CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE GRADES K to 5
what’s included
Growing an Artist
AFTER READING
Strategy Focus: Connect Events Say: When you notice and connect events, you are thinking about how details in a book go together. Ask yourself: • Does one event remind me of another event that I read about earlier in the book? • How are these two events related? How did one event lead to the other? Extend Learning Write About a Memorable Day This book was inspired by a memorable day in the author’s life. Think about a memorable day in your life and write about it. Explain what you did and why this day was special to you. (informative/explanatory) Book Club Discussion Have students meet in small groups to think about the text and discuss the questions below. You may wish to provide the questions on cards or print them out from the website for students to use. • Thinking Beyond Today Juanito becomes an artist who dedicates his art to telling people’s stories, including his own. How does his art honor the stories of the people in this book? How can sharing the stories of people you admire help inspire others to do good in the world? • Artistic Vision Artists have the ability to use their imaginations to think about things in new ways and then create something using their ideas. This is called artistic vision. How does Juanito take what he sees and what he imagines to create something new when he helps his father create a landscape design? Why is artistic vision an important skill for landscape designers to have?
Revisit and read aloud pages 10–11, when Juanito and Papi have a lunchtime conversation. Ask: How is this earlier moment related to Juanito helping create the landscape design for the Carrolls? How does Papi’s encouragement of Juanito’s drawing inspire Juanito as an artist? Invite students to turn and talk with a partner. Then as a class, discuss how this conversation gives Juanito the confidence to pursue his passion. Build Social-Emotional Awareness Say: While working at Mrs. Tarbe’s house, Juanito waves at his schoolmate Alex, who looks away. Although this awkward encounter bothers Juanito at first, he is proud of his father and the landscaping work they do together. How does Juanito show that he appreciates the care and knowledge his father shows through his work? Why is it important to respect people and the work they do? Have students turn and talk with a partner. Then select a few students to share their thinking with the class . ( CASEL Competency social awareness) Be a Business Owner Juanito’s father is an entrepreneur—a person who runs his own business. He has a lot to manage as a business owner, such as having employees, meeting with customers, and keeping track of money. Invite students to work in groups and to brainstorm a business they would like to create to improve their community. Have students come up with a name for the business, what service the business would provide, and how it would benefit the community. Students should work together to determine the role of each student in the group. Then have groups share about their companies and roles with the class.
GRADE 3
Growing an Artist written and illustrated by John Parra
AT A GLANCE In this autobiographical story, the author recounts the first time he helps his dad, who owns and runs a landscaping business, on the job. The budding artist sketches what catches his attention, from flowers and trees to a face in a window. He learns how to mow grass, select plants at a nursery, and develop relationships with clients. The creative work of transforming overgrown yards into special spaces inspires Juanito to create his own design for a client. With his dad’s support, Juanito develops his ideas and honors the stories of landscapers who make the world more beautiful. Genre/Text Type: Autobiography/Picture Book Strategy Focus: Connect Events Social-Emotional Focus: Social Awareness INTRODUCE THE BOOK Display the front cover to the students. Invite them to think about what it might mean to grow an artist. Then tell the students that the book is about the author’s first day helping his dad at his business as a landscape contractor. Ask: What important lessons do you think the author might learn about himself, his dad, and the landscaping profession? Let’s read to find out! DURING READING As you read the book, pause to discuss the questions below. Encourage students to turn and talk with partners or share their thinking with the whole group. pp. 2–5 Juanito joins his papi for work. Why do you think this is a big day for Juanito? As Juanito, Papi, and Javier drive to work, they sing along to songs on the radio. How do you think they are feeling this morning? (make inferences, analyze character)
Rising Voices Theme Thinking Beyond Today
Note to the Teacher • Read-Aloud Tip Read with
enthusiasm to capture Juanito’s wonder, curiosity, and excitement. • Language Support Explain to students that landscaping is a business that makes homes, businesses, and public spaces beautiful by designing and decorating them with flowers, trees, lawns, and other plants. Landscape contractors must have a thorough knowledge of plants. • Background This story is based on the author’s childhood. John Parra began accompanying his father to the family business at the age of seven. Years later, John studied illustration and fine art at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Though he did not pursue a career in landscape design, he is now an award-winning artist and illustrator of children’s books. Vocabulary contractor (p. 3) someone hired to do a job nursery (p. 12) a place where plants are grown and sold hydraulics (p. 17) a mechanical system powered by water passionate (p. 29) having strong feelings
pp. 6–9
Juanito helps with landscaping at Mrs. Tarbe’s house. How does Papi help make Juanito feel better after his encounter with Alex? (key ideas and details) Juanito talks to Papi during lunch. What event do you think sparked Juanito’s question? Why do you think the author included this conversation in the story? (connect events, author’s purpose)
Connect to the Internet More Art by John Parra Visit the author/illustrator’s web page, which features a portfolio of his artwork and illustrations to share with students: https://johnparraart.com/portfolio .
pp. 10–11
pp. 12–17 The group takes their yard waste to the city dump. What happens to the yard waste at the city dump? What specific sights and sounds make this trip exciting for Juanito? (summarize, visualize) pp. 18–25 Juanito helps design the Carrolls’ yard landscaping. How is Mr. and Mrs. Carroll’s yard different from the ones that Juanito saw earlier? How does seeing the Carrolls’ yard lead him to helping design the new landscape? (compare and contrast, connect events) pp. 26–30 As Juanito reflects on his memorable day, he vows, “I will use my art to tell the stories of hardworking, passionate people who make the world more beautiful.” In the Author’s Note, you find out that this story is based on the author’s real life. Even though he did not become a landscape architect like his father when he became an adult, John Parra was inspired by his father to use creativity in his career. What impressed you most about John Parra and the way he shared his story? In what ways are you like Juanito? (make connections)
Rising Voices: Elevating Latino Stories
ISBN 978-1-338-88151-6. Pack-ISBN 978-1-338-88130-1.
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50 books per grade level ⊲ 25 titles including 5 anchor texts (2 copies each) ⊲ Convenient storage bins ⊲ Labeling stickers
5 teaching cards (one per anchor text) ⊲ Read-aloud tips ⊲ Background and cultural context ⊲ Important vocabulary ⊲ Activities to extend learning
Elevating Latino Stories Elevating
TEACHER’S GUIDE
GRADES 3–5
Access to teacher-facing digital resource site ⊲ Teacher resources organized by theme and anchor texts ⊲ Lessons at a glance for each read-aloud anchor text ⊲ Writing and book club discussion prompts ⊲ Reading log form for students to record, track, and reflect ⊲ Family letter in both English and Spanish
Teacher’s guide (either K–2 or 3–5) ⊲ Implementation strategies ⊲ Tips for multilingual learners ⊲ Engaging discussion prompts ⊲ Tips on having difficult conversations ⊲ Inspiring essays by Rising Voices mentors ⊲ Family engagement ideas
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