Francie Nolan’s poignant coming-of-age story, set in the vibrant yet challenging backdrop of early 20th-century Williamsburg, Brooklyn, has resonated with countless readers. This study guide, designed to complement Betty Smith’s inspiring 1943 novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, provides a framework for students to deeply engage with the text and extract maximum learning. It avoids overwhelming “busywork” and focuses on sparking a genuine connection with the narrative.
Instead of exhaustively dissecting every aspect of the novel, this study guide hones in on key literary devices, encouraging students to explore the text through specific lenses.
Literary Focus: Unveiling the Immigrant Experience
This A Tree Grows in Brooklyn study guide focuses on several key literary elements that illuminate the novel’s themes:
- Foreshadowing: Examining how subtle hints and clues foreshadow future events, adding depth and suspense to the story.
- Motif: Identifying recurring symbols and patterns that contribute to the overall meaning of the novel, specifically the motif of survival and resilience.
- The Theme of the Immigrant’s Dream: Analyzing how the novel portrays the hopes, struggles, and realities of immigrant families striving for a better life in America.
Suggested writing assignments are designed to encourage students to connect these motifs and the immigrant dream theme.
Curriculum Components: A Comprehensive Learning Experience
This digital study guide offers a complete curriculum, including:
- Background Information: Providing historical and cultural context to enhance understanding of the novel’s setting and themes.
- Vocabulary: Defining key terms and phrases to expand students’ vocabulary and comprehension.
- Discussion Questions: Facilitating engaging discussions about the characters, plot, and themes of the novel, organized by chapter groups.
- Suggested Writing Assignments: Encouraging critical thinking and creative expression through various writing prompts.
- Enrichment Activities: Offering optional activities to further explore the novel’s themes and connect with other disciplines, such as history or art.
- Answer Key: Providing guidance and support for educators.
This resource is delivered as two separate PDF files. One is designed for student use and includes fillable fields for digital completion. The other is a comprehensive answer key designed for the educator.
Explore an excerpt from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Study Guide.
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Adaptable for Various Learning Levels
Designed with flexibility in mind, this study guide can be adapted for various learning levels, including:
- Average High School
- College Prep
- Honors Level
7Sisters curriculum is uniquely designed to be adaptable and avoid unnecessary busywork. Teens can pursue coursework that is personally meaningful to their interests, needs, and goals. This is the cornerstone of the 7Sisters educational philosophy!
Beyond Comprehension: Engaging with Literature on a Deeper Level
Sabrina Justison’s approach to teaching literature emphasizes moving beyond basic comprehension to foster critical thinking and engagement. Here’s how:
- Reading for Interpretation: Understanding the book in light of a particular idea. For instance, examining To Kill a Mockingbird through the lens of prejudice and its impact on society.
- Inferential Reading: Drawing conclusions based on knowledge gained from the book, predicting outcomes, and analyzing characters’ motivations.
- Reading for Evaluation: Determining the worth of a book based on subjective criteria, encouraging students to articulate their opinions and justifications.
By encouraging these different levels of reading, students can develop a deeper understanding of literature and its relevance to their lives.
The literature guides from 7Sisters aim to guide students toward new reading experiences beyond basic comprehension, helping build skills for interpretation, inference, and evaluation. These guides help even the most reluctant readers reach new engagement levels with classic books.
