Page 42 - SpringBoard_ELD_Grade7_Flipbook

interpreting the Text Using Close Reading
Learning Targets
• Read closely and annotate a text to find language resources an author uses to tell a story.
• Read closely to make inferences and draw conclusions.
• Use knowledge of morphology, context, reference materials, and visual cues to
determine the meaning of words.
• Apply understanding of how personal narratives are structured to comprehend a text.
Read and Annotate
Read “Why Couldn’t I Have Been Named Ashley?” and annotate the text as you read.
■ Use the My Notes area to write questions or ideas you have about the story.
■ Underline words and phrases that help you see, feel, or hear details from
the story.
■ Put a star next to the central incident.
■ Put exclamation marks next to the narrator’s responses to the incident.
■ Circle unknown words or phrases.
Why Couldn’t I Have Been by Imma Achilike Named Ashley?
1 “Ashley!” exclaimed Mrs. Renfro, and simultaneously three heads whipped around at attention towards the perturbed teacher. At the same time, all three Ashleys proudly replied, “Yes, ma’am?”
2 When I was a fourth grader, I remember sitting in class that day just before
the bell rang for dismissal. I remember thinking of all the names in the world, how
I could have possibly been stuck with such an alien one. I thought about all the popular kids in the class. I figured that I wasn’t popular because of my weird name. I put some things together in my mind and came up with a plausible equation: COOL NAME = POPULARITY. The dismissal bell rang. As I mechanically walked out to catch my ride, I thought to myself, “Why couldn’t I have been named Ashley?”
3 I was born, on July 7th, 1986, at Parkland Hospital of Dallas, Texas. I was the first American-born Nigerian in both of my parents’ families. I was my parents’ first joy, and in their joy, they gave me the name that would haunt me for the rest of my life, Immaculeta Uzoma Achilike.
4 The first time I actually became aware of my name was on the first day of first grade. I went to school loaded with all my school supplies and excited to see all
of my old kindergarten friends. I couldn’t wait to see who my new teacher was. As I walked into the classroom, all my friends pushed up to me, cooing my name: “Imma, Imma I missed you so much.” The teacher walked in with the attendance
aCTiViTY 2.3
My Notes
Personal Narrative
perturbed: troubled or disturbed
plausible: credible or believable
Unit 1 • The Choices We Make • Part 2: Why Couldn’t I Have Been Named Ashley? 19
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