Education Network

• There are five lessons in this resource packet that draw on or connect to the writing of Ismail Kadare.

What is extremely clear and easy for readers in grades 9-12 to grasp is Kadare’s boundless curiosity, ceaseless imagination, and the optimism and faith he has in his reader.

• The lessons are aligned to meet the Oklahoma Standards for English Language Arts, grades 9-12.

• Pre- and post-reading activities introduce students to Margarita Engle’s writing and teach them about the form and function of poetry so that they can write their own poetry.

• The objectives for these lessons are as follows: (1) to be able to gain insight into life and the history of daily life in Cuba; (2) to be able to identity and celebrate the role that the form of poetry plays in Engle’s work; (3) to be able to appreciate the Cuban-American voice and experience; (4) to recognize the value of culturally responsive teaching and writing while celebrating one’s own unique, cultural voice.

• To be able to gain insight into daily life in Haiti.

• To be able to identity and celebrate hope in each story.

• To be able to write in response/reaction to the stories.

• To recognize the value of
culturally responsive teaching and writing while celebrating one’s own unique, cultural voice.

• An introduction to a “technical” aspect about poetry. One, or more, of Marilyn Nelson’s poems are included and are to be used as a model.

• Students are guided through a brainstorming or idea-generating exercise

• The end goal for each is to inspire students write, edit/revise and publish their pieces.

• Write an essay modeled on the work of Dubravka Ugrešić.

• Study the rewriting of a classic through Ugrešić’s story “Who Am I?”

• Learn about elements of folktales.

• Have high school students read books to 4th graders and teach them about folktales.

• Have students write their own version of a folktale.

• Learn about Magical Realism and Mia Couto’s writing.

• Read works by Gabriel García Márquez and Couto and complete post-reading activities.

• Participate in a writing competition.

• Guide students to create their own pieces based on Naomi Shihab Nye’s poetry.

• Learn about various styles of poems through examples of Nye’s work.

• Study some of Nye’s prose work and apply it in writing assignments.