Parent Guide > Approximations

This week in class, we’re reading "Approximations" by Mona Simpson.

In "Approximations," a young girl grieves for what might have been and learns to find some measure of comfort in what actually is.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Beauty & Happiness, Friendship & Family, Gender Roles, and Loneliness & Isolation as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"How can we achieve happiness?", "What makes a family?", "What does it mean to feel alone?", and "How do we define the roles of men and women?"

Ways to support your child:

• Ask your child about this short story at home:
  • What was "Approximations" about?
  • What did you learn about Beauty & Happiness?
  • What did you learn about Friendship & Family?
  • What did you learn about Gender Roles?
  • What did you learn about Loneliness & Isolation?
• Watch the following clips with your child at home:
  • 'Peggy Fleming Looks Back at Her Olympic Gold Medal 50 Years Later | Today'
  • 'Disneyland Secrets and History of the Matterhorn: Disneyland Rides | FreshBaked!'
  • 'PEN To Paper: Hot Tips from Mona Simpson | PEN America'