Paired Texts > How Native Students Can Succeed In College: 'Be As Tough As The Land That Made You'

by Claudio Sanchez 2016

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

From Resistance to Reservations
From Resistance to Reservations
USHistory.org

This informational text details the final conflicts of the 300-year American Indian Wars and their devastating effects for Native Americans.

Pair “From Resistance to Reservations” with “How Native Students Can Succeed in College: ‘Be As Tough As The Land That Made You’” to provide students with additional information regarding the effects of Native Americans being relocated to reservations. How has life on reservations negatively impacted Native American teenagers’ ability to succeed in college?

10th Grade Informational Text 1080L
Behind The Native American Achievement Gap
Behind The Native American Achievement Gap
Celeste Headlee

In "Behind the Native American Achievement Gap," Celeste Headlee interviews Anton Treuer, a professor of Ojibwe History and Language, about the education of Native Americans.

Pair “Behind the Native American Achievement Gap” with “How Native Students Can Succeed in College” and ask students to further discuss the obstacles Native Americans face when seeking an education. How can the information provided in the text “Behind The Native American Achievement Gap” shed more light on why Native American students struggle to attend college?

9th Grade Interview 1090L
'Those Kids Never Got to Go Home'
'Those Kids Never Got to Go Home'
Jeff Gammage, from Philly.com

In "Those Kids Never Got to Go Home," the article discusses recent pleas from the Rosebud Sioux nation to reclaim the remains of former students of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School.

Pair “Those Kids Never Got to Go Home” with “How Native Students Can Succeed in College: ‘Be As Tough As The Land That Made You’” to provide students with additional historical information regarding the education of Native Americans in the past. How has the education of Native Americans changed? In what ways do Native Americans’ educations continue to be limited?

10th Grade News 1060L
Want to Get Into College? Learn to Fail
Want to Get Into College? Learn to Fail
Angel B. Pérez

In the informational text "Want to Get Into College? Learn to Fail," dean of admissions Angel B. Pérez discusses what colleges are really looking for and offers his surprising take on the importance of failure.

Pair “How Native Students Can Succeed in College: ‘Be As Tough As the Land that Made You’” with “Want to Get Into College? Learn to Fail” and ask students to compare how both texts describe the process of applying to college. How do the two texts illustrate different obstacles students face in the application process? How do they comment on the skills and personal qualities that are most important for college success?

9th Grade Opinion 1090L
Making college more affordable: The importance of pre-collegiate preparation
Making college more affordable: The importance of pre-collegiate preparation
Reynold Verret

In the informational text "Making college more affordable: The importance of pre-collegiate preparation" Reynold Verret discusses the benefits of better preparing students for college.

Pair “How Native Students Can Succeed In College: ‘Be As Tough As The Land That Made You’” with “Making college more affordable: The importance of pre-collegiate preparation” to provide students with information about one program that helps native students apply and be recognized by universities. Ask students to discuss why some talented and intelligent students either don’t apply to college or are overlooked. How do both texts emphasize the benefits of additional programs and preparation to help students attend college?

11th Grade Non-Fiction - General 1160L
Between the Lines
Between the Lines
Cynthia Leitich Smith

In "Between the Lines," Native American teenagers Mel and Ray deal with awkwardness and misunderstandings at a community event.

Pair “How Native Students Can Succeed in College: ‘Be as Tough as the Land that Made You’” with “Between the Lines” and ask students to discuss some of the challenges that Native students face as they consider and prepare for a future in college. In the story, Elders Priscilla and Laurel are visiting their niece, who is a student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Why do you think the author included this small detail? How does having a detail about a Native college student in a short story connect with the themes in the article?

7th Grade Short Story 790L