The Distance Between Us Packet Sheet

Directions: Please complete the following graphic organizer either typed or handwritten. If you need more room, please use the back of this page.

Ch. or Page Numbers: chapters 1-5

Dialectic Journal: Choose at least TWO quotations that you think are important or you have a question about and write about why it is. These quotations may later be utilized in your essays. Use the back of your packet sheet if you need to for space.

Quotation (Evidence from the article I read in the text) Ch. 1: 1.) My husband has sent for me, he needs me. Juana 2.) Your father says a man must have his own house, his own land to pass down to his children. Juana Ch. 2: 1.) I dont want people feeling sorry for me Reyna 2.) That way no matter where life takes her she wont forget where she came from.- Juana Ch. 3: 1.) Your mother is not coming back for you- Elida 2.) I can be sure that my daughters children are really my grandchildren. But one cant trust a daughter-in-law. Who knows what your mother did when no one was looking. Grandmother oliva Ch. 4: 1.) One night in August we said nothing, It was mami who talked, who gave Mago the worst news of all. She was going to have a baby 2.) You wouldnt have known by looking at us that we had parents working in el otro lado. Ch. 5: 1.) The Trees there are special-they grow money. They grow dollar bills for leaves Tia Maria Feliz 2.) When I turned fifteen. I didnt want to dance el vals de las Masiposas with anyone but him. Ch.1:

Interpretation (Analysis/Synthesis)

1.) I think Reynas mom was more concerned with her husband needing her that her children. 2.) By this comment, reynas dad sounded like a man who wants a prosperous life for his family. Ch. 2: 1.) Even though Reyna had every reason to feel sorry for herself, she didnt her circumstances to affect the way people saw her. This showed that she was very brave and strong. 2.) Reynas mother wanted to insure that her children would always refer back to their roots. Ch. 3: 1.) Elida would constantly remind reyna of her mothers absence. 2.) The grandmother didnt care much for Reyna and her siblings because she didnt trust that they were her sons kids. Ch. 4: 1.) A new baby would change Reynas mothers plan of coming back home in a year. They would now have an American child. 2.) In those days having family who was working in the US meant that you were well off but this wasnt the case for them since their grandmother wouldnt share with them the money her son would send. Ch. 5: 1.) Tia Maria Felix was trying to give them a false image of what the life in el otro lado was. Making them believe that it was so easy. 2.) Unconsciously, Rayne knew it would take her parents a long time to return home.

Discussion Question: Write three or more questions that you think are important to think about. Consider the themes of the course as you create your questions. Use your Critical Thinking/Blooms Taxonomy hand-out. Ch. 1: 1.) 2.) 3.) Ch. 2: 1.) 2.) 3.) Ch. 3: 1.) 2.)

How you react if you were left behind by both your parents? Was Reynas dad being a selfish man by taking his wife with him? Is the American dream worth leaving your family behind or even losing your life? In what way did her circumstances affect her life? Why were Reyna and her siblings considered orphans? In what was is Magos life affected by taking on the parent role?

Why wouldnt Reyna or her brother and sister tell someone about their grandmothers bad treatment? Both Reyna and her cousin Elidas mom were en el otro lado. What was the difference in their reaction and how where they acclimating? 3.) How would you react if you were mistreated by your own family? Ch. 4: 1.) Why would reyna refer to the mountain as the mountain that has a headache? 2.) What is Magos intention when she looked on the map? 3.) How would your react if you were Mago and found out you were having an American sibling? Ch. 5: 1.) Why didnt Tia Emperatriz do more to help Reyna and her brother and sister? 2.) What did the new baby represent to Reyna and her siblings? 3.) In those days, why did people think that life in the US was so easy?

One outside reference from the entries that I looked up and learned: (You may copy and paste here or put on the back.) CRITICAL: You must include evidence from the reference PLUS citation PLUS connection to the text.

Personal/Social/Professional Connection OR Connection to what I have learned before

Ch. 1: 10-20 million illegal aliens presently roam the U.S. The number of illegal aliens doubled in the 1990's. Each year more than 1.3 million legal and illegal aliens settle permanently in the U.S. Connection to the text: Based on the numbers above we have an idea of number of immigrants that come to the US just like Reynas parents did. Illegal Immigrant laws. CILE.Citizensforlaws.org. n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2012 Ch. 2: To get to know my dad. this is the answer Heidi Sales gave writer, Perla Treviso during an interview published by Timesfreepress.com, when asked what she wanted most in the world. Heidi is the daughter of immigrant parents who live in the US, she lives in Guatemala. Connection to Text: Reyna and her siblings, from The Distance Between US, are some of the many children left behind while their families come to the US in search for a better future. Treviso, Perla. Children of Illegal Immigrants Left Behind.

1.) Both my parents come to this country in search of the American dream. Similar to Reynas story, my dad came first and then sent for my mother months later when he was stabled. 2.) Ive known people who have taken the parent role in their family in the absence of their parents and it is a difficult thing to do. They become mature too fast and they are not able to have a childhood like other kids. 3.) In many cases when the children are left behind with other family members, they suffer not only because of the absence of their parents but in many cases they are mistreated. 4.) At times children can become jealous of a new sibling coming into the family but in this case it was more than that. Reyna and her siblings new that the birth of a new bother/sister would delay their mothers return. In some cases their fear is a true reality. Parents neglect their other kids and focus on the new child. 5.) In the Spanish culture, children begin to work at a very young age specially when they are a part of a big family. Children are sometimes required to take on the parent role to care of their siblings.

Timesfreepress.com. N. p. 29 Jul. 2011. Web. 3 Feb. 2014

Ch. 3: The research to date suggests that a parents unauthorized status is associated with lower levels of child cognitive development and educational progress. Connection to text: Due to the absence of Reynas parents, they are affected by much more than just psychological. Their cognitive and educational development is also at risk.

Yoshikawa, Hirokazu and Jenya Kholoptseva. Unauthorized Immigrant Parents and Their Childrens Development: A Summary of the Evidence. Washington, DC, Mar. 2013. Web. 3 Feb. 2014

Ch. 4:

San Francisco Church Connection to Text: This is an image of the church that Reyna talked about in this chapter. Wikipedia. Iguala San Francisco Church. Web. 3 Feb. 2013 Ch. 5: