2. An exploration of who or what influences our choices

3.  11 th grade students, Spring Semester  Dinuba High School  89% Hispanic, 9% White, 1% Asian, 1% other  50% Socioeconomically Disadvantaged  27% English Learners

4. Choices Who/What influences our choices? What? Who? Examples Personal Influences: Family, Friends, Society, Religion Definition: The right, power or opportunity to choose Definition: A person or thing being chosen Synonyms: Decision Preference Option Chooses: Me, Parents, Best Friend, Boss What College? What Profession? What do I believe? I am responsible for my choices I feel like I don’t get to choose what I want

5.  This story is about a young boy, Antonio, who struggles to decide who he is and who he will be as he navigates the many forces influencing his life.  Features: Bilingual  Setting: New Mexico

6.  Bless Me, Ultima  Hispanic tradition: Two last names—Luna & Marez  Luna—Priest or Farmer? Or Marez—Vaquero?  Supporting Texts:  “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid  “Generations of Gangs” Channel 17 News Report  Key Activities  Parent Interview  Poem for Two Voices (Luna vs. Marez)  Personal “Girl” Poem

7.  Bless Me, Ultima  Tony’s friends: “The Gang”  Samuel, Cico, & Florence  Tony’s friendship with Ultima  Supporting Texts:  “Myth of Matsya” & “Noah’s Ark”  “Interview with Brother David”  Key Activities:  Event Organizer: Protecting Ultima, Ch. 12  Q&A Graphic Organizer: Ch. 17  Act-it-Out for Ch. 18  Partner Interview: Religion, Death, & Afterlife

8.  Bless Me, Ultima  Choices—loss of innocence  Choices & consequences—death  Supporting Texts:  “The Road Not Taken”  “Interview with Brother David”  Key Activities:  Decision Chart: Plot on a Right/Wrong axis  Decision Tree: How could this have gone differently?  Domino Effect: Media, Choices, and Consequences

9.  Choices Collage and Reflection Paper  Collage representing Who/What influences your choices  1-2 page reflection:  What does the collage represent?  What have you learned from our readings? In general?  What did you conclude about “Who or What controls your life?”  Beyond the Classroom:  All choices have consequences  You can’t go backward, only forward  You ultimately control the choices you make  You may be influenced, but if they are your consequences, they should be your choices