Chapters 18-22: Family Discussion Reflection

Summary of informational text:

     Due to the hardships of the Dust Bowl, Southwesterners moved west in order to find work.  However, the people known as "Okies" were not welcomed by the residents of California.  Police were stationed at the border to send travelers back home.  Eventually, they blended in with the the rest of the population if they stayed.

Evaluation:

   This text connects to the reading because in the book, the Joads encountered police, which was mentioned in this article.

Citation:
         

Mullins, William H. "OKIE MIGRATIONS." OKIE MIGRATIONS. Oklahoma Historical Society, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

Questions:

What does someone sacrificing themselves for something or someone show about them?
What is the formation of armed bands similar to in history, and how are they similar?

How     How is border patrol similar to an airport?
                
              Reflection:                                                                                                                                                    

                          My 3rd discussion with my sister went pretty well.  The most memorable moment of my discussion was when we discussed what sacrificing oneself showed.  She said that historically, men are usually sacrificed for the women and children. A prime example of that is that when a boat starts to sink, the women and children evacuate first, then the men.  As a result, the men are placed in the most danger.  The most satisfying thing was that we started talking about racial segregation when the question about the armed bands was proposed.  The alliance between the residents and the migrants was reminiscent of white children forming alliances against black children when schools became integrated.  I think I need to improve my questions by asking more "why" questions, as those ones have  generated more discussion then the ones I used this time.                                    
    

Chapters 10-17: Family Discussion Reflection

Summary of Informational Text:

   The state of California grew in population size over the course of the 1930s due to migration from the Dust Bowl.  Many workers thought that they would be hired hands, but they were used mostly for specific tasks, not ones that enabled them to become all-around farmers.

Evaluation:

  This text connects to the assigned reading because the book chronicles the journey of a family traveling to California in search of work, much like the text.

Citation:

"Dust Bowl Migration - Rural Migration News | Migration Dialogue." Dust Bowl Migration - Rural Migration News | Migration Dialogue. N.p., Oct. 2008. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.

Questions:

Why do you think families traveling west bonded so well?

What experiences do you have that are similar to the bond with the migrant workers?

How is this journey similar to other journeys earlier in history?


Reflection:

      The most memorable moment of the conversation was when my sister and I were able to relate to the bonds that formed between the migrant families.  We both take a form of Indian dance called Kuchipudi.  Our teacher gets stressed easily, and when she acts this way, class can resemble army boot camp.  We both bonded with the other dancers in our age group when we all experienced the fear that she could cause.  Another example is when our grandparents came to stay with us for a month, my sister and I bonded over trying to stay out of their way, even though we were forced to spend time with them.  We both agreed that those who experience hardships have the strongest bonds because they sometimes rely on each other to get through those times, and those types of times are the times that people remember the best.  Those events were also the most satisfying parts of the discussion, because we were reminiscing about how we got through those times, which helped us connect the hardships of the migrant families with our personal experiences.  Our discussion was mainly centered around the first 2 questions, since we could have a more in-depth discussion.  The third question was addressed, but it didn't take off like the responses to the first 2 did.  Because of this, I think I can improve my questions by asking more "why" and "what" questions, since those types seem to be the most effective for creating discussion.  Also, I can make them a little more related to each other.

Chapters 1-9: Family Discussion Reflection

Summary of informational text:

A series of dust storms in the Southern Plains, known as the "Dust Bowl," took place during the 1930s.  Some of the causes of it were poor agricultural practices, such as soil conservation, and dry weather.  Crops would not grow, and the ones that did were blown away.  Many people were forced to migrate as a result of the storms.

Source: "About The Dust Bowl." About The Dust Bowl. Modern American Poetry, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.

Evaluation:  Because of the Dust Bowl, people moved out west in order to start over in their lives.  They would be able to do all of the little things in life, such as breathing or walking, without having to worry about dust.  This is the reason why the characters in The Grapes of Wrath fled Oklahoma.

Questions:
How did the Dust Bowl impact lives?
What would you do if you woke up to dust swirling around your house?
What does the Dust Bowl symbolize?

                     I had my discussion with my 13 year old sister, who is great at debating and can be philosophical sometimes, so she was a natural choice to have the discussion with.  The most memorable moment of the discussion was when she said that the Dust Bowl is a metaphor for life.  She explained that by saying  a house with no wind around was a shelter from troubles that occur throughout life.  However, the constant wind and drought show the struggles that occur.  I also added that the Dust Bowl affected people emotionally since the farmers had to find new ways of living.  They had to wear gas masks wherever they went.  She also said that if she woke up to dust swirling around her house, she would attempt to find seeds that might still be in the ground. I mentioned to her that she probably wouldn't be able to find any, because they would have all blown away.  The fact that my sister brought the point about the Dust Bowl was satisfying to me because it set the stage for most of the discussion that we had.  I was able to build the best off of that point, which improved the quality of the discussion.  I need to improve my questions by making them a bit deeper.  The last question listed was the one we spent the most time talking about.  I should make sure that the questions are connection questions and not questions that have to do with the actual event.  I had to explain what the Dust Bowl was a little bit at first.

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