Parent Guide > We Real Cool

by Gwendolyn Brooks 1960

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 "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks.

In Gwendolyn Brooks's poem "We Real Cool," she describes a group of young men she once noticed at a pool hall, portraying them as not caring about responsibilities.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Comedy & Tragedy and Identity as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"What can we learn from tragedy?" and "What makes you who you are?"

Ways to support your child:

  • Ask your child about this poem at home:
    • What was "We Real Cool" about?
    • What did you learn about Comedy & Tragedy?
    • What did you learn about Identity?
  • Watch Gwendolyn Brooks Reads We Real Cool at home with your child.