fromfrom Barrio BoyBarrio Boy

FictionFiction

Prose writing Prose writing that tells that tells about about imaginaryimaginary characters characters and events.and events.

NovelsNovelsNovellasNovellasShort storiesShort stories

NonfictionNonfiction

Prose writing Prose writing that presents that presents and explains and explains ideas or that ideas or that tells about tells about realreal people, places, people, places, objects, or objects, or events.events.

News articlesNews articles EssaysEssays Historical Historical

accountsaccounts

What is prose?

Prose is the ordinary form of written language. Most writing that is not

poetry, drama, or song is considered prose. Prose is one of the genres, or forms, of literature and occurs both

in fiction and nonfiction.

Literary TermsLiterary TermsNarratorNarrator - a person who tells - a person who tells the storythe story

CharactersCharacters - the people living - the people living the storythe story

DialogueDialogue - the conversations - the conversations that the characters havethat the characters have

EventsEvents - make up the action in - make up the action in the storythe story

Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

Barrio BoyBarrio Boy

Real Real characterscharacters

BothBoth

CharactersCharacters

A Day’s WaitA Day’s Wait

Imaginary Imaginary

characterscharacters

reassuringreassuring

adj., having the effect of restoring adj., having the effect of restoring confidence confidence

The sound of applause was reassuring to the nervous performer.

contraptioncontraption

n., device or machine regarded as n., device or machine regarded as strangestrange

I don’t think that it is safe to drive that rickety contraption.

formidableformidable

adj., impressive adj., impressive

The titles on the long summer reading list were formidable.

epidemicepidemic

n., outbreak of a contagious n., outbreak of a contagious disease disease

The flu epidemic caused school to close.

flushedflushed

v., drove out from hidingv., drove out from hiding

The dogs flushed birds out of the bushes.

evidentlyevidently

adv., clearly; obviouslyadv., clearly; obviously

The dark clouds evidently promised rain.

miserablemiserable

adj., causing great discomfort or adj., causing great discomfort or unhappinessunhappiness

The sick and miserable boy was not able to attend school.

variousvarious

adj., differentadj., different

He had to take various medications to get over the illness.

menacemenace

n., a threat or dangern., a threat or danger

John had to decide if the man was a friend or a menace.

absolutelyabsolutely

adv., completely; totally without adv., completely; totally without limit limit

He was absolutely sure this was the silliest thing he had ever seen!

Think of a time when you had a new Think of a time when you had a new experience, such as moving to a new experience, such as moving to a new town or neighborhood. Maybe you town or neighborhood. Maybe you

joined a sports team or joined a new joined a sports team or joined a new club. What did that feel like? What club. What did that feel like? What were some of your thoughts both were some of your thoughts both

before and during the experience? before and during the experience? Use some of the following words: Use some of the following words:

comprehend, focus, interpret, comprehend, focus, interpret, respond, distort.respond, distort.

Ernesto Galarza 1905 - 1984

When Ernesto Galarza was eight, he and his parents migrated to Sacramento, California, where he worked as a farm laborer. Excelling at school, he became one of the first Mexican-Americans from a poor background to complete college, after which he received a M.A. from Stanford in 1929, and a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University in 1944. Galarza returned to California, where—at the height of the Cold War and McCarthyism—he organized unions for farm laborers, joining the effort to create the first multiracial farm worker union. While this effort failed, it created the foundation for the United Farm Workers Union of the 1960s. He wrote several books, most notably the 1964 Merchants of Labor, on the exploitation of Mexican contract workers, and the 1971 Barrio Boy, about his own childhood. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1976.

from Barrio Boyby Ernesto Galarza

Young Ernesto from Mexico had just arrived in the United States and at Lincoln School. On his first day, a formidable but friendly principal and her young interpreter greet Ernesto and his mother. His kind, supportive teacher continues the process of welcoming him to his new country and helping him with his new language. Ernesto and the other immigrant children form a bond as they learn English and adapt to their new lives. The school staff guides them to take pride in their diverse backgrounds.

Look carefully at the expression on this boy’s face. What emotions do you think he is feeling? Does

this picture convey the emotions that a child might feel as he enrolls in a new school? Why?

What is a Barrio?

A barrio is a part of a town or city where most of the

people are Hispanic.

Who is the narrator of this Who is the narrator of this work?work?

1st person or 3rd person?1st person or 3rd person?

How can you tell?How can you tell?

Where do the narrator and Where do the narrator and his mother go? his mother go?

Where are they?Where are they?

The boy and his mother have gone to The boy and his mother have gone to his new school. They have entered the his new school. They have entered the office of Miss Nettie Hopley, the school office of Miss Nettie Hopley, the school

principal.principal.

Describe the classroom in the photograph on page 72.

How does this compare with the narrator’s impressions of school?

The classroom looks like a friendly, inviting place with a nice teacher. This is not how Ernesto feels about his classroom or his teacher when he first

arrives at school; at first he is scared.

withering (pg. 72)withering (pg. 72)

Use context clues to determine the meaning of this word.

“She was, to skinny, somewhat runty me, of a withering height when she patrolled the class.

What words describe how young Ernesto is feeling during the days at

school in this country?Secure (when his mother is there)

Afraid (when his mother leaves)

What happens that makes Ernesto’s feeling start to change?

His feelings begin to change when begins to be able to read and speak English. He stops being afraid

and decides he really likes Miss Ryan.

What details in selection #8 on page What details in selection #8 on page 73 help you appreciate the 73 help you appreciate the

importance of the author’s actual importance of the author’s actual experience?experience?

The teacher feels such devotion to her students that she gives some of them private lessons in a closet.

She keeps an eye on the rest of the class while focusing on teaching a few students in the closet.

The teacher is very dedicated to teaching English.

Which students get private Which students get private lessons with Miss Ryan?lessons with Miss Ryan?

The first graders who do not know English have private lessons with Miss Ryan.

What have you learned about What have you learned about Ernesto’s classmates?Ernesto’s classmates?

They come from many different backgrounds and speak different languages.

What do the details in the What do the details in the paragraph at the top of page paragraph at the top of page 74 tell about each character 74 tell about each character

in the narrative?in the narrative?

The details reveal the nationalities of the children and the physical characteristics of a couple of the children.

Think again about the Think again about the difficulties a child might face difficulties a child might face when moving from another when moving from another

country to the U.S. Are your country to the U.S. Are your original ideas similar to the original ideas similar to the

events in the story? What new events in the story? What new ideas did you learn?ideas did you learn?

Why does Miss HopleyWhy does Miss Hopleyhave another boy come tohave another boy come toher meeting with Ernestoher meeting with Ernesto

and his mother?and his mother?

Ernesto and his mother do not Ernesto and his mother do not speak Englishspeak English

How does Miss RyanHow does Miss Ryanhelp Ernesto overcomehelp Ernesto overcome

his fear of her?his fear of her?

She helps him learn English and She helps him learn English and encourages him in front of the class.encourages him in front of the class.

What makes Ernesto similar to What makes Ernesto similar to several of his classmates?several of his classmates?

There are other students in the class There are other students in the class that do not speak English.that do not speak English.

Why does Ernesto Galarza Why does Ernesto Galarza discuss the differences discuss the differences

between Lincoln School and between Lincoln School and his school in Mazatlan?his school in Mazatlan?

He wants you to understand how He wants you to understand how insecure he feels in the new school insecure he feels in the new school in the new country.in the new country.

How does Miss Ryan How does Miss Ryan encourage the students she encourage the students she

tutors privately?tutors privately?

She praises their accomplishments She praises their accomplishments in front of the class.in front of the class.

Barrio Boy is nonfiction and Barrio Boy is nonfiction and Day’s Wait is fiction, why do Day’s Wait is fiction, why do

they both seem realistic?they both seem realistic?

The characters and the emotions are The characters and the emotions are both believable.both believable.

On the first day of school, On the first day of school, Miss Ryan’s smile is Miss Ryan’s smile is

reassuring to Ernesto. How reassuring to Ernesto. How does she make him feel?does she make him feel?

She makes him feel confident.She makes him feel confident.