Reading requires more than the ability to utter aloud written or printed words. The skills to make an observation, to discover the meaning clues are necessary. A person must recognize, interpret, and attribute meaning to the written word. All of these attributes are required to be fully involved in the process of reading.
Reading as a subject in high school should include reading for information, reading a persuasive text, and reading the narrative text. Each style of reading requires different reading strategies.
What is the
House on Mango Street
about and why would I use this book?
The House on Mango Street
is written in 1984 by Sandra Cisneros. Cisneros was herself a teacher in an urban school in the Latino section of Chicago. The novel as a work of fiction is believable and real. The House on Mango Street provides connections to current social issues regarding economics for the family who has little financial resources. Many examples are provided through the eyes of the characters concerning social issues for youth such as dating, marriage, women’s roles and expectations. Many questions are asked concerning interpersonal relationships.
The House on Mango Street
is delightfully written, and students will chuckle at some of the descriptions of events found in the short vignettes. Students who have lived in situations where they have moved many times and have experienced the insecurity of not owning their own home may find this novel easy to relate to. The life challenges are realistic for the young female character. The vocabulary is not challenging. The sentences flow and serve as a good model for speech and writing structure.
Examining
The House on Mango Street
for the politics of gender provides mystery and suspense. The discovery of secret and underhanded schemes that cause faction within a family, referring mainly to father/daughters, men/women, is at the center of this unit. Are there principals and opinions that prevent communication among individuals and cause heartbreak conflict? Does this struggle result in covert maneuvers by the men and the women?
To consider the “politics” of gender I broaden a student’s comprehension of the meaning of politics. What initially comes to mind is the use of the word referring to government/group struggles. I could use the word to refer to peer groups. Now that the courts have decided that teachers are responsible for reporting sexual harassment
The House On Mango Street
could be used to further define sexual harassment.
The fact that
The House on Mango Street
uses Latino names and some descriptions of Latino culture adds to and enriches the purpose of the unit. Cultural comparisons are possible and indeed contributes to our understanding of the universality of human nature. Later in the unit the Chinese marriage laws are also included so that they may be looked at to compare how the woman has been treated in many cultures in different circumstances by the rule of law.
The House on Mango Street
provides and opportunity to examine individual response as well as the power politics between men and women. Students will have the opportunity to confront stereotyping, profiling and labeling. Students will develop flexibility when solving problems. The denial of the individual through labeling and profiling can cut off thinking and promote over simplifying of a problem. Currently profiling which is the scientific listing of descriptions of characteristic attributed to an individual is being challenged in the courts.
Students who need instant gratification can read a vignette and feel they have completed a story. The novel moves quickly and every student can be asked to read a vignette to the class with confidence that they will be successful.
The selection
The House on Mango Street
fulfills the following criteria:
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the style is vignettes
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the vocabulary is simple
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the pages are quick to read
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the book moves quickly
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the vignettes are good stories when read orally (mini-case studies)
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there is opportunity to explore interpersonal communication and social development
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students can read the story orally with confidence
I will use “The Politics of Gender in The House on Mango Street” to recognize cause-effect, fact opinion comparison-contrast, main idea, and supporting ideas as is played out in the struggle in the family. To discuss sex role stereotyping will develop awareness of personal interactions. Profiling will be used to investigate for roles. Students will be asked to make connections and to interpret information. Students will identity their own opinion. Students will learn to value their own opinion. Students will have an opportunity to express opinions orally and in writing.
I am keenly interested in the role that gender plays in culture and how it affects the family structure. The Latino expectations of men and women will be examined.