What a sad book. But at the same time, what a wonderful one to use in the classroom. It is such a pity that this is never spoken about, but now that we know we do not have to be silent! We can teach our children, the future about this! I think this book is a great way to talk about bias and prejudices. Americans experienced the horrible events in this book. Students have heard about the Jews and Hitler, but not of the Aleuts and the US government. One way to help this come alive to many students is to put it in perspective. Just as we answered the pre-reading questions, so could students. We could also "simulate" in class one day what the Aleuts may have gone through. At the beginning of the day, give students whatever they could wish for, blankets, clothes, warmth, food, put them in families etc. Then, as the day goes along take things away. Help them create a community, and re-build. Just as Vera did. Make the kuliich bread and take into class. Try to help your students understand.
I think that as teachers we can teach empathy and compassion. By reading this, I gained a greater deal of compassion for these people. Before reading this, I was naive in a way. I had no idea this had happened. By having this knowledge, I am empowered. I know the truth behind this story. The secret is out. I can do something now. Just as our students can.
By reading Aleutian Sparrow in class, students see that Vera had a life much like their own. She played darts, laughed, and had fun (p.104) but also had to grow up and realize that a "war is raging" on every continent on earth (p.113). Vera could have many connections with children, her past life, how she tries to make her present life seem normal but at the same time - students are reminded that her life is anything BUT normal. P. 124 has one of my favorite passages on it, Vera is angry because she didn't choose this, it was chosen for her. She is not treated fairly, her friends have died. This is a harsh reality, but students need to be aware of it. They need to know what is happening in their society.
I think this book could connect very much to The Diary of Anne Frank, and even Night. Both of these books focus on racism, predjucies, and bias. I think all of them could be taught together, in a unit.
I really enjoyed this book and I can see myself using it in the classroom. I think students could connect with it and connect it with other works and points in their life.
-jeana
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2 comments:
I agree with you about how this book can be used in the classroom to represent biases and prejudices. I think its a great way to make kids aware that such things are going on in the world because many of them probably don't even know that they are occuring in the first place. So ofcourse I think it should be brought up because like you said, this happening in their and our society and its an important reality that we unfortunately have to deal with. I didn't write too much about biases and predjudices but I know what its like to be turned away from something just because your different, while being a dwarf definitely has its perks, there are the not so fun, every once in awhile occurences. Thanks for pointing out how these important issues really do need to be discussed in the classroom and how kids probably don't even realize them in the first place!
I loved your idea about actually acting out what the Aleutians faced. I think it would really start to hit home with kids when they see their provisions taken away and they were seperated from friends and so on. It would be very intersrting to observe their attitudes and their resilance in the midst of that situation. You should definatley try it one day! :-)
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