This three-week novel unit is based on the book, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. The novel unit was created to be used for tenth or eleventh grade regent classes. What makes this novel different and unique to use is the structure of the novel, which is not seen a lot in recent writing. It allows the students to experience a different style of writing than what they are used to reading. The House on Mango Street is a book of short stories, character sketches and vignettes. Each story is different but when put together they tell the story of Esperanza Cordero and the struggle and life of her and her Mexican American family and friends.
Sandra Cisneros is the author of many acclaimed novels including Women Hollering Creek and Other Stories which won the Quality paperback book club new voices awards, the Amsfield-Wolf book award and the Hannan Foundation literary award. The House on Mango Street was awarded the American book award in 1985. Many prominent authors such as Gwendolyn Brooks, and Bebe Moore Campbell have praised the book on its unique style and Cisneros� �creation of unforgettable characters�.
The lesson plan is language and performance-based ending with a webquest that the students will have to complete. There is also an online discussion board which will allow the students to discuss aspects of the book outside of the classroom. The discussion board also serves as an online journal for the students.
The language in the novel may seem simple at first, but it possesses a richness of poetry in each vignette. The novel unit also incorporates the use of other literature and media sources that is relevant in teaching this novel. The students will also participate in different interactive activities that will in better understanding the novel and also making the novel exciting to learn. All of the activities combined will help the students to experience and understand a different style of writing and also understand the significance of the story as a whole.
Quiana McCoy