Entry #5

The first book I chose was Dogku by Andre Clements.  This book is about a stray dog that shows up on a family's doorstep and falls in love with them.  The dog is worried he will be sent to the pound, but finds out the family will adopt him. 

Some cultural aspects that could pose comprehension problems are:
1.  There is talk of the "pound".  Students would need to have help creating background knowledge about the way a pound works and how this word has more than one meaning.

2.  The dog is bathed, spoiled with treats and a doggie bed, etc.  This may be confusing because some cultures do not treat animals as nicely as we do in the USA.  Depending on the cultural background of the student, some schema may need to be created to help them understand how American families often view animals as an extension of the family.  One way this could be done with a small group sharing photos of their family pets and sharing how they treat their animals.  A field trip to Petsmart or the Dumb Friends League could also show students the value placed on pets in America.

3.  There is a scene where the author writes about a "family meeting" to decide what to do with the dog.  Again, background knowledge of a family meeting would be important to provide so students understand the significance of having family members share their opinions, regardless of age.  Some cultures do not allow children or women to take part in these types of decision making so this may be a new idea for some.  Students could share examples of family meetings they have been a part of and reasons for these meetings.

4.  This book is written entirely in haiku which I thought was a wonderfully creative idea, but after looking at the book from the perspective of an ELL learner I realized how difficult it would be to understand the writing.  There are many parts that are written in short, fragmented sentences to fit the haiku format, but would be confusing if you did not have a solid understanding of English and may reinforce incorrect grammar (e.g. "Squirrel sits in tree").  The teacher could teach the haiku syllable pattern to students.


The second book I chose was Keeper of the Swamp by Ann Garrett.  This book is about a boy and his grandfather who live in the swamp.  The grandfather is passing along his knowledge about protecting the alligators from poachers.

Some cultural aspects that could pose comprehension problems are:
1.  The illustrations are beautiful and support the text's references to animals, insects, trees, etc. that live in the swamp, but real life photos or videos of a swamp would help further explain this different environment to students.

2.  The name of the main alligator is Old Boots.  Some discussion around the relevance of this name and how alligator hides can be made into boots would be important for students to understand why poachers would want to kill the gator.  Pictures could also be provided to support this topic. Vocabulary front-loading of a poacher would also be important. 

3.  There is a scene in the book when the grandfather teaches the boy how to hold chicken on a stick and feed it to the alligator, when suddenly the alligator rears its whole body out of the water.  Many students may not be familiar with an alligator or how they can lift their bodies out of the water to reach food.  A short study about alligators and their behaviors could be important to build schema.  If possible, students could visit the alligator farm in southern Colorado or go to the zoo to see a real alligator, or could watch a video to learn about their behaviors.

4.  The grandfather is getting old and will soon die so he is showing the grandson how to care for the alligator's nest of eggs.  The author refers to the boy as the new "keeper of the swamp".  Students may need support in understanding why a human would need to care for the wild and the importance of protecting the environment for future generations, which could be a new idea for students who come from areas where environmental concerns are not a focus.  Students could work in small groups to share and listen to ideas on why it is important to protect the environment and animals.