Friday, December 17th

What Esperanza wanted more than anything was a place to call home. What holiday traditions do you have that give you a memorable sense of home? What do you and your friends and/or family do during this season? Was there a time when you received a special gift or when someone else received something special?

Today, share some of your traditions and special times. Explain what makes these memories so nice for you.

Friday, December 10th

Think about the portrayal of marriage in The House on Mango Street. Now, consider the different marriages and relationships that you’ve witnessed or experienced. What is the ideal age for marrying? When is the best age for developing a serious relationship? How young is too young to get married? Explain your answers using evidence from your own life or from the book.

Post your comments then read and comment on what others have to say. Don't forget to address each other by name.

Friday, December 3rd

When Esperanza goes to see Elenita the fortuneteller, she has a specific and very important question about her future. She doesn’t ask if she will be rich or marry a wealthy man, but instead asks where her home will be.

Imagine that you are going to visit a fortuneteller. If you could only ask one question, what specifically would you want to know? Explain why you chose this to be the most important question you need to have answered.


Post your comments then read and comment on what others have to say. Don't forget to address each other by name.

Wednesday, November 24th

Esperanza lives in a neighborhood steeped in poverty: Mice inhabit the homes and children run around barefoot and unsupervised in yards covered mostly in dirt instead of grass and trees. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, she might be hard pressed to find much for which to be thankful.

Your job today is to help Esperanza view Mango Street with appreciative eyes. What does her neighborhood and life offer her for which she might be thankful? Respond to this post using what you remember from the book and what you can infer Esperanza might appreciate and celebrate on Thanksgiving Day.

Address your FIRST comment to Esperanza, and type your name at the end. As you respond to other comments, address the person to whom you're commenting.

Tuesday, November 23rd- Character traits

Character traits are how we define ourselves. For instance, one way I (Mrs. Kubaszyk) might characterize myself is that I’m musical, since I sing, play piano, string bass and bass guitar and have been performing most of my life. Take a few minutes to think about your own character traits. How would you define yourself?



In today’s blog, share a character trait and explain why you would describe yourself by the trait you chose. Then, read what others have to say about themselves and tell whether you agree or disagree and explain your reasoning.

Monday, November 22nd- Freedom

Before you type any response, think for a moment about the word freedom and what it means to you. In what areas of your life are you most free to do what you like? In what areas of your life are you the least free? Do you think having unlimited freedom is a good thing? Why or why not?

Remember you should post a minimum of TWO times. When you are responding to another student, include their name and specifically what you like/dislike about their posting.

Friday, November 19th- Name Revisited

Esperanza says that in English her name means hope. In your research, were you able to identify a meaning for your own name? What is it? Even if you couldn’t find a meaning, Esperanza made up her own meanings for her Spanish name that reflect characteristics of herself. What meanings would you make up for your name to characterize yourself?

Tuesday, November 16th- Name

What is the personal significance of your given name (first, middle and last)? Does your name mean different things to you, your family, and your friends? Do you feel the same way Esperanza feels about her name?

What are your nicknames? What do your nicknames mean to you and those who call you those names? If you could have a nickname, what would it be?

Friday, November 12th - Jealousy

Think about the following statement: There will always be jealousy among family and friends. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Explain your answer using information from your own experiences.

Thursday, November 11th- Make believing

Think about the following statement: It is possible to make people believe you are someone you are not. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Explain your answer using information from your own experiences.

Tuesday, November 9th - Low-Income Families

Think about the following statement: Low income families oftentimes accept their fate and do not work hard to better themselves. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Explain your answer using information from your own experiences.

Monday, November 8th - Identity

Think about what you and your classmates posted last week. How do your neighborhood, your house, and your name contribute to your personal identity. How do these elements reflect and contribute to the person you are?

Friday, November 5th - Names

Think about the following statement: A person's name is an important part of his or her identity. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Explain your answer using information from your own experiences.

Post 4: Thursday, November 4th- Safety

Think about the following statement: People always feel safe in their homes. Tell if you agree or disagree with this statement and explain your response using examples from your own experiences. Today, if you are sharing something particularly private, leave your post anonymous.

Post 3: Wednesday, November 3rd

Yesterday you discussed neighborhood. Today, think about the following statement: You can tell a lot about a person by the house in which he or she lives. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Explain your response with one example from your life. Remember to select "Anonymous" from the drop-down menu.

After responding to this question, read one other person's blog post and write a response to it.

Posting 1&2: Monday, November 1st- Neighborhoods

Think about the following statement: You can tell a lot about a person by the neighborhood in which he or she lives. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Explain your response with one example from your life. Remember to select "Anonymous" from the drop-down menu. Make sure that the first thing you type in is your name at the top of the post.
After responding to this question, read one other person's blog post and write a response to it.