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Paired Texts > Oregon teen sets sights on becoming first female to compete in Professional Bull Rider's elite circuit

by Jule Gilfillan 2021

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.

Cultivate Resilience: How to Get Back on the Horse
Cultivate Resilience: How to Get Back on the Horse
Rebecca Zucker

In this text, Rebecca Zucker describes how a growth mindset can help build resilience, but it takes regular practice to develop.

Pair “Cultivate Resilience: How to Get Back on the Horse” with “Oregon teen sets sights on becoming first female to compete in Professional Bull Rider’s elite circuit” and have students think about how Najiah shows resilience. What does it mean to “cultivate resilience” and how does one’s mindset play an important role in resilience according to “Cultivate Resilience: How to Get Back on the Horse”? How does Najiah’s mindset in “Oregon teen sets sights on becoming first female to compete in Professional Bull Rider’s elite circuit” show that she is resilient?

6th Grade Informational Text 1010L
Should Girls Be Allowed to Play High School Football?
Should Girls Be Allowed to Play High School Football?
Josh Bean

High school football is an intense sport. Does that mean that girls shouldn't be allowed to play? In this 2013 article by journalist Josh Bean, locals in the Alabama community weigh in on this debate.

Pair “Should Girls be Allowed to Play High School Football?” with “Oregon teen sets sights on becoming first female to compete in Professional Bull Rider’s elite circuit” and have students compare the two traditionally male sports. According to “Should Girls be Allowed to Play High School Football?,” why is girls participating in football a controversial issue? Do you think that people would have similar or different opinions about girls like Najiah competing in bull riding? How do you think Najiah would respond to the controversy described in “Should Girls be Allowed to Play High School Football?”

6th Grade News 1180L
Drum Dream Girl
Drum Dream Girl
Margarita Engle

In "Drum Dream Girl," a young girl dreams of playing drums in a society that only allows boys to play the drums.

Pair “Drum Dream Girl” with “Oregon teen sets sights on becoming first female to compete in Professional Bull Rider’s elite circuit” and have students discuss how both characters break gender roles. How does the drum dream girl defy stereotypes in the poem “Drum Dream Girl”? How does Najiah defy stereotypes in the article? How are the experiences of both drum dream girl and Najiah similar and different? What similar attitudes from others do drum dream girl and Najiah face? How do both drum dream girl and Naijah show that being passionate about something can make it happen?

6th Grade Poem
Fighting for Rights
Fighting for Rights
Candace Dipsey

In "Fighting for Rights," Candace Dipsey tells the story of Rena Kanokogi, a female judo athlete who fought for women's equality in sports.

Pair “Oregon Teen Sets Sights On Becoming First Female To Compete In Professional Bull Rider's Elite Circuit” with “Fighting for Rights” and ask students to discuss how gender continues to play a role in sports today. How does gender affect Najiah’s participation in bull riding according to “Oregon Teen Sets Sights On Becoming First Female To Compete In Professional Bull Rider's Elite Circuit”? How did gender affect Rena’s participation in judo according to “Fighting for Rights”? How has gender equality changed since Rena lost her judo medal in 1959? What challenges to gender equality in sports remain today?

7th Grade Biography 840L
Dolena Fox is one of the world's first female Yup'ik commercial pilots
Dolena Fox is one of the world's first female Yup'ik commercial pilots
Olivia Ebertz

In "Dolena Fox is one of the world's first female Yup'ik commercial pilots," a Native Alaskan woman achieves her dream of becoming one of only a few female commercial pilots.

Pair “Oregon Teen Sets Sights on Becoming First Female to Compete in Professional Bull Rider’s Elite Circuit” with “Dolena Fox is one of the world’s first female Yup’ik commercial pilots” and ask students to discuss how both Najiah Knight and Dolena Fox break gender roles. How are the experiences of Najiah Knight and Dolena Fox similar? How are their experiences different?

6th Grade Essay 800L
Go on Vacation, Come Back a Cattle Herder!
Go on Vacation, Come Back a Cattle Herder!
India James

In "Go on Vacation, Come Back a Cattle Herder!," India James describes how tourists can experience life as a cowboy or cowgirl at dude ranches. Pair “Oregon teen sets sights on becoming first female to compete in Professional Bull Rider's elite circuit” with “Go on Vacation, Come Back a Cattle Herder!” and have students compare and contrast the experiences of visiting a rodeo and visiting a dude ranch. Based on the information in "Go on Vacation, Come Back a Cattle Herder," how do you think Najiah Knight's experience and training would be useful on a dude ranch? Which would you prefer to visit: a rodeo or a dude ranch? Why?

5th Grade Informational Text 850L