Family
The speaker has a good relationship with her family at the beginning of the poem. True or False? How do you know?
True, they could understand each other
Who is the speaker in the poem?
A mother who feels left out because of a language barrier.
Where is the speaker from?
Mexico
Who is the speaker is LDFM?
A little girl
By what other term are the kings of Egypt called?
How does the family’s connection change once they move to the United States?
The mother feels left out (the children talk with one another)
What does the speaker struggle with most in the poem?
Understanding English to connect with her family.
This poem is written in the _______ person point of view
first-person point of view
What fears/challenges are mentioned in the poems?
Elena: losing family, disconnected from them
LDFM: universal, everyday fears
What animal did the Ancient Egyptians believe to be important and sacred?
Cats
Because he doesn't want her to be smarter than he is
What motivates the speaker to keep trying to learn English?
If she does not understand English, she will not be able to help her children.
Why is language an important theme in the poem?
It shows how communication can affect family relationships.
How does each speaker face their fears/challenges?
Elena is determined to learn english because she wants to be there for her family, while the speaker in LDFM confronts her fears directly
What is the 6th planet from the sun?
Saturn
The speaker has great love for her children. What does this motivate her to do?
What does the speaker mean when she says she “I stand at the stove”?
She feels isolated from her family.
How would you describe the speaker's resilience?
It is a quiet strength influenced by the love she has for her family
Would you say the speaker in Elena is confident? What about the speaker in LDFM?
Elena: Speaker is not confident
LDFM: Speaker is confident
What was the formal writing system used in Ancient Egypt?
Hieroglyphs
Why does the speaker emphasize the distance between herself and her family?
To highlight how language barriers can also create emotional barriers
What does the speaker want by the end of the poem?
To learn English and be part of her children’s world.
Describe how the speaker feels about herself regarding her identity.
The speaker does not feel like she is enough- her Spanish is not good enough and now she doesn't know English
What do these poems teach us?
Resilience can take on different forms. Do not let your fears/challenges control your life.
What sport did Ms. Solares play when she was in middle school?
Basketball