Two Texts, One Theme

How to Make a Strong Theme Connection How to Make a Strong Theme Big Idea Hope What about your Big Idea? Sometimes people need hope Because… Because it helps them get through hard times Evidence I know this because in Home of the Brave, Kek’s hope that he can find a place in America is what makes him keep trying to do new, scary things. For example, Ganwar doesn’t have hope that he can fit into America so he was having trouble getting a job. Kek has hope he can fit in to America, so he was hopeful that Lou would give him a job. She did!

What is a theme in your book club book? Connection Some possible themes: You need courage to be who you really are—Becoming Naomi Leon Friends can help us face things we couldn’t face alone—Bridge to Terabithia You can be brave and still scared. Being brave doesn’t mean you are strong all the time—Shooting the Moon Writing can help you remember good times and move on from sadness—Locomotion Don’t be afraid to start over. Just keep going—Esperanza Rising What is a theme in your book club book?

Teaching point Today I will teach you that sophisticated readers can study how authors use similar themes by asking what’s the same and different about how this theme plays out in different texts?

teaching Kek is like Andrew. A theme in Home of the Brave was about hope and how hope can help you survive. Does that work for Fly Away Home? Where can we find spots in Fly Away Home that deal with hope?

Teaching The bird has hope. That’s why it keeps throwing itself against the glass. It keeps trying until it escapes. Andrew has hope for himself. He thinks he will find a home. That’s why he keeps saving money. Andrew’s dad has hope that he will find an apartment. That’s why he keeps calling on the newspaper ads.

Now that we have identified a common theme and some evidence of it in Fly Away Home, we need to compare and contrast the theme across both books. Teaching Home of the Brave Similarities Fly Away Home People tell Kek not to have hope. Both Kek and Andrew get upset and discouraged sometimes. People other than the main character have hope. Andrew’s dad hopes for more work and an apartment. Denny’s mom has hope when she says that Denny will have to wait awhile to go to school (she doesn’t say he won’t get to go!) Kek’s hope is that his new life will be good and he will fit in. Both Kek and Andrew want to make a home for themselves. Andrew hopes to get a new life in a new house.

homework Where do you see your theme appearing in your second text? How is your theme similar in your two texts? How is it different? 2 pages of writing about reading on this topic of theme will be due on Wednesday!