Monday, March 3, 2008

citzenship test and freedom video reflection

after taking the US citzenship test and watching the immigrant Promise to Freedom video...
write a 8 sentence reflection on your feelings, thoughts, concern about the video and test

Friday, February 22, 2008

comparison charts p. 241-260

Enrique’s Journey compare n contrast chart

P.241-260

Create a comparison chart the good and bad of Enrique being in the U.S vs. Honduras

Living the United States

Staying in Honduras



Create another comparison chart of the benefits of being an illegal immigrant vs. the not so great issues of being an illegal immigrant in the US

The goods

The bads



Thursday, February 14, 2008

Immigration newspaper article 2-15-08

after reading the newspaper article on the immigration in the future, tell me what do you think of it?
It mentions the majority citzens will be foreign born and whotes will be the minority......
Reflect on this article write 8 complete sentences on your thoughts of this article. Give me some facts from this article.....

Sunday, February 10, 2008

2-13 WEDNESDAY POTLUCK SENTENCE and READING PARAGRAPHS

Para 1
How was your potluck prediction right or wrong

After reading today’s reading my potluck prediction was……..because of……..
•By comparing my potluck prediction to today's reading, I discovered that my prediction was……………because•
Para 2
Where does this take place? Who were the main people involved, how do they effect Enrique's journey?
•The setting for today’s reading took place during…….in…….
•The main people involved were…………..
•……………effected Enrique because/ by/ influenced……………..•
Para 3
Sequentially tell me what happened in this last reading.
•In the beginning of the reading…….then…………after………..later………..•Today’s reading starts off by………….then……….finally it ends with…..

Interview and digital story final project 2

PART 2:


Interview someone who came to the United States from another country or even someone who came from another place within the U.S. to your town. What obstacles did they encounter? What changes did they see? What do they miss about their former home? What do they like about their new home?
  1. Create a list of interview questions
  2. Have 2 people read it and check it off
  3. Borrow a CAMERA and take pictures of your person or anything that tells his or her story.
  4. Record the interview on paper,video or notes.
  5. organize your story line and photos
  6. create a video on windows movie maker..

Enrique's Family tree and yours......final project part 1

PART 1:


Examine family relationships. Create a family tree for Enrique and for yourself. Write an essay in which you compare/contrast two of your relatives or two of Enrique’s relatives (his uncles, his parents or grandparents, for example). Do you have one parent who is more lenient or more demanding?



SETTING Creation.......Enriques pit stop

We will create an image for settings throughout the book. Each of you will be assigned one part of his journey to create a visual image and a narrative of the setting.....Where is it, When is it, What effect does it have on Enriques, what is the importance of this setting??

Choose one of the stops Enrique makes to analyze as setting. How does this stop reflect the theme of the text? Make a drawing of this setting to demonstrate its significance to the plot.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Chen's letter Smuggle to America

Read Smuggle to America
•Pick 3 new voc words
Define, book sentence, your sentence, picture
•Writing assignment
•Pretend you are Deng Chen. Write a letter home to China to your family. Tell your family your journey, your thoughts, feeling, and how your life has been in the US is like.
Include photos of your journey in America
BE creative, give me details, fill in the what is not explained in the reading.

Monday, February 4, 2008

2-4-08 Prediction potluck and reading essay

Para 1 How was your potluck prediction right or wrong•After reading today’s reading my potluck prediction was……..because of……..•By comparing my potluck prediction to today's reading, I discovered that my prediction was……………because•
Para 2 Where does this take place? Who were the main people involved, how do they effect Enrique's journey?•The setting for today’s reading took place during…….in…….•The main people involved were…………..•……………effected Enrique because/ by/ influenced……………..•
Para 3 Sequentially tell me what happened in this last reading.•In the beginning of the reading…….then…………after………..later………..•Today’s reading starts off by………….then……….finally it ends with…..

enrique's Character chart

Examine the changes in Enrique’s character. Construct a character chart in which you show the ways in which he changes throughout the text.

Start from the beginning of the book when he was a little boy to now when he living in the US!

ch 7 questions


“Seven” — In Chapter Seven, each character’s story continues to unfold. Enrique, having been separated from his mother for eleven years, struggles to accept her advice and discipline. Lourdes continues to struggle financially and in her relationship with her son. Maria Isabel, separated from the father of her baby, struggles to rear the child and to assure the baby that her father in America will someday return or send for them. The chapter ends as Maria Isabel, four years after Enrique left Honduras, leaves herself to try to find a better life for her child.


  1. Pick out 5 new voc words define, sentence, book sentence, pic
  2. What motivates Enrique to stay in the United States? What things make him wish to return to Honduras?
  3. What factors cause conflict between Enrique and Lourdes? How do they seek to overcome these factors?
  4. Contrast Enrique’s life in the United States with the life he left behind.
  5. How do you feel when Maria Isabel leaves Honduras?
  6. Once reunited, how do Enrique and his mother get along?
  7. How does Enrique’s relationship with Maria Isabel progress?
  8. What conflicts arise between Maria Isabel and Enrique’s family?
  9. How does the book end as it began?

Thursday, January 31, 2008

well founded fear DVD

After watching this dvd........write your essay and reflection!

This PBS POV documentary gives a shocking look at how the Immigration and Naturalization Service decides who will be granted asylum in the United States. The applicant must have a "well-founded fear" of persecution in his or her home country. Despite true and terrifying stories of torture and mistreatment, it's often up to how well the translator presents the case and how sensitive are the ears of the asylum officer to decide a person's fate.

watching wetback documentary 1-29-08

•Tell them about the documentary:
•Wetback, a quietly commanding documentary, follows in the footsteps of immigrants traveling from Nicaragua to the United States. On their journeys, they encounter gangs and vigilantes, as well as border patrol. But these immigrants navigate real-life nightmares with uncanny calm, grace, even humor.
•After watching the video, have students write a short essay (3 paragraph) at least 7 sentences each paragraph on the video, thoughts, and concerns
what stood out to you the most? what surprised you? how can you relate this video to your family? How does this video tie into enriques Journey?

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

chapter 6 questions

“Six” — Chapter Six tells the end of Enrique’s trek. He enters the United States and reunites with his mother. Chapter Six also continues the story of Enrique’s relationship with his girlfriend in Honduras, Maria Isabel. Maria Isabel gives birth to a daughter, but Enrique realizes that he cannot yet bring Maria Isabel or the baby to the U.S.
  1. On what day is Enrique finally united with his mother?
  2. In what state does Enrique ultimately reunite with his mother?
  3. On November 2, 2000, another significant event happens to Enrique. What is it?
  4. Contrast the sides of the Rio Grande. What is Enrique’s life like on his side of the river that in Mexico is called Rio Bravo?
  5. Describe Enrique’s final journey into the United States.
  6. What problems develop almost immediately when Enrique is reunited with his mother? Do these problems surprise you?
  7. 3 new voc words!! define book sentence, your sentence

chapter 5 questions

•Five” — Chapter Five tells of Enrique’s life, waiting to cross the border into the United States. Enrique has lost his mother’s phone number on his trip, so he must make money to call Honduras to get the number from relatives. Enrique also needs money to pay for help in crossing the border safely.
1. How does Enrique make money to buy a phone card?
2. Why must Enrique call Honduras first
3.Who helps Enrique cross the border into the United States?
4.List the people involved this chapter, how do they effect Enrique on his journey?
5.Pick out 5 vocabulary words- define book sentence and your own sentence

Friday, January 11, 2008

chapter 3 questions

Chapter 3

Facing the Beast
Where is Enrique Located?
Who are the “Beasts” and what do they do?
What are the rules about Chiapas?
What place does Enrique decide is the best place to sleep?
Who is Enrique protected by?
Where does Enrique end up after the cemetery raid?
How does Enrique escape?
Where is he headed off too?

Getting aboard
About how many immigrants does Enrique guess is on the train from the cemetery?
How young are some children that Enrique encounters?
What does “Race against time and death” mean?
What are the good and bad sides of Box Cars?
What happens inside a locked box car?
When on top of the train, why is it important to focus on what’s in front of you all the time? What type of injuries does it lead?

A Dreaded Stop
Where is their next destination and why does everyone dread it?
How are migrants treated by the migra agents?
What are Madrina’s and what do they do?
Where are some places where migrants hide their money?
Many of the bandits are former __________ and get away by…?
What was so lucky about Enrique hanging around gangsters when the bandits were around?
What do women do to hide their identity as a woman so they are not assaulted?
How do Chiapas and La Arrocera residents feel about the migrants that travel by train?

A Decision
What changes Maria Isabel’s mind about finding Enrique?


Staying Awake
Why should migrants NOT go to sleep while on this particular train ride, in this section of the book?
Who are MS gang members and what do they do?
At the Tapachula depot, how are migrants being watched before the train departs. By who?
If a migrant resists or angers a gangster with no money, what happens?
How does Enrique get introduced to MS gangsters and receive protection?
When the MS gangsters abandon him, what happens to Enrique as soon as he is alone?
How many times has Enrique faced “the beast”

Devoured
Why is the called “The Train That Devours” in this section?
What is the story about Carlos, how did he lose his leg?
Who is Olga, and what does she do?
How do some migrants react when Olga tries to help them?
What did Olga turn her house into?
How does Olga get paid?

OAXACA
How far along does Enrique need to travel to get to Mexico?
How do the Migra Agents trick migrants to figure out who is a migrant?
How does Spanish differ when in different areas of Mexico?
How does Enrique react when he see’s his face for the first time in months?

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

reading p. 135-155 3 paragragh

Para 1 How was your potluck prediction right or wrong
•After reading today’s reading my potluck prediction was……..because of……..
•By comparing my potluck prediction to today's reading, I discovered that my prediction was……………because

Para 2 Where does this take place? Who were the main people involved, how do they effect Enrique's journey?
The setting for today’s reading took place during…….in…….
•The main people involved were…………..
•……………effected Enrique because/ by/ influenced……………..

Para 3 Sequentially tell me what happened in this last reading.
•In the beginning of the reading…….then…………after………..later………..
•Today’s reading starts off by………….then……….finally it ends with…..

VOC p. 135-155

DEFINE- book sentence- picture- your sentence
•stymied p. 137 festooning p. 151
•(feces) Excrement p. 139 Strewn p. 139
•Spigot p. 140 Envisioning p. 144

Thursday, January 3, 2008

chapter 4 questions due 1-7-08

due 1-7-08 Monday
“Four” — In Chapter Four, Enrique enters the Mexican state of Veracruz and encounters many forms of kindness from the people along his route. Some provide clothes; others, food and shelter. Enrique finds a job to get money to continue his journey. He makes it all the way to Nuevo Laredo, a town on the Mexican/American border.
1.What significant change takes place when Enrique reaches Veracruz?
2.How do the people of Veracruz show their kindness
3. What does Hipolito Reyes Larios see as his mission?
4. When Enrique finally arrives at Nuevo Laredo, he is on the banks of what river?
5.What is the significance of the statue of Jesus Enrique encounters?
6. How does the journey change at the point of this encounter?

chapter 3 questions due 1-4-08

chapter 3 questions

“Three” — Chapter Three describes Enrique’s eighth attempt to reach the United States. The chapter focuses on the horrors Enrique faces in Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state. This chapter introduces the dangers of the trains Enrique must ride to complete his journey. The chapter also introduces Olga Sanchez Martinez, who tries to help those who are injured by accidents on the trains.
1.Describe Chiapas. How is it different from other places Enrique travels?
2.What dangers does Enrique face on his journey?
3.Why is it not a good idea to sleep on the train?
4.Olga Sanchez Martinez is one of the people along Enrique’s route. How is she different from those who try to hurt Enrique?
5. Trace the different names given to the train. What does each name reveal about the journey?
6.The gangs aboard the trains are portrayed in both a positive and negative light. How?
7. How is Oaxaca different?