by Jimmy Santiago Baca 1979

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 "Immigrants in Our Own Land" by Jimmy Santiago Baca.

In "Immigrants in Our Own Land," a speaker describes the demoralizing effects of prison as hope gradually gives way to bitterness and despair.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Education & Knowledge, Fate & Free Will, Identity, Justice, Freedom & Equality, Loneliness & Isolation, Power & Greed, and Resilience & Success as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"What is the goal of education?", "Can we control our fate?", "What is fair?", "How does a person overcome adversity?", "How does power corrupt?", "What makes you who you are?", and "What does it mean to feel alone?"

Ways to support your child: