Parent Guide > rez dogs (Excerpt from Rez Dogs)

by Joseph Bruchac 2021

Welcome to the parent guide for this text! Read below to find out about what your child is reading in class and how you can support him/her at home.

This week in class, we’re reading "rez dogs (Excerpt from Rez Dogs)" by Joseph Bruchac.

In "rez dogs (Excerpt from Rez Dogs)," a Native American girl copes with the loneliness of the COVID-19 pandemic by befriending a local dog.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Community, Friendship & Family, Human vs. Nature, and Resilience & Success as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"What is the importance of community?", "What makes a family?", "How do we view nature?", "Who's in control: humanity or nature?", and "How does a person overcome adversity?"

Ways to support your child:

  • Ask your child about this poem at home:
    • What was "rez dogs (Excerpt from Rez Dogs)" about?
    • What did you learn about Community?
    • What did you learn about Friendship & Family?
    • What did you learn about Human vs. Nature?
    • What did you learn about Resilience & Success?
  • Watch the following clips with your child at home: