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.