Today we'll continue reading the short story, Indian Education (Links to an external site.), by Sherman Alexie.

Yesterday, we read First Grade through Third Grade. Today, you should read and annotate Fourth and Fifth grade.

Just as before, we will follow the steps of analysis to understand the story:

Remember, analysis involves these steps:

Making observations
Recognizing patterns
- Noting repeated images, ideas, etc.
- Comparing and contrasting different images and ideas within the text
Reaching conclusions
- Examining small parts of the text to better understand the larger whole
- Understanding the text's characters, themes, and craft
Taking actions based on conclusions
- Responding in some way - writing, speaking, etc.

Just as before, this story could be seen as a response to the question, "What happens to a dream deferred?"

This story covers a lot of important (and often heavy) topics. The characters in the story dream of a world free of racism against Native Americans, free of alcohol and drug abuse, free of assaults against women, free of bullying, and more.

Content Warning:

Grades 7, 8, and 10 are optional (not assigned). Although they do not go into detail, they do refer to the following topics:

7th grade: rape; 8th grade: bulimia; 10th grade: suicide.

RESOURCES
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 (24/7)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• Crisis Connections: 866-427-4747
• TeenLink: Call or text 866-833-6546

What's different in the reading process this time:

You will be directing more of your own analysis. Rather than providing specific questions for each page, I may provide a couple of general questions that you will use throughout the story. One of those questions will ask you to look for SIGNPOSTS as you read.

Reminder: As you take notes, you can click ctrl + alt + m to open a comment box if needed.

Reading Indian Education, by Sherman Alexie.

This story is broken into 12 sections (First Grade, Second Grade, etc.)

Directions:

As you read each section, take notes in the margin.

First Reading:

For each grade...

Answer this question in the margin: If this is an education, what is the lesson learned by the narrator?

Second Reading:

For each grade...

Identify a signpost(Links to an external site.) and ask yourself a question about it using the sentence frames to help. (You do not need to type the question.)
Type which signpost you found along the answer to the question you asked yourself in the margin. Use the sentence frames to help.

Third Reading (optional, if you finish early):

For each grade, capture ANY thinking about Character Development and Theme

- - - What kind of person is this character?
    - What does he want?
    - What gets in the way?
    - How is the problem left at the ending?
    - What theme subjects and/or possible themes seem to be emerging from the story?