On the following page we learn that Serafina wants to jump rope with her friends and is angry when she is told she must finish her chores first. We can infer that Serafina is very poor and does not have many of the comforts which we take for granted. Possible Response: On page 22 we learn that on old tin table and a single chair help prop up the slanted walls of Serafina’s home…clean clothes hang neatly across a stretch of tattered string. Students will be able to note explicit descriptions of Serafina’s world (her house, the natural environment, her daily chores, as well as her interior reflections) while being challenged to find deeper meanings: What can we infer from these descriptions? How is Serafina’s world different from our own? Are there any similarities? What conclusions can we draw about human nature? Serafina’s Promise details a culture and lifestyle vastly different from our own. Written entirely in verse, Serafina’s story allows readers to experience her struggles and triumphs as she seeks to overcome the limitations of her environment and her personal circumstances.Ĭ.6.1 / .7.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Serafina’s Promise is the story of a young girl in Haiti who wants to go to school.

I have chosen to detail the standards for Grades 6 & 7 however, these suggestions are easily adapted to other grades. Serafina’s Promise may be read by a range of ages and grade levels. As a former English teacher, I am also appreciative of the time it takes to integrate new pieces of literature into the curriculum and have included possible responses to some of the questions I have posed. As classroom objectives are reshaped by these standards, I thought it might be helpful if I were able to demonstrate how Serafina’s Promise, supports your efforts to implement the Common Core. The Common Core Curriculum seeks to engage students in literary works which will broaden their world view and prepare them for a global society.

Serafina's Promise by Ann E. Burg