Fifth graders in Miss Avers’ class had a special guest visit their ELA classes to help the students make real-world connections to Esperanza Rising. Mr. Simkanin spoke about his military experiences traveling to different countries, trying new foods, learning how to communicate in new languages, and experiencing various cultures. He also shared what it was like traveling on different aircrafts and in confined-tight spaces similar to Esperanza’s journey from Mexico to California.
His stories helped students better understand how Esperanza might feel traveling to a new country and adapting to the change.
A huge thank you to Mr. Simkanin for sharing his experiences and helping our students see the novel in a new way.
