-a-loud.
Reading Level: A.R. 3.1
Lowji and his family move from Bombay, India to a tiny apartment in Hamlet, Illinois. He arrives at the beginning of summer vacation so he does not have the opportunity to make new friends at school and he also has nothing to do. Lowji describes the transition to his new life in the United States by writing letters to his best friend in India. The story shows the loneliness that can come with moving and it provides details about Indian culture (includes a glossary of terms).
This book was selected for the text set since it is a chapter book and it is at beginning third grade reading level. It also describes the immigrant experience from the point-of-view of a boy who is immigrating from India. It represents another culture than the cultures represented in the text set. This book can be used for students to read independently or as a read-a-loud.
Chapter Book: A Step from Heaven by An Na
Reading Level: A.R. 4.2
Young Ju moves from Korea to Southern California and learns that moving to a new place is not as blissful as she thought it would be. She finds the language barrier and cultural dissimilarities difficult, especially when trying to make new friends. As she begins to fit in, a family event will help her recognize the strength she holds and envision a future she desires and deserves.
This book was selected for the text set since it is a chapter book about the immigrant experience and it is also at a fourth-grade reading level. Students reading above reading level can read this independently or it can be used with a group of above reading level students as a literature circle.
Chapter Book: A Step from Heaven by An Na
Reading Level: A.R. 4.2
Young Ju moves from Korea to Southern California and learns that moving to a new place is not as blissful as she thought it would be. She finds the language barrier and cultural dissimilarities difficult, especially when trying to make new friends. As she begins to fit in, a family event will help her recognize the strength she holds and envision a future she desires and deserves.
This book was selected for the text set since it is a chapter book about the immigrant experience and it is also at a fourth-grade reading level. Students reading above reading level can read this independently or it can be used with a group of above reading level students as a literature circle.
Nonfiction Book: Immigration Stories by McArthur, Marcus
Reading Level: A.R. 3.3
In this nonfiction book, students will discover stories about immigrants that have come to the United States from countries around the world. Colorful images, index, table of contents, and glossary will help engage students.
This book was selected for the text set since it provides factual information using various immigrant stories from different countries. Students can use this text for independent research for assignments. Students that are below reading level can buddy read the text with a higher level reader.
Nonfiction Book (Easy Reader): Where Did Your Family Come From? by Melvin Berger
Reading Level: A.R. 2.9
This easy reader nonfiction book describes the immigrant experience using present day examples. Some of the immigrant experiences shared in the book include: Boris who left Russia because due to his father’s new job in America and Chang who moved from Korea with his family to flee the country.
This book is similar to the previous book in the list. It was selected to due to the real stories of the immigration experience. Due to its lower reading level, it was selected to provide resources for below grade level reading students to have something to use for independent research and reading.
Nonfiction Book (Easy Reader): Where Did Your Family Come From? by Melvin Berger
Reading Level: A.R. 2.9
This easy reader nonfiction book describes the immigrant experience using present day examples. Some of the immigrant experiences shared in the book include: Boris who left Russia because due to his father’s new job in America and Chang who moved from Korea with his family to flee the country.
This book is similar to the previous book in the list. It was selected to due to the real stories of the immigration experience. Due to its lower reading level, it was selected to provide resources for below grade level reading students to have something to use for independent research and reading.
Interviews & Videos - Immigration Stories of yesterday and Today: Meet Young Immigrants by Scholastic
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/young_immigrants/taylor.htm
This website hosted by Scholastic provides excellent immigration experience stories from the past and present. Students can learn about five present day young immigrants from different countries though written interviews and videos. Each young immigrant provides their name, age, place of origin, and current home. Maps of their place of origin are also included. Their written stories/interviews are easy to read and describe their experiences in school, home life, and things that they are learning about that they had not experienced before. The videos show each young immigrant being interviewed and answering more questions. There is also a separate tab with immigration statistics.
This website is a great addition to the text set since it includes technology. Students who are below reading level or learn information visually will enjoy learning about the students online. It also helps students in a class make a connection between what they are learning and that immigrants are just like them, kids. The immigration statistics tab can also be used to various classroom activities or used for research by students.