Making Connections With The House on Mango Street By: Angela Golden EDUC-5453 Summer 2011

Explanation In this lesson I will be helping the students identify who they are by going over Part I of the book with them. We will look at Sections 1-4. I want the students to see how they can relate to Esperanza.

Explanation We will start by looking at my background. Then we will do a book walk to discover what the students think the book is about. I will be building on the students background in the lesson. I will also use comprehensible input. Then I will have the students create a poem about themselves in groups and we will go over them in class.

My Background My name is Angela Maiju Golden. My name means Angel. I am African American, Indian, and French. I am the youngest of 3 girls. I was born in Germany. I have lived in Germany, Louisiana, and Texas. My father was in the Army.

My Background My mother has 6 sisters and 4 bothers. My dad has 5 sisters and 5 brothers. I have many cousins. I have two older sisters. I also have 4 nephews and 1 niece. I have two sons. I love working with children.

My Background Most people say I am nice, kind hearted, and sweet. I am a full figured woman. I also have many curves. People say that they love my smile. I have medium length black hair and brown eyes. I am tall.

Book Walk Books will be passed out. What do you think the story is about? Who do you think the main character is? How old do you think the character is? How do you think the character feels about herself? How many members do you think she has in her family?

Section 1: The House on Mango Street She has two parents. She has two brothers and 1 sister. Her family used to move a lot. Her family brought the house on Mango Street and they no longer have to move. She is ashamed of where she has lived and the house on Mango Street.

Section 2: Hairs She describes the different types of hair in her family. She doesn’t like her hair because she can’t get it to do what she wants. Her sister’s hair is smooth and oily. Her mother’s hair is beautiful and smells like bread.

Section 3: Boys and Girls The boys and girls in the neighborhood don’t socialize. Her brothers won’t speak to her in public. She talks to her younger sister Nenny. She has to baby sit Nenny. She wants a friend. She says that she feels like a “ red balloon tied to an anchor”.

Section 4: My Name Her name is Esperanza. In English her name means hope. In Spanish it means too many letters, sadness, and waiting. She was named after her great-grandmother. She is Chinese and Mexican. Esperanza and her grandmother were born in the Chinese year of the horse.

Section 4: My Name She thinks that her background discourages her from being strong. She has never met her great-grandmother. Her great-grandmother was forced into marriage and she never forgave her husband. Because of this she gazed sadly out the window. Esperanza doesn’t want to “inherit her place by the window”. Esperanza wants to change her name. She decides on ZeZe the X.

Poem Example Angela is what they call me. It means Angel you see. I have a large family. My body is not built like a tree. I have curves that go on for miles. People say, “I love it when she smiles.” My eyes are like almonds baked in the sun. I enjoy teaching students while having fun.

Group Work Students will get into groups of three. They will discuss how they can relate to Esperanza and how they are different. They will discuss their backgrounds and come up with their own individual poems. They will read their poems to the class.

Conclusion The House on Mango Street will allow the students to express their feelings about things. They can relate to the character because of situations she encounters and how she feels. The poem will allow them to put their feelings into words.

Conclusion Giving the students a book walk will help them think about the story. Reading part 1 aloud and summarizing it will help them comprehend it better. Speaking in content that they understand and at a slower pace will also help them. Creating their own individual poems will help them express their feelings about themselves.