Westminster: In 1946, five Mexican American families sued because their
children were barred from “whites only” schools; as a result, ... The assignment
was to write an accordion paragraph answering three questions: Why did
Mendez sue four Orange County school districts? ... Step 1: Name it. (What's the
title?) • Step 2. Verb it. (Use a verb such as describes, summarizes, explains,
exhibits, demonstrates.) ... Finally, Lisa hazards an answer good enough to be
written on the board ...
Author: Joanne Jacobs
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 9781466893375
Category: Education
Page: 256
View: 435
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Honest, engaging, and inspiring, Our School tells the story of Downtown College Prep, a public charter high school in San Jose that recruits underachieving students and promises to prepare them for four-year colleges and universities. The average student enters ninth grade with fifth-grade reading and math skills. Many have slid through school without doing homework. Some barely speak English. Tracking the innovative and pioneering program, award-winning journalist Joanne Jacobs follows the young principal who tries to shake the hand of every student each day, the dedicated teachers who inspire teens to break free from their histories of failure, and the immigrant parents who fight to protect their children from gangs. Capturing our hearts are the students who overcome tremendous odds: Roberto, who struggles to learn English; Larissa, a young mother; Pedro, who signals every mood change with a different hair cut; Selena, who's determined to use college as her escape from drudgery; the girls of the very short, never-say-die basketball team; and the Tech Challenge competitors. Some will give up on their dreams. Those who stick with the school will go on to college. This gritty yet hopeful book provides a new understanding of what makes a school work and how desire, pride, and community--ganas, orgullo, and communidad--can put students on track for success in life.