Two for the Timeline

Write two important events on what we've read. These two items can be a description or very brief summary of what we read.
1.

2.

Three Item Timeline

Write three items about what we read to add to our timelines.

They can be simple descriptions of the important events of what we read.

1.

2.

3. 

I am better than you!

Luis and Esmeralda take a chance on competing to win the mascot contest at school. They were tired of seeing their schools mascot, the Aztec represented in the wrong way, by what they called "Anglo" students.They felt they knew more about the culture and what "Aztec" really represented.
Has their ever been a time when you felt you could do a better job at something than what was being done?
Write about it.
What was the situation where you thought you were better at something than what was being done?
What happend?
Did you try it and do a better job?

Ways to start...
A time when I knew I could do a better job at something was when_______________.
What happend was________________.
I tried my hardest to _________________and the results were______________.

A Break

Louie (Luis) gets caught trying to leave without paying his bill at a restaurant. Cowboy, the officer wants to take him in, but Mr Kearney cuts him a break and feels for his situation.

Write about a time where you were in a situation where someone cut you a break, when maybe they could have been harder on you.
What happened the situation?
What could have happened if they didn't cut you a break?
How did you feel in your situation?

What did you think about Louie's situation?

Community Center

At the begining of chapter 5, Luis writes about the community centers that are safe havens for the Sangra and Lomas gangs.

• What center or place is your safe haven?
• Describe it using 2-3 sentences.
• Why do you consider it your safe haven or place you feel most comfortable?

Let's brainstorm ideas:

Putting in Work

On Page 82, we read about how Luis tried to do something good for his mom by making a little money and giving it to her to help. Then she threw the money in his face and called him a hypocrite because he is doing so poorly at school and she felt like she was trying to buy his love.
Do you think that Luis was genuinely trying to help or was he really trying to buy his moms love?
What evidence in the book makes you think this way?
What advice would you have given him if he was your "homey" in this situation?

The Tribe and Botherly Love

BLOG #1: Luis introduces us to the gangs of East L.A. On page 42, he talks about how he started his gang "The Impersonations" because him and his friend Miguel needed protection.
What are your thoughts on why people join gangs?
Create a list or write your reasons out.
Do you feel like Luis will get all the things that you listed from creating his gang and then later joining "The Tribe" with Gregorio?

Why or why not?

BLOG #2 : Luis grew up with his brother beating on him and picking on him. Rano was the trouble maker growing. However as teens, Luis feels a shift happening. Rano is doing well, playing sports and on track. Luis is joining a new gang and giving teachers hell.

Describe a relationship between you and a FRIEND or FAMILY MEMBER where you grew apart.

Who is this person? How did you meet them?
What was the relationship like before you grew apart?
How is it now?
How did you feel about the change in the relationship between you and this person?

Chicken!

Luis' friend Tino calls him a chicken for not wanting to hop the fence at school and play basketball even though the school is closed. Luis decides to go. The get chased by the cops on the roof and Tino falls through the glass in the roof to the floor.


Write about a time when you've been called chicken for not doing something.

What happened?

Did you give in or hold your ground?

How did you feel about your decision?

Always Running Blog #1

Luis Rodriquez writes about his unfair experience in school. Schools placed student's whose 1st language was Spanish in classes with what he called "retarded" kids because they didn't speak English well. Schools thought it would support the students but families saw it as a form of discrimination.

Write about an experience that you have had in school where you either felt discriminated against or you were unfairly judged.

What happened during this experience?
What did you do in the experience?
How did you handle it?
How did you feel?

Weekend Check

Reflect on your weekend.

What is something you did that was pure fun (keep it school cool). Think of a movie you watched or who you hung out with.

What was something you had to do that maybe you didn't want to. Think of a family function or hanging out with someone you really didn't want to hang out with?

How did it go? What could have been better? Would you make a different choice next weekend?

Ways to start:

Something I did this weekend that was fabulous was...
I felt like this was fun because...
Something I did that I wasn't really into was...
Someone I saw that I wasn't really into hanging out with was...
I would make a different choice next week. The choice I would make is to...
I would NOT make a different choice next week. I would...