Inside: Resources for teaching the novel Vida y muerte en la Mara Salvatrucha in Spanish class.
I am excited to use Vida y muerte en la Mara Salvatrucha (now from Wayside Publishing) this fall in Spanish IV.
This book is how I will start when I return from maternity leave in November. I gave out an end-of-year survey with possible novel options for Spanish IV and this novel was the clear winner.
I purchased a set of novels and the Teacher’s Guide using our curriculum budget, but they will not be ordered until the new fiscal year in July (which is the end of the week!).
Of course that did not stop me from already searching to see how other teachers have used the novel and what kinds of supplemental activities they have come up with. Just like I already posted for Fiesta Fatal, I have already started planning my large slide show for the unit. As I find resources, I add them to the slide show, so once I get to the chapter, I do not forget them. Once I have the teacher’s guide, I will add discussion questions and many other cultural expansions.
Great Resources for the Novel Vida y Muerte
- El Mundo de Birch – Resources & Song Activity & Pinterest Board
- Amanda Mora – starting the novel & Ch1-5
- Kristy Placido – El Salvador Unit Resources
Articles in English – Students read on own for background knowledge
- The Surreal Reasons Girls Are Disappearing In El Salvador: #15Girls
- Central American Refugee Crisis
- Central American Gangs, Made in LA
- Driven by fear: the Salvadorean children sent on the perilous journey to the US
plans by Carrie Toth
As many have shared, I think I am going to start the unit by watching the movie Voces Inocentes using the guide from Kristy Placido & some activities from Kara Jacobs.
This should provide better visual and background knowledge before beginning the novel. We already watched Which Way Home last year as a part of our immigration unit, and I plan to reference it as well.
Then we will do my stations using the articles above, song resources, Fotos de MS13 & barrio 18 infografia to continue the exploration of El Salvador, the Civil War, and gangs. If life is not too crazy once I return from maternity leave with 2 little ones, hopefully I will be able to share my actual plans.
